No. 12 Texas A&M knocks off No. 25 Texas in Austin

After a six-year hiatus from competing with their in-state rival, the No. 12 Texas A&M Aggies handled No. 25 Texas (3-1) on the road in a Lone Star showdown, winning 66-61. Closing out the last of ten games of the Big 12/SEC Challenge, the Aggies extended their winning streak to four (4-0) and rekindled a rivalry at Frank Erwin Center.

The Aggies started strong, catching the Longhorns by surprise with an offensive explosion, knocking down three 3-pointers. Aaliyah Wilson attacked the basket and led the way with points (8) in the first quarter.

The Longhorns’ Charli Collier posed the biggest threat for Texas A&M as she entered the game, averaging 30 points a game. Gary Blair’s team tightened up on defense and held Collier to 14 points total and the Longhorns to 11 points in the first quarter, making it a season-low for the Longhorns. 

Bailey Orr/Texas A&M Athletics

N’dea Jones scored 16 in A&M’s win over the Longhorns.

“Kids just stepped up,” said Blair. “That’s what Aggies do when they’re playing Longhorns, you find a way to step up. The three threes in the first quarter were huge in giving us some separation.” 

It looked like the Aggies would run away with the victory as they shot out in front 22-11 to end the first quarter, but the momentum began to shift in the second quarter and it became clear that this would be a close contest that would not be decided until late.

The Longhorns, coached by longtime former Blair assistant Vic Schaefer, hit a huge three to end the first half cutting the lead to 7 points. The Aggies played confident, but Texas upped the level of physicality and continued to chip away at Texas A&M's lead. With 1:34 left in the 3rd quarter, the Horns tied the ballgame with an explosive ‘and-one’ by Texas's Joanne Allen-Taylor.

With the Longhorn bench on their feet in the Frank Erwin arena, the excitement was met with a clutch 3-pointer by Alexis Morris to recapture the lead for A&M just 5 seconds later. The game was tied again with 7 minutes left, but Aaliyah Wilson quickly scored to push the Aggies back out front 55-53. With less than four minutes left in the game, the Longhorns called a timeout to stop the bleeding of a 10-1 run. The Aggies were up 63-54 going into the huddle.

Joanne Allen Taylor came out and hit a three, quickly stole the ball, and drew a foul hitting both free throws and narrowing the lead to 63-59. Texas A&M was fighting to hold onto their lead with three minutes remaining. Texas’s Celeste Taylor hit a close-range shot off an inbounds play to cut the lead to 63-61.

With 47 seconds left, N’dea Jones forced a foul, giving the Aggies the ball, and Gary Blair called a time out. The Aggies inbounded the ball, working to preserve the lead. After another foul, Alexis Morris went to the line and hit two critical free throws for the Aggies, extending the lead to 65-61 with 17 seconds remaining.

The eyes of Texas were all on the hot hand of Joanne Allen-Taylor, but the ball instead went to Celeste Taylor, who charged N'dea Jones under the basket. Aaliyah Wilson was fouled with 7 seconds remaining and headed to the line to put the game away. Wilson hit the first with no teammates under the goal but missed the second.

Texas secured the rebound and tried to get a shot off, but time expired with the Aggies winning 66-61.

With 16 points and 10 rebounds, senior forward, N’dea Jones notched her 30th double-double of her career and fifth consecutive from last season. Aaliyah Wilson led the team with 17 points and 8 rebounds, handing Texas their first loss of the year.

Next, the Aggies will be back on the road to play the Little Rock Trojans. The game will take place at the Jack Stephens Center this Thursday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+ and heard to on 1150AM/93.7FM.

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