Billy Kennedy
Jones & Caruso
K-State Postgame
Texas A&M Basketball
Senior-led Aggies fend off Kansas State at home, 78-68
Heralded freshmen are a major source of optimism for Texas A&M’s basketball season, but sometimes the seniors need to remind how vital they are.
Saturday was one of those times.
Jalen Jones shook off a bout of strep throat to score a season-high 25 points and Alex Caruso turned in a stellar all-around performance to propel the Aggies to a big 78-68 college basketball victory over Kansas State before 7,003 at Reed Arena.
The Aggies frequently held seemingly comfortable leads only to see Kansas State come back. Each time the visiting Wildcats threatened, the Aggies held off the rally with Jones and Caruso leading the way.
“We could never really put them away,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “I thought Alex Caruso and Jalen really stepped up for us. It was good to see a couple of seniors step up. That’s the mark of a good team.”
The Aggies (8-2) certainly re-established themselves as a “good team” in bouncing back from last week’s disappointing 67-54 loss at Arizona State.
“We had a bad taste in our mouths (for losing to Arizona State) and we knew we had to come in here and take care of Kansas State and get ready for Baylor (next Saturday),” Jones said. “It feels good to be back on the winning side.”
The victory over Big 12 member Kansas State (7-2), which has wins over Georgia and Missouri as well as a competitive loss to North Carolina, will boost the Aggies’ RPI as they continue the quest to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Kennedy.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Though Kansas State was difficult to put away, the Aggies played like the better team and were rewarded for it.
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“This was really important psychologically for our team,” Caruso said. “After playing Arizona State we had a whole week to think about that game. It’s good to have a full week off having practice and competing. It’s good to have a win under our belt and get our morale back up. Wins over a Power 5 school are always a good thing.”
The Aggies did a lot of good things to subdue the stubborn Wildcats. They shot 54 percent from the field, hit seven three-pointers, forced 16 turnovers and scored 39 points off the bench.
Jones hit 8 of 15 shots, including both he attempted from three-point range. He also converted 7 of 8 free throws and led the Aggies with nine rebounds.
Caruso scored 13 points and posted season highs with nine assists and six steals.
Freshman Tyler Davis added 10 points.
Kansas State was led by Houstonian Wesley Iwundu, who scored 23 points, and forward D. J. Johnson, who scored 14.
A&M appeared in complete control when Jones, who did not practice this week until Friday and came off the bench, drilled a three-pointer from the top-of-the-key to provide a 64-45 lead with 6:02 remaining.
However, Iwundu led a 19-5 charge to cut A&M’s lead to 69-64 with 1:37 left.
Iwundu scored 13 points in that run, including a three-point play that brought the Wildcats within five.
But Caruso spun around Kansas State’s Austin Budke for a layup with 39 seconds left. He then stole the inbounds pass and got the basketball to Anthony Collins, who was fouled and made two free throws for a 75-66 lead.
Danuel House then rebounded Kansas State’s Justin Edwards' missed a three-point attempt and passed to Jones, who settled the issue with a thundering dunk.
“I thought I was athletic and quicker than him,” Caruso said. “Coached called the play. I tried to attack. I spun back and shot a layup. I was just trying to be aggressive.”
That kind of aggression served the Aggies well in repelling earlier Kansas State rallies.
The Wildcats were down 33-23 late in the first half and pulled within four. However, Jalen Jones scored a layup off an assist from House for a 35-29 halftime lead.
A&M got out to a nine-point lead early in the second half, but Kansas State stormed back to pull within 43-42 on a layup by Iwundu.
In fact, the Wildcats had a chance to take the lead, but Caruso made a steal which led to a flagrant foul on Iwundu.
Caruso made both free throws and later assisted on an Admon Gilder three-pointer for a 48-42 A&M lead.
That steal kicked off a 21-3 A&M run.
