Attacking Aggies: A&M stomps South Carolina, 94-53, as flawless SEC start continues

Press conference videos courtesy of USC Athletics.

The wave of success Texas A&M has been riding grew into a tsunami on Saturday.

The Aggies streaked out to a quick 10-point lead and never slowed down on the way to a crushing 94-53 Southeastern Conference basketball victory over South Carolina in Columbia.

In posting its sixth consecutive win, A&M (12-5, 4-0) notched its largest SEC margin of victory since defeating Georgia, 79-45, on Jan. 16, 2016.

As has become commonplace, A&M suffocated the Gamecocks (8-9, 1-3) on the defensive end of the court. The Aggies limited South Carolina to 38 percent shooting, gave up just five offensive rebounds and forced 12 turnovers.

In its previous game, South Carolina upset Kentucky, 71-68, behind a 26-point performance from guard Meechie Johnson.

Johnson managed just 11 points against A&M’s swarming defense, which has now limited six consecutive opponents to 66 points or less.

However, the Aggies might have been even more impressive on the offensive end.

Wade Taylor led the Aggies with 20 points. Forward Julius Marble had 14. Dexter Dennis scored 13. Henry Coleman had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Khalen Robinson came off the bench to score 12.

The Aggies shot 54.8 (34-of-62) percent from the field, 45 percent (9-of-20) from 3-point range and 81 percent (17-of-21) at the free throw line.

Just as impressive, A&M out-rebounded the Gamecocks, 48-16.

“In the first half, our offensive rebounding percentage was 58 percent and our defensive rebound percentage was 94 percent,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “I think they had one defensive rebound in the first half.”

“Literally, one of my game charts that I talk to my team I had written first half — question mark — and second half — question mark —  in the pregame notes. So, obviously at halftime, I filled in those numbers.”

Consequently, A&M scored 27 points on second chances. South Carolina scored seven. The Aggies also had 38 points in the paint compared to 16 for the Gamecocks.

The onslaught started from the outset. The Aggies raced out to a 12-2 lead less than three minutes into the game after Marble converted a 3-point play.

A&M followed that up with a 9-0 run which Taylor closed with a 3-pointer from the right wing for a 21-5 lead with 12:56 showing.

Then, Dexter Dennis finished another 9-0 run with a trey from the corner for a 30-7 advantage.

Another 9-0 run was closed as Dennis and Hayden Hefner drilled 3-pointers from the corner that A&M has obviously turned since suffering back-to-back losses in mid-December.

Coleman closed a 9-1 run which lifted A&M to a 50-15 lead with just 1:18 left in the half.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

For the second-straight season, Texas A&M is 4-0 beginning conference play.

The Gamecocks added a 3-pointer with seconds remaining before intermission, but the issue had long been settled.

In an 82-64 victory over Missouri on Wednesday, the Aggies roared out to a 43-25 halftime lead, but the margin was reduced to four points before A&M reasserted its dominance.

The Aggies would not allow South Carolina a similar rally. A&M’s lead swelled to 46 points and never dipped below 31 points in the second half.

“Here’s the same opportunity we had on Wednesday night,” Williams said. “Can we take a step in regards to growing and maturing?”

The Aggies took several giant steps in that direction.