Double OT loss in Knoxville ends Texas A&M's winning streak

Press conference video courtesy of Tennessee Athletics.

Game #17: No. 24 Tennessee 87, Texas A&M 82 (2OT)
Records: Texas A&M (13-4, 3-1), Tennessee (2-2, 12-5)
Box Score

Previously in Southeastern Conference basketball play, Texas A&M has shown a knack for making plays in the clutch.

Yet, on Tuesday night, the Aggies (13-4, 3-1) were left clutching their heads in the disappointment of missed opportunity after an 87-82 double overtime loss to No. 24 Tennessee (12-5, 2-2) at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.

The Aggies' six-game winning streak came to an end despite a 20-point, nine-assist performance from guard Jacari Lane and four others scoring in double figures.

“You look at the fight in our guys,” A&M coach Bucky McMillan said. “It could have gone either way. The fight and being there. Being what we are, man, scrapping and clawing to be in that game. … It is what it is. I’m proud of it.

“The result didn’t go our way, but if we keep doing that, it’ll start going our way more often than not. That’s for sure.”

A&M shot just 36.4 percent from the field, though that included 13 baskets from 3-point range. The Aggies also missed 11 of 32 free throws.

Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Rubén Dominguez and Pop Isaacs shot a combined 8-of-22 from 3-point range, while the rest of the team shot 5-of-21 from behind the line. 

Even more problematic, they lost 60-35 in the rebound battle. The bigger Volunteers had 24 offensive rebounds, which led to 22 second-chance points.

Still, this one could have gone A&M’s way, but the Aggies missed their last six field goal attempts in the second overtime period.

But the bulk of A&M’s frustration came a little more than 10 minutes earlier.

The Aggies were in a strong position to win in regulation, but too many missed free throws and a questionable official’s call prevented it.

A&M missed four of eight free throws in the final 3:13. Perhaps the costliest misfire was with A&M holding a 70-69 lead with just 16 seconds remaining.

Pop Isaacs, who scored 16 points, could’ve given the Aggies a three-point lead, but missed the first of two free throws.

Tennessee, despite also missing two free throws, capitalized to forge a 71-71 tie.

The Vols’ 6-foot-10 freshman forward Nate Ament, who scored a game-high 23 points, missed the second of two free throws with 13 seconds left.

© Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Tennessee outshot Texas A&M at the free-throw line, 73.8 perecent to 65.6 percent. 

However, Tennessee secured the offensive rebound. That set up guard Bishop Boswell with a chance to give Tennessee the lead. He also missed the second free throw.

In the scramble for the rebound, the officials ruled the ball went out of bounds off the hand of A&M’s Rylan Griffen.

McMillan challenged the call. Video replays appeared to show Tennessee’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie actually slapping the ball out of Griffen’s hands and out of bounds.

After a long delay, the officials let the original call stand.

Gillespie missed a shot from the top of the key with one second remaining to send the game into overtime.

The Aggies had a shot to perhaps win in the first overtime, but Rubén Dominguez, who hit four 3-pointers on the way to 15 points, couldn’t connect from the corner with 34 seconds left.

“We had the right people on the free-throw line,” McMillan said. “We’d bet anything we can with Rubén to win the game. We know that.

“There’s things we’ve got to get better — rebound the basketball. Easier said than done vs. those guys. Had a couple of fouls in the full court that we could have avoided. And just the free-throw shooting. Wasn’t the worst, but wasn’t the best. Those are the things we can correct.”

In the second overtime, A&M took a 79-77 lead when Isaacs drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing with 3:58 showing.

Alas, the Aggies could only manage three free throws from Lane the rest of the way.

“We’ve got to look at it and know we’re trending in the right direction vs. a good team,” McMillan said. “We’re going to win those a lot more than we’re going to lose them if we keep doing that.”

He added: “We’re not just happy because we played them close. We’ve improved every game. We have to keep improving.”