Advertisement

sportsTexas A&M Aggies

3 takeaways from Texas A&M’s loss to Kentucky: Defensive battle hands Aggies first SEC defeat

Despite forcing the Wildcat’s lowest-scoring game of the season, the Aggies offensive miscues led to a snapped win streak

In search of its first top-25 win of the season and its ninth straight victory, Texas A&M men’s basketball took a lead into halftime against No. 12 but ultimately faltered.

A&M falls to 15-3 on the season and 4-1 in the SEC after the 64-58 loss on Wednesday, Jan. 19. The Aggies were plagued by shooting issues that overshadowed their successes, ultimately deciding their fate after putting up a season-low 1-20 from 3-point range and 5-13 from the free-throw line.

Here are three takeaways from A&M’s loss to Kentucky:

Advertisement

A tale of two defenses

Through the first 20 minutes of play, the Aggies defense set a precedent that was just barely not enough for a win.

Sports Roundup

Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis, scores and more.

Or with:

Kentucky leads the SEC in field goal percentage, yet A&M’s stout defensive performance in the first half of play held the Wildcats to just 33.3% shooting and only 9.1% shooting from deep. While A&M’s offense wasn’t especially potent in this period — shooting only 12.5% beyond the arc — the defensive measures offset any issues to the tune of a 35-30 lead.

The Aggies defense continued its steam into the second half, but so did Kentucky’s. The Wildcats finished the game shooting 36.1% from the field but improved on the deep ball, making 22.2%. In the game, five Aggies combined for 11 steals, led by junior guard Tyrece Radford with three.

Advertisement

“I thought [the team] played for one another,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “I thought our staff was spot on in regard to what would give us a chance to play and have a chance to win against one of the best teams in the country. We came up short, but not for how hard we competed and how hard we fought.”

Coleman’s world

For A&M in the SEC, its answer to all of its problems has been Henry Coleman III.

Advertisement

Averaging 18.3 points per game through the first four games of the conference slate, Coleman continued to tear through the SEC competition. After nine points in the first half, he totaled 17 points in the game, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks

Now with five straight 14-plus point performances and leading the team in scoring in four of the last five games, he has stood out as the Aggies’ difference-maker. Despite his stellar play as of late, Coleman accredited his success to his teammates.

“I think [my scoring comes from] guys finding me,” Coleman said. “I think it’s Marcus Williams, Wade Taylor, [Andre Gordon], [Quenton Jackson], [Hassan Diarra], Manny [Obaseki] — all those guys finding me when I’m cutting. Credit to them.”

Reed Arena rocking

In Aggielands’ most impressive showing in Reed Arena to date — a record-breaking 14,036 attendees — the atmosphere was electric unlike anything seen in Williams’ three-year tenure.

A combination of the crowd intensity and A&M’s shutdown defense seemed to shake Kentucky, forcing its lowest-scoring performance of the season and tying for its lowest field goal percentage.

“Credit to the 12th Man, I thank everyone who came out to the game,” Coleman said. “Sorry it wasn’t the outcome they wished for or we wished for … but it was an unbelievable environment especially going down the stretch.”

Advertisement

+++

Find more Texas A&M coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.