If first impressions mean anything, then this basketball season Texas A&M will:
Take a lot of 3-pointers.
Make a lot of 3-pointers.
Get a lot of points from Hayden Hefner.
Get a lot of points from Wade Taylor IV.
Get a lot of dunks from Solomon Washington.
Get a lot of help from transfers.
Go on a lot of runs.
Get a lot of rebounds.
The No. 15-ranked Aggies did all of the above on Monday night in a season-opening 78-46 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce that wasn’t even that close.
“I think we learned a lot in our two scrimmages and exhibitions (vs. Baylor and Texas Tech),” Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “Our staff identified what we need to work on. Our players were very receptive to those lessons. I think a lot of it translated to tonight.
“I thought it was the right and first best step. I think a lot of it comes from what we learned the last two weeks.”
Playing before 8,802 fans — the second-largest season-opening crowd at Reed Arena — A&M hit 11 of 28 attempts from 3-point range. Hefner converted seven of 10 shots he attempted — including a trio of treys — en route to a career-high 19 points.
“I play against some pretty good defenders every day, and I have so since about May,” Hefner said. “They’re giving us looks that I see almost every week. Just being aggressive and know I can make those plays.”
Hefner’s showing didn’t surprise Taylor, who hit four treys in a 16-point performance.
“I see ‘H’ work every day,” Taylor said. “He’s in the gym consistently. I knew when the time was right, he was going to show everybody what he’s been packing in his bags. I’m excited for ‘H.’ I feel like today was his coming out party.”
Also in double figures were Eli Lawrence, a transfer from Middle Tennessee, and Washington.
Lawrence scored 11 points in just 10 minutes of play. Washington had 10 points. Two of his baskets were dunks. He also hit a 3-pointer and converted a 3-point play.
That 3-point play concluded a 12-0 run that staked the Aggies to an early 20-7 lead.
Commerce got hot briefly and pulled within 21-20, but Hefner hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to spark a 10-2 run.
The Aggies later closed the first half with an 11-3 run to take a 42-27 halftime lead.
Then Taylor hit consecutive shots to launch a 13-2 run that settled the issue early in the second half.
After that run, which provided a 55-31 lead with 16:10 to play, the Aggies never dipped below 20 points from there.
Commerce was handcuffed by the A&M defense, which limited the visiting Lions to just 29.6 percent shooting (16 of 54). They hit just 4-of-28 attempts from 3-point range.
Leading scorer Jerome Brewer Jr. made just one of his shots behind the arc and managed just 13 points.
“They’re good,” said Commerce coach Jaret von Rosenberg. “They’re really good defensively. They didn’t allow us one time to come down and get into our stuff.”
Further, the Lions managed just seven offensive rounds and a mere two second-chance points. A&M held a 47-25 advantage on the boards.
“I think tonight we offensive rebounded 47 percent of our misses. That’s a great number,” Williams said. “We were one of the best in the country at offensive rebounding and then one of the worst in the country in defensive rebounding.
“So, we’ve tried to be more proactive in how we teach it and how we coach it and how we emphasize it.”
The Aggies obviously responded and were impressive in making a first impression.
NOTE
Commerce coach Jaret von Rosenberg’s wife, Sarah, has been hospitalized in Dallas since suffering a stroke at their home on Oct. 13. The couple have three children ages 7, 5 and 9 months.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family.
Williams encouraged anyone who is able to contribute to the fund.
“I know it’s a giving time of the year,” Williams said. “I would just ask people, if you can, whether it’s your tithe or whether you have extra, I think anything would be helpful to that family.”
