Photo by Kirby Clarke, TexAgs
Texas A&M Basketball
Aggies endure Florida's challenge, advance to SEC semis with 72-66 win
NASHVILLE — Florida was unable to get a basketball victory over No. 17 Texas A&M on Friday, but the Gators did get the Aggies’ attention.
The Aggies (25-7), who advance to Saturday’s semifinals against LSU, did not play particularly well, but made clutch plays at the most pivotal moments to capture a 72-66 victory in the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament at Bridgestone Arena.
“It’s a wake-up call,” A&M senior guard Alex Caruso said. “If you really want to win this you have to do X, Y, Z — rebound, make tough plays and dive on the floor. Getting a win against a team like Florida is great just to kind of get our motors started.”
If the win was indeed a “wake-up” call for the remainder of the tournament, then the Aggies can credit freshman Admon Gilder for making it.
Gilder hit a pair of vital free throws to give A&M a 70-66 lead with 22 seconds to play. Three seconds later, he blocked a layup by Florida’s Kevaughn Allen.
Caruso grabbed the rebound, was fouled and then hit two ensuing free throws with 16 seconds remaining to clinch the Aggies’ seventh consecutive victory.
“It was an ugly game,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “I think we didn’t play well offensively, but we gutted it out. I was really proud of our bench. I thought our bench came in — Admon Gilder, Tonny Trocha (Morelos) and Tavario Miller — and they were really efficient.”
A&M desperately needed an efficient bench because starters Danuel House and Jalen Jones combined to hit just 11 of 35 shots.
Kirby Clarke, TexAgs
As he has so often done, Tyler Davis made an immeasurable impact down low with his steady scoring and rebounding.
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House hit 5 of 20 on the way to 15 points, which shared team-high honors with freshman center Tyler Davis, who converted six of 10 attempts. Davis also had eight rebounds and blocked three shots.
Davis was the central figure in A&M scoring 44 points in the paint, the most the Gators have allowed in five seasons.
“We tried changing defenders on Tyler Davis,” Florida coach Mike White said. “He is just really good. It’s just hard to believe that he’s a freshman. He’s enormous. He’s strong. He’s physical. He likes contact.
“We knew we’d have to at least try (defending him) by committee. We didn’t have a lot of success, of course.”
Florida (19-14) was led by junior guard Kasey Hill, who came off the bench to score 18 points.
That included a three-pointer with 11:47 to play that staked Florida to a 50-47 lead.
However, Gilder and Trocha-Morelos responded with consecutive three-pointers that sparked a 12-0 run for a 59-53 lead.
However, Florida, which was fighting for NCAA Tournament consideration, would not fade.
The Gators rallied to force a 61-61 tie on a pair of free throws by Hill with 2:24 remaining.
That’s when A&M began making a series of clutch plays.
Jones, who scored 13 points, made a layup for a 63-61 lead. Gilder came out of a scramble with the ball and made pass to Jones for the basket.
“I just remember Admon getting a loose ball,” Jones said. “I was kind of close to the basket. He looked up, threw it to me and I think two guys collapsed. I just went up and tried to finish as strong as possible and I was able to make the layup.”
Then, Caruso deflected the ball away from Florida’s Allen to Gilder. Gilder then passed to Caruso for a layup.
After Hill hit one of two free throws, House drilled a three-pointer for a 68-62 lead with a minute to play. It was House’s only basket of the second half. He missed six shots in the second half, including an ill-advised attempt early in the shot clock when A&M was trying to protect a lead late in the game.
“The thing about Danuel (is) he always thinks he’s going to make the next shot,” Kennedy said. “He’s done it for us and he puts a lot of time – probably too much time recently – trying to get his shot back to where it was.
“I really expect him to break out soon. I keep saying that. I keep telling everybody that. So, I hope I’m right.”
Florida’s Chris Chiozza then fouled Gilder with 22 seconds remaining. Gilder hit both ends of a one-and-one to give A&M an all-important four-point lead.
“I just took my time to make sure I’d make the free throws,” Gilder said. “Coach had trust in me to be on the floor, so he knew I could make those shots.”
Kennedy never doubted it.
“I saw him win two state championships -- one as a sophomore and one as a junior – and his senior year when it was basically him without a lot of help get to the Finals,” Kennedy said. “He’s won games for us. He made big free throws at Mississippi State to win the game for us. I’m very comfortable with having him on the floor.”
Gilder then made the block on the defensive end that led to Caruso’s clinching free throws.
It was decided when: Alex Caruso converted two free throws with 16 seconds remaining to give A&M a 72-66 lead.
Turning point: Admon Gilder hit a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left for a four-point A&M lead.
Star player: Tyler Davis scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had three blocked shots. He converted 6 of 10 field goal attempts and 3 of 4 free throws.
Key stat: A&M outscored Florida 44-30 in the paint. It’s the most points in the paint Florida has allowed in five years.
Next: A&M faces LSU or Tennessee Saturday at noon.
