LAS VEGAS — In an exciting matchup at the Players Era Festival, Oregon triumphed over No. 20 ranked Texas A&M with a score of 80-70, thanks to an impressive performance by TJ Bamba, who scored 18 points. The Ducks, now boasting a record of 6-0, showcased their defensive prowess by holding Texas A&M scoreless for the last 4 ½ minutes of the game, overcoming a tight 70-69 deficit to secure the win.
Brandon Angel and Jackson Shelstad both contributed significantly for Oregon, each scoring 16 points, while Jadrian Tracey rounded out the scoring with 11 points. On the other side, Zhuric Phelps was the standout performer for Texas A&M, netting 20 points, accompanied by Wade Taylor IV with 15 points.
The Aggies initially held a 58-48 lead before Oregon executed a remarkable nine-point run in just over a minute, reducing the deficit to one point with 8:10 remaining. This momentum built further as the Ducks added to their run, racking up 16 consecutive points that forced Texas A&M to call two timeouts, allowing Oregon to take the lead at 64-58.
The remainder of the game saw both teams exchanging baskets until Oregon’s late-game surge solidified their victory. A significant moment came when Texas A&M forward Solomon Washington fell awkwardly midway through the first half and was unable to return to the game.
Takeaways from the game highlight that Texas A&M struggled tremendously during the closing moments, missing their last 11 shot attempts and hitting only 2 of their final 19 attempts. Conversely, Oregon exhibited exceptional shooting, connecting on 12 straight shots in the second half, with nine of those being layups or dunks.
A pivotal moment occurred when Tracey executed a fast-break layup and drew a foul late in the contest. This play energized Ducks coach Dana Altman, prompting him to visibly celebrate on the court, and it brought Oregon within a point during their critical run.
In terms of shooting statistics, Oregon was able to achieve a field goal percentage of 45.5%, becoming the first team to surpass the 40% shooting mark against Texas A&M this season.
Looking ahead, Texas A&M is set to face No. 21 Creighton next in this tournament, while Oregon’s upcoming challenge will be against San Diego State.