18-point halftime deficit too much for A&M to overcome at Mississippi State

Trying to come back from a 16-turnover performance is tough for any team to overcome. 

Texas A&M falls to 1-7 in conference play following a 78-58 loss to Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon. The turning point came early as A&M was down by only five heading into the second quarter, but the Bulldogs were able to close out the half with a 14-2 run to create an 18-point halftime deficit. 

"We had a good week of preparation, and Mississippi State didn’t do anything we weren't prepared for," guard Jordan Nixon said. "You want to be well prepared and execute, and we were missing the execution in today's game." 

The Aggies had zero points in the last 3:04 of the second, three turnovers in the same span and were ultimately outscored 24-11 in the quarter. A&M had nine turnovers in the first half and eventually finished the game with 16 total turnovers. The Bulldogs scored 14 points-off-turnovers, and it proved to be the difference-maker in the game. 

Texas A&M cut the deficit to 11 thanks to a 14-7 start out of the break with Kayla Wells scoring eight of the Aggies’ 14 points during that run. But the Aggies went cold again, scoring no field goals over the last 3:05 in the quarter. 

"I'm more concerned about my team than offense and defense,” head coach Gary Blair said. “I wish I had all the answers, but I give Mississippi State so much credit, and when we had cut the lead, they kept answering." 

A 13-4 run for the Bulldogs to start the fourth quarter ended the Aggies’ attempted comeback.

Two Aggies finished in double-figures — guards Kayla Wells and Destiny Pitts finished with 17 and 10 points, respectively. The Aggies struggled offensively, shooting just 40 percent from the field and 20 percent from behind the arc. 

"I'll tell you one thing: we are healthy and not happy, but we are hungry to get better as a basketball team,” Blair said. “I have to instill confidence in this team, and we have to know how to play."

“At least one thing is I have a bunch of Aggies who aren't going to quit, and we will keep trying to find ways."

The Aggies will be back at Reed Arena on Thursday to take on Arkansas for an 8 p.m. tip.