BATON ROUGE, La. — In an important SEC regular-season finale, 22nd-ranked Texas A&M emerged victorious against LSU with a 66-52 triumph on Saturday. Wade Taylor IV spearheaded the Aggies’ charge, posting 17 points that powered his team’s performance.
After upsetting top-ranked Auburn on their home court earlier in the week, Texas A&M continued their winning momentum. Known for their offensive rebounding prowess, the Aggies shone in the second half by converting 10 offensive boards into as many points. Overall, Texas A&M finished with 14 offensive rebounds and 17 points from second-chance opportunities, showcasing their strength in retrieving the ball and extending plays.
For LSU, Jordan Sears led the offensive push, scoring 21 points. However, LSU couldn’t match up to Texas A&M’s aggressive rebounding and efficient scoring following missed shots.
Takeaways from the game suggest that Texas A&M’s senior guard, Taylor, is pivotal for the team’s success moving toward postseason play. Back from a knee injury, his impact is profound, exemplified by scoring 11 of A&M’s first 15 points in the game’s early moments. His contributions against LSU, having averaged 15.4 points in previous encounters, remain crucial.
On the flip side for LSU, Sears, a seasoned fifth-year senior transfer guard, has the potential to impact the game significantly, although his performances tend to fluctuate.
A defining moment in the game was a momentum-shifting 15-3 run by Texas A&M that turned a 34-34 deadlock into a 49-37 advantage. During this rally, the Aggies secured seven offensive rebounds, directly translating to 11 second-chance points, illustrating their dominance on the boards.
A key statistical highlight was Texas A&M’s overwhelming rebounding superiority in the second half, outmatching the Tigers 28-13 to claim a final 42-27 advantage in this department.
Looking ahead, LSU will enter the SEC Tournament in Nashville as the 15th seed, slated to face No. 10 seed Mississippi State in the first round. Meanwhile, Texas A&M is bracketed as the No. 5 seed and will commence tournament play in the second round, contending against either Vanderbilt, Texas, or Oklahoma. Furthermore, the Aggies are considered a strong contender for the NCAA Tournament as a potential No. 3 seed, drawing from their robust performances throughout the season.
