Hot-shooting Aggies take on South Carolina as freezing temps arrive

Click here to view Texas A&M’s Friday press conference.

An impending ice storm figures to send College Station residents in search of warmth.

Hopefully, they’ll all get as hot as Texas A&M’s basketball team.

The high-scoring Aggies (15-5, 5-1) have won eight of their last nine games. They aim to continue the hot streak on Saturday against Southeastern Conference rival South Carolina (11-8, 2-4) in a noon clash at Reed Arena.

Originally scheduled for 2:30 p.m., the game was moved to an earlier start because of the predicted inclement weather conditions.

While freezing temperatures are unusual in College Station, hot shooting is becoming rather commonplace.

The Aggies average 91.7 points to rank eighth in the nation in scoring.

Forward Rashaun Agee averages 13.8 points to lead five players in double figures. Guards Rubén Dominguez, Rylan Griffen, Marcus Hill and Pop Isaacs are all also averaging more than 10 points.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Rashaun Agee owns a team-best shooting percentage at 51.8 percent.

Boosted by that production, A&M has exceeded 80 points 14 times, including seven in the last nine games.

Further, A&M is sixth in the nation in assists at 19.7 per game.

“We’re playing with maximum effort, and we’re playing unselfish,” coach Bucky McMillan said. “If you’re playing with maximum effort and you’re playing unselfish, you’re going to play with a lot of confidence. I think with any team sports, it’s really that.

“They’re playing hard. They’re working hard in practice. They’re together. It’s not about them. You hear the same, ‘You’ve got to lose your individuality for the team.’ Everybody on the team has to give up something they want to accomplish this season for the sake of the team if you’re ever going to have a true team.”

South Carolina is a team that cannot be overlooked despite its record. Indeed, the Gamecocks appear much better than their record indicates.

They lost to Georgia by five points. They fell to Auburn by four. Most recently, they toppled Oklahoma, 85-76, behind the 20-point performance of guard Meechie Johnson.

Johnson, who leads South Carolina with a 15.1-point scoring average, has averaged 19.2 points over the last five games.

“He’s a great guard,” McMillan said. “An attacker. Can score different way. Got shooters around him. You know, a tough matchup.”

But the Aggies have proven to be a tough matchup, too. Their relentless pressure has often resulted in opponents fading late in games. A&M has outscored four of its last five opponents in the second half.

The Aggies are also 13th in the nation in turnovers forced.

“Everybody is locked in,” Isaacs said. “Everybody’s together. We have an identity as a team. Dudes are enjoying being around each other every day. We’re coming to practice — everybody, every day — focused, doing a great job preparing for games, and we’re going out there and executing.

“We’ve got to continue to do so.”

That way, the Aggies may be able to stay hot.