Texas A&M fends off a late Missouri surge to survive a road scare, 66-64

Quenton Jackson drew a crucial offensive foul and hit a pair of clutch free throws as Texas A&M survived a furious Missouri rally to capture a 66-64 Southeastern Conference basketball victory in Columbia.

Missouri had a last-second chance to pull out a victory, but Torrence Watson’s 3-point attempt clanged off the back of the iron.

Josh Nebo and Savion Flagg each scored 14 points, and Emanuel Miller had 12 for A&M (9-8, 3-3), which snapped a two-game losing skid.

Miller and Yavuz Gultekin both hit their first 3-pointers of the season.

Missouri (9-9, 1-5) got 19 points from Mark Smith, 18 from Dru Smith and 11 from Watson.

With 2:11 remaining in the game, the Aggies held a 60-51 lead after Flagg hit the first of two free throws.

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Josh Nebo throws down a dunk in A&M’s 66-64 victory over Missouri. The senior forward continues to be a force for the Aggies.

However, Mark Smith hit a couple of 3-pointers as Missouri went on an 11-2 run.

The Tigers had a chance to forge a 63-63 tie with 28 seconds left, but Mitchell Smith missed the second of two free throws. It was Missouri’s only missed free throw in 26 attempts.

The Aggies squandered a chance to add to their lead when Flagg missed two free throws with 24 seconds to play.

But five seconds later, Jackson drew an offensive foul on Mark Smith near the top-of-the-key.

Jackson was fouled on A&M’s ensuing possession and converted two free throws for a 65-62 lead with 9.8 seconds remaining.

Jay Jay Chandler then fouled Mark Smith while vying for a rebound with 2.1 seconds to play. Mark Smith hit both free throws to pull the Tigers within one.

Miller was immediately fouled and converted the second of two free throws for the 64-62 lead.

Mark Smith heaved a length-of-the-court baseball in-bounds pass to Parker Braun on the baseline. Braun immediately passed back to Watson, who could not connect.

The Aggies entered the game determined to defend the 3-point line more effectively. They had allowed 30 baskets from 3-point range in their last two games against LSU and South Carolina.

Missouri hit nine 3-point field goals but shot just 25.7 percent (9 of 35) from behind the arc. A&M allowed Missouri just eight second-chance points, which also has been a problem for the Aggies.

It was apparent this would be a nip-and-tuck contest in a laborious first half in which the Aggies went eight minutes without scoring at one point and trailed 32-27 at the break.

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Emanuel Miller pulls up from three. The freshman hit his first career 3-pointer on Tuesday night.

A&M had taken a 16-8 lead on a pair of Miller free throws that capped an 8-0 run with 12:36 to play in the half.

But the Aggies missed their next ten shots in an eight-minute scoring drought. Missouri capitalized on A&M’s inaccuracy to go on a 12-0 run and take a 20-16 lead.

The Aggies offense broke out of its hibernation when Flagg converted a three-point play, Chandler followed with consecutive 3-pointers, and Andre Gordon hit a tear-drop runner to forge a 27-27 tie with 1:03 left.

But Mark Smith, who had 11 points in the first half, scored a layup and then hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Tigers their 5-point lead.

Flagg had eight points, and Chandler had six in the first half.

For the most part, the Aggies did a solid job on the defensive end. They limited Missouri to 36.4 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent (5 of 14) from behind the arc.

A&M regained a 37-34 lead on Miller’s first 3-pointer, which capped an 8-0 run.

The margin remained close until Miller scored consecutive layups, and Flagg hit a free throw to close an 8-2 run, which provided A&M its 60-51 lead with 2:11 left.

Then Missouri launched its late charge, but the Aggies made enough plays to hold off the Tigers.