Gordon's big shot lifts Texas A&M to a 68-66 victory over Auburn

It took 16 minutes into the first period, but the Aggies found their stride in the new year.

With four minutes remaining in the first half and Auburn leading 18-17, Texas A&M nearly doubled its scoring output by going on a 16-4 scoring spree. The run allowed the Aggies to take a 33-22 lead into halftime.

After the sixth full roster substitution by Buzz Williams, Hassan Diarra made two free throws that were followed by three 3-pointers, a couple of jump shots and a free throw.

Not only did the Maroon & White find a rhythm on offense, but the defensive intensity picked up as the Aggies forced three turnovers, blocked a shot at the rim and did not allow Auburn to get a single offensive rebound during the same four-minute momentum-building run heading into intermission.

The second half saw both teams come out of the locker room on a mission as they combined to score 21 points in the first four minutes of action — 12 of those points in the 1:42 of the half.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Emanuel Miller scored 16 points for A&M.

It was a back-and-forth game for the majority of the second period.

Just as the Aggies made a run in the last four minutes of the first half, Auburn made its own run in the final four minutes as the Tigers tied the game, 64-64, with one minute remaining after facing a nine-point deficit.

After a strategic timeout by Buzz Williams immediately following the Tigers locking up the score, A&M went to Emanuel Miller, who scored a layup to give the Aggies a two-point lead with 45 seconds left.

A&M then stopped the Tigers to get the ball back. The Aggies coughed up their 19th turnover on the ensuing possession, leading to an Auburn dunk and another tied scoreboard.

With 14 seconds remaining, Williams put the ball in sophomore guard Andre Gordon's hands.

Gordon drove the left side of the court, used a shot fake to get his defender in the air, stepped through and put a floater over the hands of two Auburn defenders. The shot banked off the glass to give A&M a 68-66 lead. Gordon’s floated turned out to be the game-winning basket.

The Aggies' next game is January 6 as A&M travels to Columbia, South Carolina, to face the Gamecocks.