Aggies secure 4-0 SEC start
COLLEGE STATION — Mike White’s Louisiana Tech team defeated Texas A&M to close out the Aggies’ season a year ago, but White’s Florida squad fell to A&M on Tuesday night in Reed Arena.
“My goodness, that’s a really good five-some,” the first-year Gators coach said of A&M’s starting lineup, adding he believed it was the best offensive attack in the Southeastern Conference.
What a difference a year makes. The No. 15 Aggies edged the Gators 71-68 before 9,766 fans in improving to 4-0 for the first time in their four seasons in the SEC. And for the third time in four league games, senior guard Jalen Jones scored at least 26 points — this time collecting a game-high 26 by making eight of 13 shots from the floor, including three of four 3-pointers.
“He’s been really good,” A&M fifth-year coach Billy Kennedy said. “He’s making 3-pointers, being aggressive in taking the ball to the rim. He’s affected the game in a lot of different areas.”
Said Jones, who shrugged off another scoring outburst, of A&M’s budding home-court advantage: “Nobody is going to come in here and outwork us. And nobody is going to come in here and out-tough us.”
As for White’s assertion the Aggies, sitting atop the SEC with a 14-2 and 4-0 mark, own the league’s top offense so far?
“We share the ball,” Kennedy said. “And when you’ve got an inside attack and you’ve got guys shooting the ball well, that’s hard to guard.”
White’s Louisiana Tech team knocked A&M out of the National Invitation Tournament’s second round last March with an 84-72 victory at Reed, but the Aggies are stronger at point guard (with the addition of senior transfer Anthony Collins) and on the inside (particularly with freshman center Tyler Davis).
“Davis is hard to move,” White said. “He’s big and physical. The Aggies have more of an inside presence. And Anthony Collins allows (fellow guard) Alex Caruso to be more aggressive offensively.”
Collins also came in handy down the stretch against the persistent Gators, with his lone four points of the night also A&M’s last scores. He made four consecutive free throws over the final 22 seconds.
“I don’t even think about it,” Collins said of shooting pressure free throws. “I just go up there and shoot it.”
Collins attempted a lone shot from the field the entire night. He missed.
“I know my role on this team,” Collins said, smiling.
So do Jones and fellow senior Danuel House, who added 22 points — although he was only 7-of-24 from the field (including 2-of-10 from the 3-point line). White reminded reporters afterward that an injured House didn’t play last year against Louisiana Tech.
The Aggies, trying to make their first NCAA Tournament in five years, are different in plenty of other ways as well.
“They’re having fun,” Kennedy said of one of the primary ingredients of his team’s success. “And they’ve won in different ways.”
A&M will try to extend its seven-game winning streak Saturday at Georgia.
“We knew we had to be prepared for a fight,” Jones said of a tight game against the Gators. “And they came out and gave us a fight.”