COLLEGE STATION, Tex. — In a notable matchup, No. 23 Texas A&M triumphed over No. 21 Ohio State with a score of 78-64 on Friday night, highlighting strong performances from Wade Taylor IV and Manny Obaseki, who both contributed 15 points to the Aggies’ victory.

Alongside them, Zhuric Phelps added 14 points and Henry Coleman III scored 12, showcasing a well-rounded offensive effort by Texas A&M. This victory marks the Aggies’ third consecutive win following an initial loss to UCF, while also handing Ohio State their first defeat of the season. Texas A&M took a commanding lead at halftime with a score of 31-22 and further extended their advantage at the beginning of the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers from Phelps and Taylor, pushing the score to 37-22.

Leading the Buckeyes was Bruce Thornton, who matched the game-high with 15 points, followed by John Mobley Jr. who contributed 13. Despite their efforts, Ohio State struggled offensively, finishing the game with a shooting percentage of just 34% (20 of 59), in contrast to Texas A&M’s 39% (19 of 49). The Aggies’ roster was slightly impacted as Jace Taylor was unavailable due to an eye injury sustained during Thursday’s practice.

In terms of statistics, Ohio State faced challenges from long-range, managing to convert only 5 of 17 3-point attempts (29%) in the first half, and finishing the game at 27% (8 of 30) from beyond the arc. This is a notable decline from their previous two games, where they had excelled in 3-point shooting.

Conversely, a key takeaway for Texas A&M is their opportunity for solid NCAA Tournament seeding this year, as their past issues with weak nonconference scheduling look to have improved. The victory against Ohio State counts as a significant Quad 1 win for the Aggies.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Aggies guard Hayden Hefner made an impressive play by snatching a loose ball and launching it from mid-range, resulting in a basket that elevated Texas A&M’s lead to 27-17 with just 2:41 left in the first half.

Another important stat to note is that Texas A&M dominated in second-chance points, outscoring Ohio State 16-9 in that aspect of the game.

Looking ahead, Ohio State will host Evansville in their next matchup on Tuesday night, while Texas A&M is set to play Southern at home on Wednesday night.