COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — The No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies held their ground at Reed Arena against the Oklahoma Sooners, clinching a hard-fought 75-68 victory on January 28, 2025. This win marked the Aggies' fifth Southeastern Conference (SEC) victory of the season, enhancing their record to 16-5 overall and 5-3 within the league.
The game was filled with intensity as both teams vied for valuable SEC standings. Texas A&M showcased their prowess on the boards, absolutely dominating rebounding with 47 total rebounds compared to Oklahoma's 19—a discrepancy of 28 rebounds, which proved to be significant. The Aggies achieved more offensive rebounds (21) than Oklahoma had total rebounds.
"They had 21 offensive rebounds to our two, they're just so big and physical on the glass," remarked Porter Moser, Oklahoma's head coach, highlighting the physicality displayed throughout the matchup. This physical dominance allowed Texas A&M to exert control over the game, limiting the Sooners' second-chance opportunities.
From the outset, the Aggies struggled slightly with their shooting, connecting on just 38% of their field goals, but they found success where it mattered most: at the free-throw line. A&M converted 29 of 35 attempts, boasting an impressive 82.9% free throw shooting percentage, which was markedly higher than their season average.
Leading the way for Texas A&M was Zhuric Phelps, who racked up 15 points, quickly followed by Henry Coleman III with 14. Coleman did his part not only in scoring but also on the boards as he contributed significantly to the team’s rebounding efforts. "It's a consistency thing. We have to go get it. We do it each and every day, so it allows us to do it in a game like this," Coleman reflected on their rebounding strategy.
The first half saw the Aggies leading narrowly at halftime, 31-30. The second half unfolded as expected, with both teams exchanging leads until Texas A&M began to pull away with key plays late in the game. Wade Taylor IV hit pivotal shots, including a three-point play, extending the Aggies' lead to 68-61 as they managed to fend off Oklahoma's late attempts to close the gap.
Oklahoma, with this defeat, fell to 15-5 and dropped their SEC record to 2-5. Although the Sooners displayed impressive shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 22 attempts, it simply wasn’t enough. Brycen Goodine led Oklahoma with 24 points, reinforcing his previous standout performance against Texas A&M, where he scored 34 points.
Goodine's dominance against the Aggies raises eyebrows; he managed 58 of his quarterly scoring for the season against Texas A&M alone. "Last time they stopped rotating off of me. But for some reason, they continued to do it today and I was able to get some rhythm shots," Goodine explained, showcasing his comfort on the court against this adversary.
Another notable contributor for the Sooners was senior forward Jalon Moore, who finished the night with 22 points on effective shooting. Despite their strong individual showings, the Oklahoma players echoed their shared frustrations with lack of team contributions during post-game talks.
"Jalon and Brycen obviously (played well), but we needed some more scoring contributions from some guys," Moser admitted. He reiterated the importance of teamwork to achieve success moving forward.
The Aggies' victory showcased their resilience as they bounced back from a recent loss to Texas, proving their competitiveness within the SEC. Head coach Buzz Williams commented on the preparations undertaken by the team. "That was our 10th rep playing a one or two-possession game in 21 games. Our guys have accepted the thin margins of playing in this league," he stated, signifying the tough road they navigated leading to this win.
Despite the improvements made at the free-throw line, Texas A&M's three-point shooting remained problematic. They struggled significantly, hitting only 4 of 24 attempts (16.7%). This inconsistency from deep highlighted potential areas for improvement as they look toward the future.
Next, Texas A&M prepares for another SEC contest against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Meanwhile, Oklahoma aims to regroup as they host the No. 24 Vanderbilt later this week.
Neither team could afford to overlook the importance of each remaining game, with the competitive SEC environment proving to pressure players and coaches alike.