COLUMBIA, S.C. — Wade Taylor IV dazzled with 25 points, including a career-high effort with seven 3-pointers, as No. 13 Texas A&M fended off South Carolina with a 76-72 victory on Saturday evening.
The Aggies (17-5, 6-3 in the Southeastern Conference) appeared to have the game in hand following Taylor’s sixth three-pointer that extended their lead to 49-36 early in the second half. However, the Gamecocks responded fiercely, rattling off 11 consecutive points to tighten the contest.
With just 1.8 seconds remaining, South Carolina was still very much in the game, trailing by only two points at 74-72 after a basket from Collin Murray-Boyles. Texas A&M’s Henry Coleman III then sealed the win by hitting two critical free throws.
Taylor’s performance matched his previous best, which he achieved last March during an NCAA Tournament game against Nebraska. Murray-Boyles emerged as the standout for the Gamecocks (10-12, 0-9), contributing 22 points to keep his team competitive.
In terms of noteworthy observations, Texas A&M has been averaging seven successful three-pointers per game this season, and they succeeded in hitting nine during the first half of this game, gaining a significant lead. If they maintain this level of shooting, they are poised to remain a formidable opponent in the SEC.
On the other hand, South Carolina is struggling as they have faced six ranked SEC teams in their current 0-9 league campaign. They will have their work cut out for them as they prepare to encounter five more Top 25 rivals in the upcoming month.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Coleman managed to tip in a missed shot while the Aggies held a narrow two-point lead with under six minutes left. Taylor then added to the momentum with a three-pointer, expanding their advantage to nine points.
Another noteworthy detail is that all nine players for Texas A&M managed to score at least once during the game, showcasing the team’s depth.
Looking ahead, Texas A&M will take a break for a week before facing off against No. 20 Missouri on February 8. Meanwhile, South Carolina will also have a week off before they clash with No. 12 Kentucky on the same day.
