COLLEGE STATION, Texas — In an impressive showing, Texas A&M ranked No. 12 cruised to a 77-45 victory over Houston Christian on Friday, led by Hayden Hefner with 19 points and Manny Obaseki contributing 13 points to the team’s success.

The Aggies (10-2) quickly established a commanding lead, pulling ahead by double digits with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half, courtesy of a tip-in by Jaelyn Lee. They maintained control throughout the game, finishing with a solid shooting percentage of 47%.

The Huskies (4-8) struggled significantly, hitting only 2 of 20 from beyond the arc—a season low. D’Aundre Samuels emerged as the standout for Houston Christian with 12 points, marking him as the only player from the team to reach double figures.

Texas A&M played this matchup without their key guard Wade Taylor IV, who missed the game due to a minor injury, although he is anticipated to return soon.

Observations from the game reveal that Texas A&M has often faced challenges similar to this one. In fact, two years ago, they suffered a surprising 67-62 defeat at home against Wofford. However, the current squad demonstrated their ability to manage games effectively and secure victories.

On the other hand, Houston Christian had previously experienced closely contested games, as seven of their last matches had been decided by single-digit margins. The significant margin of this 32-point loss may serve as a tough learning experience as they prepare for the more demanding Southland play, which begins in earnest on January 4 against Lamar.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred just minutes into the second half when Hefner intercepted a pass and sped down the court, evading a defender with a fake pass before delivering a powerful slam dunk. This spectacular play pushed Texas A&M’s lead to an unassailable 41-23, having only led by 12 points two minutes before.

In terms of team performance, the Aggies’ dominance on the boards was evident, as they overpowered the Huskies in rebounding with a striking 52-25 advantage.

Looking ahead, Texas A&M will take some time to celebrate the holidays before facing Abilene Christian at home on December 28. Meanwhile, the Huskies will continue their road trip with a match against North Texas on Sunday.