The Aggies played like dogs on Tuesday night.
More specifically, they played like dogs toying with an old shoe until losing interest and tossing it aside.
As mentioned, the Aggies were the dogs in this scenario. The University of New Orleans, of course, was the shoe.
Andre Gordon scored 15 points and Tyrece Radford had 13 points to lead five Aggies in double figures as A&M (7-1) claimed an easy 85-65 college basketball victory over UNO (3-5) at Reed Arena. But it might have been a little too easy for coach Buzz Williams’ liking.
A&M reeled off a 13-3 run and a 14-2 run en route to taking control early and cruising to a 44-26 lead. Although never really threatened, the Aggies seemingly got complacent in the second half and didn’t play with the same intensity.
UNO trailed by as many as 22 points but pulled within 53-41 with an 8-0 run that was capped by forward D’Ante Bell’s dunk with 11:54 to play.
Undaunted, Wade Taylor IV and Gordon hit 3-pointers to start and end a 12-2 run that put A&M again up by 22, 65-43, with just under nine minutes remaining.
UNO was never again closer than 15 points.
"I think it’s basketball player’s nature just to get comfortable,” Gordon said. “That can be a gift and a curse at the same time. I think we played well. I think we handled both halves how we should have handled them.”
“Got a little comfortable. They had a lot of layups in the second half, but I think we played good.”
Williams might not have been in full agreement with his junior shooting guard.
“I thought we did some really good things in the first half defensively relative to what we want to try to accomplish,” Williams said. “(We) Did not start the second half well. They (UNO) just got it to the middle of the floor repeatedly.”
“I don’t know what the right thing is. The first time out I don’t say anything. Then the first media timeout I scream. And neither one of them had an impact.”
Perhaps Williams was over-critical. After all, the Aggies forced 15 turnovers, committed just 10, held a 41-33 advantage in rebounds and converted 11 treys.
And even though UNO guard Derek St. Hilaire scored 20 points, he was held below his average of 21.6.
However, Williams knows stronger opponents await later in the season. He warned the Aggies cannot give up possessions and be successful in the Southeastern Conference race.
“I think a little bit of it is (complacency),” Williams said of the second-half showing. “I think a little bit of it is lack of discipline. I think a little bit of it is lack of maturity. I think a little bit of it is ‘Buzz, relax we’re going to win.’”
“But mature teams don’t give away consecutive possessions of complete lack of execution on both ends.”
Williams saw flashes of the form the Aggies displayed in victories over Butler and Notre Dame last week at the Maui Invitational in Las Vegas, but he was looking for more.
“In Vegas, a lot of our offense stemmed from our defense,” he said. “I think too often tonight, particularly in our second half, we were too reliant on our offense and not doing what will be required the last 100 days of the season, defensively.”
