Poor shooting plagues A&M as LSU takes conference opener, 68-53

It’s too early to hit the panic button, but perhaps it’s time for Texas A&M to locate it just in case.

That’s how disjointed the Aggies appeared in a 68-53 blowout loss to LSU on Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference basketball opener.

The Aggies (9-5, 0-1) previously have been remarkably efficient at offensive rebounding, which has resulted in extra shots and second-chance points. That has frequently compensated for poor shooting, particularly from 3-point range.

There was no such compensation against LSU (9-5, 1-0). The Aggies again struggled behind the arc, but the taller and more physical Tigers outrebounded the Aggies and surrendered only 13 offensive boards.

As a result, A&M took eight fewer shots than LSU and managed a mere three second-chance points.

“I think we got beat at what we have done this year in beating people,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “The recipe they followed is the recipe we have followed. We didn’t obviously tonight.

“We do need to shoot the ball better. That’s easy to point to, but the way that we have the (nation’s) fifth-best offense is we don’t turn the ball over, and we shoot more balls than the opponent mostly because of offensive rebounding.

“Tonight, they beat us on the offensive glass. They beat on the defensive glass. They beat us overall. They shot more balls than we did. That recipe is the recipe we try to follow.”

No doubt, key ingredients were missing, but the number of shots they were missing was arguably more alarming.

As usual, guard Wade Taylor IV led the Aggies with 23 points. He hit eight of 20 shots, including three from behind the arc.

However, the rest of the Aggies combined to convert just seven of 39 field goal attempts (17.9 percent). A&M also hit 17.9 percent from 3-point range (5-of-28).

Despite their long-range inaccuracy, the Aggies took almost half their shots (28 of 59) from behind the arc.

"Most of the threes we took were good shots,” Taylor said. “We’ve just got to continue to shoot them. They eventually will fall. We don’t want to pass up open shots.”

The Aggies converted just two of 16 shots behind the arc in the first half but hit 14 free throws to hold a 32-30 edge at halftime.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Texas A&M’s last SEC loss at Reed Arena was to LSU during the 2021-22 season.

LSU dominated the second half. Led by guard Jordan Wright, who scored 20 points, the Tigers scored the first eight points of the second half and never let up.

A&M still had a shot to pull out a win when Taylor converted a three-point play to pull the Aggies within 46-44.

But like so many other shots, that also went awry. The Aggies made just one of their next nine shots, which enabled LSU to build a double-digit lead.

In the second half, LSU grabbed 25 rebounds, scored 24 points in the paint and had 11 second-chance points.

“Certainly, you want to force some tough shots, but it’s got to be a battle on the glass,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said. “We can talk technique all we want, but ultimately, you’ve got to go get the ball. I thought our guys played with great toughness around the basket tonight.”

That might be why an eye may be cast on the panic button. Despite playing better in recent weeks, LSU is projected as a second-tier team in the SEC race.

Stronger opponents await A&M, and they’re all well aware the Aggies rely heavily on offensive rebounds and second chances.

“Any time you get to conference everybody knows who you are,” Williams said. “Everything is raised. The stakes are higher.

“There’s no secrets on your plays. They know our plays. We know their plays. They know our players. We know their players. It’s much more pure from a competitive standpoint. It’s good on good. It’s best on best. We were not our best in the things that we have to be good at.”

That’s a concern with a trip to No. 25 Auburn looming on Tuesday and No. 6 Kentucky coming to Reed Arena next Saturday.

But in previous seasons, Williams has expertly found the recipe to get the Aggies cooking in SEC play. There’s no reason yet to doubt he’ll do it again.

Therefore, the Aggies aren’t yet reaching for the panic button.

"It’s early. It’s the first game,” Taylor said. “We just want to take all the lessons we learned tonight and continue to push forward.

“We have a quick turnaround. We play, I think in my opinion, the best team so far in our conference, Auburn, at their house. We’ve just got to continue to play our game and be the best we can be.”