Another Hefner eruption may be enough to end A&M's six-game skid

In a Hollywood fantasy, Hayden Hefner would have hit a final sixth 3-pointer last Saturday to give Texas A&M a victory over Missouri.

Alas, in College Station reality, he never got a chance.

But after his 17-point outburst, in which he hit five-of-six attempts from behind the 3-point arc, Hefner gives a reason to believe A&M (15-8, 4-6) can end its six-game Southeastern Conference basketball losing streak when the Aggies face LSU (16-7, 4-6) on Tuesday night at Reed Arena for a 6 p.m. tipoff.

Meredith Tabor, TexAgs

Hayden Hefner nearly doubled his former career-best 10 points, posting 17 against Mizzou. 

The Aggies have scored 66 points or less in four of the six games during their skid. An additional source of point production could be invaluable against LSU, which leads the SEC and is 16th in the nation in scoring defense.

Hefner not only netted a career-high with 17 points, but his five 3-point goals were more than he’d previously managed the entire season combined.

“He was great on Saturday,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said on Monday. “(He) Played much more physical. He’s improved over the last two-and-a-half, three weeks in practice. Changes the complexion of our team when we can space the floor. 

“Hopefully, he continues to do that. Until we can get repeated results if that’s the way we want to go into the game. But I do think when you have a game like that, it gives you confidence.

Hefner has expressed confidence that he can continue to be a factor in A&M’s offense.

“I’m going to continue to do what I’ve done every day,” he said after the Missouri game. “Just never get satisfied. Always look forward to the next chance.”

Hefner did not score in a 70-64 loss to then-No. 19  LSU on Jan. 26. If he can help out Quenton Jackson, Andre Gordon and Tyrece Radford, who all scored in double-figures in Baton Rouge, it might provide the boost necessary to end a nine-game losing streak against the Tigers.

But LSU won in Baton Rouge without point guard Xavier Pinson and forward Darius Days. Also, leading scorer Tari Eason was hobbled by injury.

Pinson remains doubtful, but Days and Eason are available. However, they also played on Saturday in a 75-66 upset loss to Vanderbilt. It was LSU's third consecutive loss since beating A&M.

Regardless of who’s on the floor, Williams said the Aggies must get more rebounds and commit fewer turnovers than they did in Baton Rouge.

“They had 15 offensive rebounds, which really hurt us,” Williams said. “And then we had 18 turnovers, eight of which were live ball. Those would be the two categories that we will have to have distinct improvement in our game for us to be better.” 

And to get a better outcome.