In a season marked by adversity, resiliency key to Aggies' hot streak

Breaks haven’t come often for Texas A&M, but the Aggies are hoping to earn one in the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament.

Injuries to Admon Gilder, Wendell Mitchell, Josh Nebo and T.J. Starks, the departure of Isiah Jasey, the dismissal of an assistant coach and the emotional anguish of one player losing his father and another losing a grandmother and cousin have contributed to a disappointing campaign for the Aggies (13-15, 6-10).

However, the Aggies have played well enough to have a chance to capture a first round bye in the SEC Tournament, which runs from March 13-17 in Nashville.

The bottom four teams in the SEC standings play in the first round.

The Aggies have won five of their last seven games and are currently tied with Arkansas for 11th place. A&M can enhance its chances of a getting first day bye in the SEC Tournament with a win over South Carolina (14-15, 9-7) Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Reed Arena.

“I’m really proud of my guys and my staff for hanging together and doing what we’ve been able to do because a lot of teams would’ve folded,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “This group has been resilient and done a good job of at least playing well at this point. Hopefully, we can finish that out and continue to build off it.”

Continuing to build would mean reversing the outcome of the first meeting with the Gamecocks. South Carolina, which is mired in a three-game losing streak, defeated the Aggies 84-77 on Feb. 16 in Columbia.

South Carolina tied a school record with 16 3-point goals in that game. Six of those were provided by freshman A.J. Lawson, who is not expected to play because of a severely sprained ankle.

“Hopefully, them playing on the road they won’t make 16 3’s here,” Kennedy said. “They’re capable. Losing Lawson is losing a perimeter weapon. They’ve got a couple of guards who can make 3’s and (6-foot-9 senior forward) Chris Silva made at least one 3 against us last time.  We’ve got to continue to defend the 3-point line and we’ve got to keep them off the glass. Hopefully, we can score enough points to beat them.”

Of course, the Aggies are without injured guard T.J. Starks, who scored 16 points in the first game against South Carolina.

“Offensively, we had a hard time guarding their perimeter and keeping them out of the paint. We had a hard time taking are of the ball against their pressure. I’m more concerned about us scoring in the half court. We were able to create a lot of offensive penetration. T.J. was a big part of that. This game is going to be a little bit different.”

The Aggies can hope there will be no difference in the production from guards Savion Flagg and Wendell Mitchell. Flagg had 24 points and hit six treys in the first game with South Carolina. Mitchell had 20 points.

But the Aggies will need a much different showing from posts Christian Mekowulu and Josh Nebo. They combined for just seven points and seven rebounds, while Silva notched a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

“They’re really good inside with Silva and (6-foot-11 center Maik) Kosar,” Kennedy said. “Size and length have given us problems. So, we’re going to have to be able kick it back out and play more inside out. Hopefully, we’ll be more effective scoring inside.”

And just maybe the Aggies can keep playing well enough to finally get a break.