LAS VEGAS — Wade Taylor IV made a significant impact with his 24 points as No. 20 Texas A&M triumphed over Rutgers, securing an 81-77 victory during the fifth-place matchup at the Players Era Festival on Saturday.
Despite facing a six-point deficit at halftime, Rutgers managed to rally and took a nine-point lead with just over 12 minutes remaining. However, the Aggies made a strong comeback, finishing the game with a 27-14 run that clinched their win.
In addition to Taylor’s standout performance, Texas A&M saw contributions from Solomon Washington, Henry Coleman III, and Manny Obaseki, who each scored 11 points, bringing the team’s record to 6-2.
Ace Bailey was the top performer for Rutgers (5-3), netting 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Jeremiah Williams provided strong support with 20 points, while Dylan Harper added 18 points to the effort.
A notable takeaway for Rutgers is that Williams, who averaged 7.3 points on 45.5% shooting over the team’s initial six games, achieved his highest scoring output since November 21, 2021, when he scored 22 points against Elon while with Temple’s basketball squad.
On the other hand, Texas A&M’s Coleman boasted an impressive shooting percentage throughout the tournament, achieving 77.7% efficiency (14 of 18), along with a team-leading 22 rebounds.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Rutgers, trailing by one point, had a chance to reclaim the lead. However, Zach Martini’s mishap with a fumbled pass allowed Taylor to secure two free throws in the following possession, extending the Aggies’ lead to three points. Zhuric Phelps then added two more free throws just before the final buzzer to finalize the score.
In terms of shooting accuracy, the teams struggled from beyond the arc in the first half, combining for a dismal 2 of 20 shooting performance. Texas A&M entered the game with a 31.4% average from three-point range but failed to make any of their seven attempts in the first half. Conversely, Rutgers, typically shooting at 33.3% from long range, managed only 2 of 13 attempts. Ultimately, the Aggies finished the game with a woeful 2 of 15 from three-point territory, while Rutgers concluded with a 6 of 26 performance from deep.
Looking ahead, Rutgers will initiate Big Ten play against Ohio State next Saturday, while Texas A&M is set to host Wake Forest in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Tuesday.
