Aggies dominate Oregon State in 83-73 road win

Quick fixes were found to issues that have caused problems for Texas A&M.

The Aggies limited turnovers, surrendered minimal offensive rebounds, were accurate at the free throw line and played two strong halves in posting an 83-73 college basketball victory over Oregon State in Corvallis on Saturday night.

A&M (8-2) committed just 11 miscues and allowed Oregon State (1-10) a mere seven offensive boards. The Aggies also shot 73.3 percent (11 of 15) from the foul line.

That was a 180-degree turn from a frustrating 68-64 loss to TCU a week ago when A&M committed 18 turnovers, allowed 17 offensive boards and shot just 44.4 percent from the free throw line.

“I thought the energy and the spirit that we competed with from start to finish was for sure the best,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “Obviously, it was the first road game of the year. The energy and spirit was required.

“I thought our guys played with great poise relative to that. Significantly better with our turnover rate. Only three turnovers in the second half. I thought that was huge. From a defensive rebounding perspective significantly better.”

Obviously, the outcome was, too.

Freshman Wade Taylor scored 19 points to lead a 40-point barrage from the bench. He hit 7 of 9 shots, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range.

“Tonight I was feeling it,” Taylor said. “Give credit to my teammates. They told me to go out there and play like you can play. A little bit nervous before the game, but it was all good.”

Quenton Jackson, also off the bench, scored 16. Henry Coleman scored 16 and Andre Gordon had 11.

Oregon State was led by guard Jarod Lucas with 25.

The Aggies have had a tendency to get off to slow starts. But they were able to take a 36-29 halftime lead on Gordon’s runner at the buzzer.

They continued that momentum in the second half.

Gordon and Taylor hit 3-pointers, while Tyrece Radford and Jackson scored consecutive up-and-under layups in a 12-2 run that staked A&M to a 48-33 lead.

The Aggies settled the issue as Jackson scored six points in a 13-0 run that resulted in a 68-45 lead with 8:01 to play.

Oregon State hit a half dozen 3-pointers in the final eight minutes to make the final score respectable, but A&M’s victory was never in doubt.

The Aggies almost looked like a completely different team than the one that fell to TCU.

“TCU was a test,” Jackson said. “I think that’s something that I’m glad happened. We now know that we can’t take a game for granted. Regardless on paper, whether we’re supposed to win, we’ve got to come out and execute all the principles of our defense — boxing out, staying disciplined, not reaching.

“I think we learned that from TCU. I think it was kind of embarrassing to all of us losing that way. I think we came out today with a new mindset. We were focused, locked in and I think we got the job done.”