COLLEGE STATION, Texas — In a competitive matchup on Saturday, Wade Taylor IV tallied 18 points and played a crucial role in helping No. 8 Texas A&M secure a 69-61 triumph over Arkansas, marking their fifth consecutive win.
With under ten minutes remaining, the game was deadlocked, but the Aggies (20-5, 9-3 Southeastern Conference) surged ahead by launching a 9-0 run, establishing a 59-50 advantage with just five minutes left on the clock. Taylor ignited the rally with a 3-pointer, while Andersson Garcia contributed four points during that crucial stretch, allowing Texas A&M to pull ahead.
Arkansas managed to halt a scoring drought that lasted nearly seven minutes when Karter Knox scored with about 4:30 left. However, the Aggies responded swiftly, as Jace Carter answered with a layup just moments later to maintain their edge.
For Texas A&M, Zhuric Phelps delivered a commendable performance, contributing 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while Garcia added 11 points to the tally. The Aggies improved their home record to an impressive 12-1 this season.
Knox led the way for the Razorbacks (15-10, 4-8) with 17 points, but it marked the second loss in three games for the team. Zvonimir Ivisic, a towering 7-foot-2 sophomore, managed to score only 13 points after an impressive stretch of scoring 52 points over his previous two games.
Takeaways from the game reveal that Arkansas must tighten its ball-handling, as a slew of 17 turnovers allowed Texas A&M to convert those mistakes into 22 points. In contrast, the Aggies are urged to find a quicker start in their games. After trailing by nine at halftime against Georgia earlier in the week, A&M fell behind 8-0 this game before finding their rhythm.
A key moment came when Taylor’s 3-pointer initiated the important run that ultimately led to Texas A&M’s victory.
In terms of key statistics, the Aggies outperformed the Razorbacks in the paint, scoring 34 points to Arkansas’s 22.
Looking ahead, Texas A&M is set to face No. 22 Mississippi State on Tuesday night, while Arkansas is preparing to host the top-ranked Auburn on Wednesday evening.