The Aggies (25-7), who advance to Saturday’s semifinals against LSU, did not play particularly well, but made clutch plays at the most pivotal moments to capture a 72-66 victory in the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament at Bridgestone Arena.
“It’s a wake-up call,” A&M senior guard Alex Caruso said. “If you really want to win this you have to do X, Y, Z — rebound, make tough plays and dive on the floor. Getting a win against a team like Florida is great just to kind of get our motors started.”
If the win was indeed a “wake-up” call for the remainder of the tournament, then the Aggies can credit freshman Admon Gilder for making it.
Gilder hit a pair of vital free throws to give A&M a 70-66 lead with 22 seconds to play. Three seconds later, he blocked a layup by Florida’s Kevaughn Allen.
Caruso grabbed the rebound, was fouled and then hit two ensuing free throws with 16 seconds remaining to clinch the Aggies’ seventh consecutive victory.
“It was an ugly game,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “I think we didn’t play well offensively, but we gutted it out. I was really proud of our bench. I thought our bench came in — Admon Gilder, Tonny Trocha (Morelos) and Tavario Miller — and they were really efficient.”
A&M desperately needed an efficient bench because starters Danuel House and Jalen Jones combined to hit just 11 of 35 shots.
Kirby Clarke, TexAgs
As he has so often done, Tyler Davis made an immeasurable impact down low with his steady scoring and rebounding.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"As he has so often done, Tyler Davis made an immeasurable impact down low with his steady scoring and rebounding.","MediaItemID":68161}
Davis was the central figure in A&M scoring 44 points in the paint, the most the Gators have allowed in five seasons.
“We tried changing defenders on Tyler Davis,” Florida coach Mike White said. “He is just really good. It’s just hard to believe that he’s a freshman. He’s enormous. He’s strong. He’s physical. He likes contact.
“We knew we’d have to at least try (defending him) by committee. We didn’t have a lot of success, of course.”
Florida (19-14) was led by junior guard Kasey Hill, who came off the bench to score 18 points.
That included a three-pointer with 11:47 to play that staked Florida to a 50-47 lead.
However, Gilder and Trocha-Morelos responded with consecutive three-pointers that sparked a 12-0 run for a 59-53 lead.
However, Florida, which was fighting for NCAA Tournament consideration, would not fade.
The Gators rallied to force a 61-61 tie on a pair of free throws by Hill with 2:24 remaining.
That’s when A&M began making a series of clutch plays.
Jones, who scored 13 points, made a layup for a 63-61 lead. Gilder came out of a scramble with the ball and made pass to Jones for the basket.
“I just remember Admon getting a loose ball,” Jones said. “I was kind of close to the basket. He looked up, threw it to me and I think two guys collapsed. I just went up and tried to finish as strong as possible and I was able to make the layup.”
Then, Caruso deflected the ball away from Florida’s Allen to Gilder. Gilder then passed to Caruso for a layup.
After Hill hit one of two free throws, House drilled a three-pointer for a 68-62 lead with a minute to play. It was House’s only basket of the second half. He missed six shots in the second half, including an ill-advised attempt early in the shot clock when A&M was trying to protect a lead late in the game.
“The thing about Danuel (is) he always thinks he’s going to make the next shot,” Kennedy said. “He’s done it for us and he puts a lot of time – probably too much time recently – trying to get his shot back to where it was.
“I really expect him to break out soon. I keep saying that. I keep telling everybody that. So, I hope I’m right.”
I just took my time to make sure I’d make the free throws. Coach had trust in me to be on the floor, so he knew I could make those shots.
{"Module":"quote","Alignment":"right","Quote":"I just took my time to make sure I’d make the free throws. Coach had trust in me to be on the floor, so he knew I could make those shots.","Author":"Admon Gilder on his clutch free throws"}
Yet, Florida came right back with a Devin Robinson put-back and two more free throws from Hill to get within 68-66.Florida’s Chris Chiozza then fouled Gilder with 22 seconds remaining. Gilder hit both ends of a one-and-one to give A&M an all-important four-point lead.
“I just took my time to make sure I’d make the free throws,” Gilder said. “Coach had trust in me to be on the floor, so he knew I could make those shots.”
Kennedy never doubted it.
“I saw him win two state championships -- one as a sophomore and one as a junior – and his senior year when it was basically him without a lot of help get to the Finals,” Kennedy said. “He’s won games for us. He made big free throws at Mississippi State to win the game for us. I’m very comfortable with having him on the floor.”
Gilder then made the block on the defensive end that led to Caruso’s clinching free throws.
It was decided when: Alex Caruso converted two free throws with 16 seconds remaining to give A&M a 72-66 lead.
Turning point: Admon Gilder hit a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left for a four-point A&M lead.
Star player: Tyler Davis scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had three blocked shots. He converted 6 of 10 field goal attempts and 3 of 4 free throws.
Key stat: A&M outscored Florida 44-30 in the paint. It’s the most points in the paint Florida has allowed in five years.
Next: A&M faces LSU or Tennessee Saturday at noon.
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