LAS VEGAS — Wade Taylor IV led the No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies to a narrow victory over the No. 21 Creighton Bluejays, scoring 18 points in a closely contested game that ended 77-73 during the Players Era Festival on Wednesday evening.
Henry Coleman contributed significantly with 17 points, while teammates Andersson Garcia and Solomon Washington both added 10 points for Texas A&M, boosting their season record to 5-2.
Pop Isaacs shone for the Bluejays, leading all scorers with 25 points, including five three-pointers, but it was not enough to secure a win as Creighton fell to 4-3 after suffering their third consecutive defeat. Jackson McAndrew and Steven Ashworth also made noteworthy contributions with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
In terms of takeaway insights, Texas A&M showcased their strength in the paint, outscoring Creighton 42-20 despite facing the challenge of Creighton’s formidable 7-foot-1 center, Ryan Kalkbrenner, who managed to block five shots. Additionally, the Aggies controlled the boards, claiming a 48-37 advantage in rebounds.
Creighton, on the other hand, faced difficulties despite Ashworth’s return from an injury that plagued him during their 74-63 defeat to Nebraska on Friday. This loss marked their third defeat in a row, having also fallen to San Diego State with a score of 71-53 just the day prior.
A critical moment in the game came when Washington drove towards the basket with just 35 seconds remaining. He converted a crucial basket while being fouled by Kalkbrenner, giving the Aggies a slim lead at 71-70. Following a single successful free throw, Texas A&M extended their lead to 72-70. Kalkbrenner managed to cut the deficit by hitting one of his two free throw attempts, bringing the score to 72-71. However, Coleman responded decisively with a dunk that put the game out of reach for the Bluejays with just 16 seconds left.
Another noteworthy statistic highlighted the dominance of Texas A&M’s bench, which outscored Creighton’s 20-2. Garcia was particularly effective off the bench, leading with 10 points, while the Bluejays’ lone bench points came from Fredrick King.
Looking ahead, Texas A&M will compete in the fifth-place game on Saturday, while Creighton will aim for a comeback in the seventh-place matchup. The details regarding their opponents will be confirmed following the tournament’s late games.