Infusions of energy and synergy powered Texas A&M to an easy 76-66 Southeastern Conference victory over Ole Miss on Saturday in Oxford.
The ten-point margin did not accurately convey the complete dominance of the Aggies (18-11, 7-9), who posted their third victory in four games.
Led by Tyrece Radford, A&M hit its first six shots and opened with a 14-0 run. The Aggies led 46-23 at halftime, and the margin never dipped below nine points.
“I thought we played with tremendous energy from start to finish,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “Our guys were connected. I thought we communicated at a high level on the floor, in the huddles. I thought they played with great courage, great competitive spirit.
Brooke Homfeld, TexAgs
Tyrece Radford led the Aggies with 19 points, 16 of which came in the first half.
“We were not as good in the second half as we were in the first, but you can argue that’s the best half of SEC play that we’ve had on the road, maybe since we’ve been here.”
There’s no argument.
A&M shot 68 percent (19-of-28) in the first half. That included four treys. The Aggies also forced ten Ole Miss turnovers before intermission.
Radford led the way, with 16 of his team-high 19 points coming in the first 20 minutes. He made his first six shots and converted 7-of-8 attempts in the first half.
“I didn’t know I was going to come out with the hot hand this game,” Radford said. “My team kept feeding me. They believed in me, and I believed in them the whole time.
“We had unbelievable ball movement in the first half, too. I think that’s what got me good looks. A couple of my teammates got good looks, too.”
Sophomore guard Hassan Diarra, who came off the bench to score 13 points, acknowledged the Aggies were feeding the fire that was Radford’s hot hand.
“I definitely think we were looking for him,” Diarra said. “He was hitting some very good shots — not open and open. We went to him a little bit more. He got going very quick.”
The Aggies did not figure to slow down in the second half. Williams didn’t even deliver a halftime message. He didn’t have to. Players were doing the coaching.
“Coach Hassan was a big part of what we were doing,” Williams said. “Coach IV (Wade Taylor) did a great job as associate head coach. Coach Q (Quenton Jackson), our video coordinator, was very involved at halftime. And then Boots (Radford) is our director of player personnel.
“We went in a different room (than the locker room), and I allowed those four guys to say what they had to say as coaches.
“Those guys collectively — not just those four guys — all of them, the synergy amongst them has been at an all-time high this season for sure.”
“They understand what’s at stake. They have great pride in who they are and the relationships they have with one another. I think you can feel that. I think you can hear that. I think you can sense that. If you’re watching it, I think you can see that.
- A&M coach Buzz Williams
The energy and synergy continued in the second half. A&M maintained a 64-40 lead on a Radford layup with 10:30 to play.
The Rebels, who were boosted by guard Matt Murrell’s 20-point effort, mounted a mild rally to pull within 72-63, but that was with just over a minute to play.
Though Radford disagreed, the Aggies were never seriously threatened.
“In this league, anybody can lose to anybody at any given moment,” he said. “Anything is possible.”
Indeed, it’s possible that A&M could break even in the SEC race despite languishing through an eight-game losing streak.
A road trip to Alabama and a home game with Mississippi State remains. A .500 conference record and a 20-win season would boost A&M’s postseason hopes.
“They understand what’s at stake,” Williams said. “They have great pride in who they are and the relationships they have with one another. I think you can feel that. I think you can hear that. I think you can sense that. If you’re watching it, I think you can see that.
“I’m just really encouraged by the spirit in which they’re competing.”
