Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Basketball
Texas A&M's seniors lead late comeback to down Tennessee, 92-88
January 9, 2016
8,589
Texas A&M countered a slow start with a fast finish and rallied for a 92-88 Southeastern Conference basketball victory over Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville.
The 21st-ranked Aggies (13-2, 3-0 SEC), trailed by 10 with just over four minutes remaining, but outscored the Volunteers 18-4 down the stretch to secure their sixth straight win.
A Tyler Davis layup with 2:23 left gave the Aggies an 85-84 lead. It was their first lead since 18:09 of the first half.
A free throw by Tennessee’s Admiral Schofield forged a tie, but Jalen Jones followed with a layup in traffic.
Alex Caruso then picked up a steal which led to a pair of Anthony Collins free throws and an 89-85 lead with 46 seconds to play.
Tennessee’s Kevin Punter answered with a three-pointer over Jones with 21 seconds left.
Caruso was fouled on the ensuing possession and made one of two free throws.
Tennessee then had a chance to win, but Detrick Mostella missed a three-point attempt.
House got the rebound, was fouled and converted two free throws with 5.6 seconds showing to end the scoring.
Jones scored 27 points to lead the Aggies, while House, who came off the bench, netted 23.
Caruso added 13 and Davis had 11. Collins scored five points and dished out nine assists without committing a turnover.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Billy Kennedy's Aggies seemed unable to get over the hump in the second half until A&M's clutch late-game rally.
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Tennessee (8-7, 1-2), which endured its first loss in nine games at Thompson-Boling Arena, had six players score in double figures. Punter led the way with 19 and Schofield had 16.
A&M has had trouble on the road this season. The Aggies lost at Arizona State last month and on Wednesday had to rally to post a 61-60 victory at Mississippi State.
They got off to a slow start on the road again as they were hindered by poor shooting and turnovers in the first half.
Meanwhile, Tennessee shot 55.9 percent (19 of 34) from the field to take a 46-38 halftime lead.
Twice A&M fell behind by 12 points or more. The Aggies fought back into contention, but never could get even.
Trailing 25-13 midway through the half, the Aggies rallied with a 9-0 run that Jones completed with a pair of free throws.
Undaunted, Tennessee capitalized on A&M turnovers and missed shots to open up a 42-29 lead with just 3:10 remaining in the half.
The Aggies closed strong, though, and House hit a jump shot with 1:03 showing to bring A&M within 44-38.
A&M had a chance to pull even closer following a Caruso steal, but House missed a three-pointer.
Mostella made a driving layup with two seconds remaining to provide the Volunteers an eight-point lead at the break.
The second half appeared it would be more of the same.
The Aggies could not get closer than six points most of the second half and fell behind 84-74 when Punter converted a pair of free throws with 4:14 left.
Eight seconds later, Jones hit a layup to spark A&M’s game-winning rally.
The 21st-ranked Aggies (13-2, 3-0 SEC), trailed by 10 with just over four minutes remaining, but outscored the Volunteers 18-4 down the stretch to secure their sixth straight win.
A Tyler Davis layup with 2:23 left gave the Aggies an 85-84 lead. It was their first lead since 18:09 of the first half.
A free throw by Tennessee’s Admiral Schofield forged a tie, but Jalen Jones followed with a layup in traffic.
Alex Caruso then picked up a steal which led to a pair of Anthony Collins free throws and an 89-85 lead with 46 seconds to play.
Tennessee’s Kevin Punter answered with a three-pointer over Jones with 21 seconds left.
Caruso was fouled on the ensuing possession and made one of two free throws.
Tennessee then had a chance to win, but Detrick Mostella missed a three-point attempt.
House got the rebound, was fouled and converted two free throws with 5.6 seconds showing to end the scoring.
Jones scored 27 points to lead the Aggies, while House, who came off the bench, netted 23.
Caruso added 13 and Davis had 11. Collins scored five points and dished out nine assists without committing a turnover.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Billy Kennedy's Aggies seemed unable to get over the hump in the second half until A&M's clutch late-game rally.
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A&M has had trouble on the road this season. The Aggies lost at Arizona State last month and on Wednesday had to rally to post a 61-60 victory at Mississippi State.
They got off to a slow start on the road again as they were hindered by poor shooting and turnovers in the first half.
Meanwhile, Tennessee shot 55.9 percent (19 of 34) from the field to take a 46-38 halftime lead.
Twice A&M fell behind by 12 points or more. The Aggies fought back into contention, but never could get even.
Trailing 25-13 midway through the half, the Aggies rallied with a 9-0 run that Jones completed with a pair of free throws.
Undaunted, Tennessee capitalized on A&M turnovers and missed shots to open up a 42-29 lead with just 3:10 remaining in the half.
The Aggies closed strong, though, and House hit a jump shot with 1:03 showing to bring A&M within 44-38.
A&M had a chance to pull even closer following a Caruso steal, but House missed a three-pointer.
Mostella made a driving layup with two seconds remaining to provide the Volunteers an eight-point lead at the break.
The second half appeared it would be more of the same.
The Aggies could not get closer than six points most of the second half and fell behind 84-74 when Punter converted a pair of free throws with 4:14 left.
Eight seconds later, Jones hit a layup to spark A&M’s game-winning rally.
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