Aggies prepared for another battle as they travel to South Carolina

The Aggies had to fight off a late Auburn rally to post their first Southeastern Conference basketball victory.

They might need to fight even harder to notch their second conference win.

That seems to be coach Buzz Williams’ message for Texas A&M (6-2, 1-1) in an 8 p.m. clash with South Carolina (2-2) in Columbia on Wednesday night.

South Carolina coach Frank Martin’s teams are known to be tough and physical. They certainly were against the Aggies last season in posting two victories by double-digit margins.

Williams expects the Gamecocks to be typically tough, even though they’ve played just four games because of COVID issues.

“The two times we played them last year, they hit us in the mouth repeatedly, and we never, ever, one time, landed a blow,” Williams said following A&M’s 68-66 victory over Auburn on Saturday. “I remember subbing five guys out at a time last year in Columbia cause we had no fight whatsoever.

“No matter who (the Gamecocks) have eligible to play, we’ll have to fight in order to have a chance.”

That fight starts with containing the guard combination of A.J. Lawson and Jermaine Couisnard.

Lawson leads the Gamecocks with a 14.8 average. He scored 25 in a 78-71 victory over Florida A&M on Saturday.

Couisnard, who averages 13.8 points and 3.3 assists, had 19 in a 74-54 victory over A&M last season.

The Aggies first showed the fight Williams is seeking in building a 14-point second-half lead against Auburn.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Gordon’s floater with 1.6 seconds left lifted the Ags to victory over Auburn on Saturday.

They showed it again after Auburn rallied to tie in the final minutes. Sophomore forward Emanuel Miller momentarily broke the tie with a layup with 45 seconds remaining.

After Auburn re-tied it, sophomore guard Andre Jordan hit a short jumper with two seconds left to clinch the victory.

Miller has emerged as the Aggies' primary scoring threat. He’s averaging 17.1 points and has scored at least 14 points in seven of A&M’s eight games.

The Aggies need to find reliable backcourt scoring to complement Miller’s inside game.

Gordon and Jay Jay Chandler provided that in the win over Auburn, with both scoring 10 points.

Quenton Jackson has the ability to score in bunches but has been inconsistent. Freshman Jaxson Robinson earned his first start against Auburn and hit a couple of 3-pointers.