Ags dominate glass, Mitchell scores 23 as A&M upsets Tennessee, 63-58

Wendell Mitchell scored seven of his season-high 23 points in the final minute to break out of a prolonged slump and propel Texas A&M to a 63-58 Southeastern Conference basketball victory over Tennessee in Knoxville on Tuesday night.

The Aggies (10-9, 4-3) shot only 30.4 percent from the field (17 of 56) but compensated by out-rebounding the Volunteers, 46-21. That included 23 offensive rebounds to just four for Tennessee (12-8, 4-3).

“We haven't been that way the entire season,” said A&M coach Buzz Williams. “We shoot a very low field goal percentage, so we have to give ourselves the best chance we can on the offensive glass just so we can gain extra possessions. I thought we were much more active on the offensive glass, and I thought we really good job of preventing them from getting extra possessions, which has been one of our Achilles heels. That was a big key on both sides of rebounding for us.”

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A&M’s defensive and rebounding effort helped the Ags overcome a lackluster shooting night.

A&M also converted 22 of 29 free throws. They hit 18 of 22 in the second half and 7 of 8 in the final minute.

Despite snagging 25 more boards and limiting Tennessee to just five 3-point goals, the Aggies were locked in a 53-53 tie with less than a minute to play.

Mitchell, though, hit a fall-away 3-pointer from the top-of-the-key with one second left on the shot clock with 47.3 seconds left to give A&M a 56-53 advantage.

Tennessee’s John Fulkerson fouled Mitchell while setting a screen. Mitchell converted the ensuing free throws for a 58-53 lead with 34.1 seconds left.

Savion Flagg added a pair of free throws, Emanuel Miller hit one and Mitchell made two more to close out the Aggies’ most impressive victory of the season.

Mitchell, who previously had scored nine points or less in five of the last six games, hit four 3-point goals and was perfect in nine attempts from the foul line.

He was complemented by Quenton Jackson with 11 points and Miller and Flagg with seven each. Miller also had 12 rebounds.

Tennessee was a led by Fulkerson, a 6-9 forward, with 14 points. Guard Jordan Bowden had 13 for the Vols.

Williams had said he wanted a “blue-collar” defensive effort from the Aggies, who had played poorly on the defensive end in a 73-62 loss to Oklahoma State last Saturday.

It was clear from the outset the Aggies responded as they relied on stellar defense to take a one-point lead into the second half.

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Aside from Mitchell’s heroics, Emanuel Miller was a force on the glass, hauling in 12 rebounds.

A&M forced seven turnovers and allowed just one offensive rebound to limit Tennessee to just 20 shots in the first half. The Vols made half of those attempts but converted only three shots from 3-point range.

Yet, the Vols seemed to be taking control when Josh Nebo left the game with his second foul with 9:05 to play in the half.

Tennessee immediately went on a 6-0 run to take a 20-14 lead with 5:48 showing.

At that point, the Aggies went into lockdown mode on the defensive end. They allowed Tennessee just one free throw and a 3-pointer for the remainder of the half.

Meanwhile, A&M went on a 9-1 run to take a 23-21 lead after Gordon weaved through the lane for a layup.

The Vols countered with a Jalen Johnson trey from the corner. But the Aggies answered with a pair of Jonathan Aku free throws to take a 25-24 halftime edge.

Tennessee started fast in the second half and held the lead until Andre Gordon slam-dunked a long alley-oop pass from Flagg to forge a 46-46 tie with 6:12 left.

The Aggies maintained a 53-50 edge when Josh Neo scored on a put-back with 2:30 left. But Bowden tied it with a 3-pointer moments later.

But after Williams called time out, the Aggies worked the basketball around the perimeter until Mitchell hit his clutch 3-pointer for the 56-53 lead.

The Aggies then executed perfectly on defense and at the foul line to close out the win.