Rejuvenated Aggies eager to settle score with LSU in Baton Rouge

It stands to reason that Texas A&M will post a third straight basketball victory when the Aggies travel to LSU on Tuesday night.

True, the Aggies (13-6, 2-5) lost to LSU just over two weeks ago. But the Aggies were playing without starters Robert Williams, Admon Gilder and Duane Wilson and still lost just 69-68 on a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Williams, Gilder and Wilson are all back on the lineup this time.

“It’s going to be a fun game,” A&M junior center Tyler Davis said. “We’ve got everybody back, so we’ve got to get a win.”

Of course, even with the starters back, nothing can be taken for granted on the basketball court.

However, if the Aggies do win, a big reason figures to be they played successful defense at the three-point line. LSU (11-7, 2-4) converted 12 three-pointers in the previous meeting, including two from NBA range by guard Tremont Waters in the last 12 seconds.

Waters, who scored 21 points in that game, has been held to fewer than 10 points in three of the last four games. That’s a big factor in the Tigers entering the clash with A&M on a three-game losing streak.

At the same time the Aggies cannot lose track of LSU guard Skylar Mays and forward Aaron Epps, who both netted 11 points and combined for five three-pointers against the Aggies.

“Skylar Mays and Aaron Epps hurt us last game,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “They had 22 points combined. We can’t have those guys have numbers like that against us. Tremont Waters is such a tough matchup. You spend so much focus on him you can’t let those other guys get loose and hurt you.”

Containing Waters, who averages 15.8 points, remains the Aggies' top defensive priority. Therefore, the 6-foot-4 Gilder, who excels on defense and is fives inches taller than Waters, will guard him.

“Admon will start out on him,” Kennedy said. “We’re hoping the size will bother (Waters).”

On Saturday, Gilder held Missouri’s high-scoring Kassius Robertson to just seven points.

Despite all the focus on LSU’s perimeter threats, the Tigers have an inside threat, too. Duop Reath, a 6-foot-11 senior post, scored 31 points in LSU’s 77-71 loss at Vanderbilt on Saturday.

However, the Aggies still have an advantage inside with Tyler Davis, who had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the first encounter with LSU. The return of Williams enhances that advantage. Williams has scored 31 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in the Aggies’ wins over Ole Miss and Missouri.

“I think we’re a different team — a better team — than the first time we played them,” Kennedy said. “They’ve got some weapons that obviously we’re aware of. The Duop Reath kid is coming off a 31-point game so he’s playing well for them. You always have to know about Tremont Waters.

“I don’t think we’ll ever forget about him.”