A&M looks into the 'mirror' as the Aggies face Mizzou a second time
Once again, Texas A&M faces a Southeastern Conference basketball opponent on a streak.
The Aggies have a different goal to get the same result.
Five days after halting Florida’s four-game winning streak, the Aggies (13-8, 4-4) hope to extend Missouri’s nine-game skid when they travel to face the Tigers (8-14, 0-9) on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Missouri’s SEC futility includes a 63-57 loss to A&M at Reed Arena on Jan. 23. But the Aggies vow they won’t take anything for granted in Columbia.
“Thinking like that can be pretty dangerous and lead us into a trap,” sophomore guard Manny Obaseki said. “Their backs are against the wall. They’re hungry for a win. Whenever you’re in that type of position in the SEC, you go balls to the wall and do whatever you can to win.
“For us, we have to come in there with the understanding that we have to throw the first punch and don’t back down.”
The Aggies certainly didn’t back down in a crucial 67-66 victory over Florida on Saturday. Tyrece Radford led the way with 26 points in that win.
Since Radford transferred to A&M three seasons ago, the Aggies are 10-1 when he scores 20 points or more.
A&M coach Buzz Williams said that’s no coincidence.
“I would say that typically means he’s relieving some pressure from other guys that allows them to be better as well,” Williams said.
The primary beneficiary is Wade Taylor IV, who leads A&M with a 19.8 scoring average and hasn’t always had a lot of help in losses. He has scored 30 points or more in five games this season. The Aggies are 1-4 in those games.
Taylor got help in the first game against Missouri.
He scored 19 points, while Radford and Andersson Garcia both had 11 and Henry Coleman III had 10.
Yet, the Aggies still had to grind out a win. They led by just three points with two minutes remaining.
Indeed, A&M’s last six games have been decided by a total of 20 points.
Also, Missouri, which relies heavily on the scoring of guards Sean East II and Tamar Bates, has had some close losses.
A “mirror” opponent, the Tigers not only lost to A&M by six but fell to South Carolina by just two.
Williams anticipates another hard-fought struggle just like the first game against Missouri. A&M shot just 28.8 percent from the field but compensated with 15 offensive rebounds and 27 converted free throws.
“We expect a one- or two-possession game just like every game they’ve played,” Williams said. “(Missouri) played more zone against us than any other team.
“I don’t know exactly how they will play or what they will do, but as best we can, we hope that we’re prepared for whatever comes our way.”
