Two-game slide ends as No. 11 Texas A&M tames LSU at Reed, 68-57
With “Four” on the floor, the Aggies got back in gear.
All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV — aka “Four” — returned to action on Saturday night to help No. 11 Texas A&M (14-4, 3-2) snap a two-game skid with a 68-57 Southeastern Conference basketball victory over LSU (13-6, 1-4) at Reed Arena.
A sellout crowd of 12,812 roared in approval — or perhaps relief — when Taylor, who had missed the previous three games with an undisclosed injury, was introduced in the starting lineup.
Taylor responded with 12 points and four assists. He even brought hope at the foul line where A&M has struggled mightily in his absence. Taylor converted five of his six free-throw attempts, while the remainder of the team hit just 4-of-15.
But Aggies’ coach Buzz Williams said Taylor provided even more than could be found in a box score.
“He has unbelievable talent with the ball (and) without the ball,” Williams said. “But personally, I think his greatest talent is his spirit. His greatest talent is his IQ. Any time you have those two characteristics as a quarterback, you impact not only yourself, but you impact the program.”
A&M forward Solomon Washington, who had two big plays with a put-back off an errant free throw and a suspenseful 3-pointer, agreed.
“He’s obviously a big difference-maker,” Washington said. “We know when he’s playing, teams have to do their defensive scouts differently knowing the type of player he is. The shots he makes. What he can create. It was big having him back out there.”
Almost immediately, Taylor made his presence felt. He hit a short jumper and had a free throw in the early going to help the Aggies get out to a quick 11-2 lead.
“It’s been a minute since I’ve seen the ball go in the hole,” Taylor said. “It definitely felt good. Thank my teammates for keeping me together.
“It was rough for three games. I’ve never missed a game since playing here. I’m thankful to get through it. I’m glad I’m back.”
Taylor had his strong return. Zhuric Phelps posted a team-high 13 points. Henry Coleman III contributed 10. CJ Wilcher had nine on a trio of 3-pointers.
However, A&M’s biggest star was its defense, particularly in the second half.
The game was deadlocked, 30-30, at halftime. But the Aggies limited LSU to just 20 shots in the second half. The Tigers made only eight of them.
Also, in the second half, LSU committed 11 turnovers and managed just two offensive rebounds.
“I thought when the ball was on the group, our plan was excellent,” Williams said while noting A&M rebounded about 80 percent of LSU’s second-half misses. “I thought our guys carried that plan out. But I think when the ball was in the air, we were much, much better. Statistically, it was the best we’ve been all season from a defensive rebounding percentage.”
The Aggie defense was particularly effective in a six-and-a-half minute stretch in which LSU did not score, missed field goal attempts and committed six turnovers.
Williams, though, seemed most impressed that the Aggies did not allow LSU to get to the free-throw line in that stretch.
“The one thing I’d say (we did well) is we probably didn’t foul,” Williams said. “It means that we were defending, we were not fouling, and when they shot it, we got the rebound. Our propensity to foul was another thing that was a problem for us last week and even a little bit tonight.”
Well, not much.
A&M capitalized on LSU’s drought with a 10-point run — or maybe more accurately a 10-0 trot because it extended over five minutes of play.
Wilcher started the rally with a 3-pointer to give A&M a 45-43 lead with 13:17 remaining.
Three-and-a-half minutes later, the Aggies finally added to the margin. They did it the hard way.
Pharrel Payne missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Washington was able to work inside for the offensive rebound and put-back.
“That’s something we practice on,” Washington said. “We put a bubble on the rim. You just have to go get it. That’s kind of second nature for us.”
A minute later Taylor converted consecutive free throws, which has been a rarity of late. That pushed A&M’s lead to 49-43.
On A&M’s next possession Taylor passed to Washington in the corner. Washington’s 3-point shot hit the rim, bounced off the backboard, back on the rim and then fell through. A&M led 52-43 with 8:16 left.
LSU finally ended its scoreless drought with a pair of free throws from guard Cam Carter, who led the Tigers with 16 points.
But Taylor again answered with a pair of free throws. The Aggies followed with five consecutive buckets to take an insurmountable 65-49 lead.
“Texas A&M was really good defensively,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said. “They forced us into a lot of turnovers — 11 second-half turnovers.
“I thought we were really good on the defensive glass in the first half. In the second half the momentum certainly changed on that end of the floor. I think they had nine offensive rebounds in the second half.”
Yet, no matter how impressive the defense was or how dominant the Aggies were on the glass, Taylor’s return remained the A&M’s greatest asset.
He’d hoped to play in frustrating losses to Alabama and Kentucky but was content to wait until the right time to back in action.
“I know this won’t be the last time I’ll play basketball here,” Taylor said. “I know I have a future, hopefully. But also, I wanted to give my team 100 percent. I didn’t want to come back 75 or 80 (percent), and I’m not my best out there for them.
“I find that selfish. I feel like that’s just trying to get out there just because I can. I wanted to be 100 percent. I didn’t want to be 99 percent so I can give my team what they need of me and what I need of them.
“I’m excited to be back.”
