A&M's second-half surge and Jackson's 31 points overpower UCA, 85-59
It was a slow start against Central Arkansas but a strong finish to the non-conference schedule as Texas A&M cruised to an 85-59 win on Wednesday night at Reed Arena.
“It was the best defensive rebound percentage game we’ve had. Very encouraging, and that’s critical for our team,” head coach Buzz Williams said postgame. “There are still a lot of things we have to work on... I thought we were really good [in regard to energy] in the second half and too up-and-down in the first half.”
The first period of action was a back-and-forth affair as both teams went on 18-0 runs. Just as the game began, A&M got a steal and a layup with under 10 seconds remaining in the half to take a 35-34 lead at the intermission.
Quenton Jackson carried the scoring load for the Maroon & White from start to finish against the Bears as the fifth-year senior scored a team, game and career-high 31 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field. Jackson added seven rebounds, one assist and no turnovers in 25 minutes.
Along with Jackson, Aaron Cash provided another spark that led to the blowout.
“[Cash’s] physicality around the rim, even when he doesn’t get the ball, causes another two hands, or four hands, to have to be where those are, and now it’s going to be an unclean rebound,” Williams said. “His presence at the rim is a portion of why our guards got the rebounds.”
With 8:29 left in the second half, Cash drove the lane and finished at the rim with an emphatic dunk to give the Aggies a 56-53 lead.
The ensuing six minutes was all Texas A&M as the home team filled the stat sheet with ten rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block on its way to a 23-2 scoring run and a 20+ point advantage.
Cash accounted for eight rebounds, six of which were on the offensive glass, to go along with two points and two assists in 15 minutes of action.
The Texas A&M defense allowed just one field goal and one free throw in the final 5:50 of play.
The Aggies will take a 26-point victory to Athens for their SEC opener against Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 6:00 p.m.