“That was a game changer,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. "We kept fighting back. Now, we have a chance. There were other plays and other series we still had chances and didn’t take care of business. They took advantage of it and got us on our heels.”
Note: Freshman forward Elijah Thomas did not suit up. Kennedy said he was out with “personal issues” and could possibly return.
Saturday was one of those times.
Jalen Jones shook off a bout of strep throat to score a season-high 25 points and Alex Caruso turned in a stellar all-around performance to propel the Aggies to a big 78-68 college basketball victory over Kansas State before 7,003 at Reed Arena.
The Aggies frequently held seemingly comfortable leads only to see Kansas State come back. Each time the visiting Wildcats threatened, the Aggies held off the rally with Jones and Caruso leading the way.
“We could never really put them away,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “I thought Alex Caruso and Jalen really stepped up for us. It was good to see a couple of seniors step up. That’s the mark of a good team.”
The Aggies (8-2) certainly re-established themselves as a “good team” in bouncing back from last week’s disappointing 67-54 loss at Arizona State.
“We had a bad taste in our mouths (for losing to Arizona State) and we knew we had to come in here and take care of Kansas State and get ready for Baylor (next Saturday),” Jones said. “It feels good to be back on the winning side.”
The victory over Big 12 member Kansas State (7-2), which has wins over Georgia and Missouri as well as a competitive loss to North Carolina, will boost the Aggies’ RPI as they continue the quest to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Kennedy.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Though Kansas State was difficult to put away, the Aggies played like the better team and were rewarded for it.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Though Kansas State was difficult to put away, the Aggies played like the better team and were rewarded for it.","MediaItemID":63816}
The Aggies did a lot of good things to subdue the stubborn Wildcats. They shot 54 percent from the field, hit seven three-pointers, forced 16 turnovers and scored 39 points off the bench.
Jones hit 8 of 15 shots, including both he attempted from three-point range. He also converted 7 of 8 free throws and led the Aggies with nine rebounds.
Caruso scored 13 points and posted season highs with nine assists and six steals.
Freshman Tyler Davis added 10 points.
Kansas State was led by Houstonian Wesley Iwundu, who scored 23 points, and forward D. J. Johnson, who scored 14.
A&M appeared in complete control when Jones, who did not practice this week until Friday and came off the bench, drilled a three-pointer from the top-of-the-key to provide a 64-45 lead with 6:02 remaining.
However, Iwundu led a 19-5 charge to cut A&M’s lead to 69-64 with 1:37 left.
Iwundu scored 13 points in that run, including a three-point play that brought the Wildcats within five.
But Caruso spun around Kansas State’s Austin Budke for a layup with 39 seconds left. He then stole the inbounds pass and got the basketball to Anthony Collins, who was fouled and made two free throws for a 75-66 lead.
Danuel House then rebounded Kansas State’s Justin Edwards' missed a three-point attempt and passed to Jones, who settled the issue with a thundering dunk.
“I thought I was athletic and quicker than him,” Caruso said. “Coached called the play. I tried to attack. I spun back and shot a layup. I was just trying to be aggressive.”
That kind of aggression served the Aggies well in repelling earlier Kansas State rallies.
The Wildcats were down 33-23 late in the first half and pulled within four. However, Jalen Jones scored a layup off an assist from House for a 35-29 halftime lead.
A&M got out to a nine-point lead early in the second half, but Kansas State stormed back to pull within 43-42 on a layup by Iwundu.
In fact, the Wildcats had a chance to take the lead, but Caruso made a steal which led to a flagrant foul on Iwundu.
Caruso made both free throws and later assisted on an Admon Gilder three-pointer for a 48-42 A&M lead.
That steal kicked off a 21-3 A&M run.
“That was a game changer,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. "We kept fighting back. Now, we have a chance. There were other plays and other series we still had chances and didn’t take care of business. They took advantage of it and got us on our heels.”
Note: Freshman forward Elijah Thomas did not suit up. Kennedy said he was out with “personal issues” and could possibly return.
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