Jan 4, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Buzz Williams talks with forward Andersson Garcia (11) and guard Wade Taylor IV (4) against the Florida Gators during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Texas A&M falls to 7-2 in SEC play with 81-70 loss at Arkansas
Texas A&M dropped just its second SEC game Tuesday night, falling 81-70 on the road at Arkansas. Henry Coleman III had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Aggies while Wade Taylor IV added 18 points. Tyrece Radford had 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. In losing for only the second time in 11 games, A&M made only 14 of 24 free throws (58.3%).
The Aggies (15-7, 7-2 Southeastern Conference) had a disjointed journey from College Station, Texas, to Fayetteville. Their plane was diverted to Wichita, Kan., on Monday afternoon, and then they were bused to Tulsa, Okla., where they spent the night. On game day, they were bused to Arkansas and arrived about seven hours before tipoff.
For the Razorbacks (15-7, 4-5 Southeastern Conference), Ricky Council IV and Davonte Davis each scored 19 points, and Arkansas blocked 13 shots in their fourth SEC win. The Aggies, who never led, fell to 2-28 against Arkansas in games at Fayetteville since January 1972.
Council had six rebounds and four assists while Davis made 4 of 8 attempts from 3-point range. Arkansas’ Jordan Walsh had 12 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Black totaled 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.
On their 23rd birthday, twins Makhel Mitchell (nine points, 13 rebounds, seven blocks) and Makhi Mitchell (six points, three blocks) combined for 10 blocked shots.
Arkansas committed 17 turnovers but held a 21-10 edge in fast break points.
While Texas A&M’s shooting woes grew in the first half, Walsh created the home side’s largest lead, 31-21, on a drive and a three-point play. However, a Radford 3-pointer and a Coleman driving layup cut the deficit in half.
After Anthony Black’s put-back in the final seconds, Arkansas led 42-34 at halftime. The Aggies, who shot just 34.2 percent (13 of 38) prior to the break, trailed by single digits in large part by holding a 12-6 lead in offensive rebounding.
In the second half, turnovers clipped the Razorbacks’ 10-point lead to 52-47, but Walsh’s trey and Davis’ layup lifted the advantage to 60-49 with 10:44 left.
Texas A&M cut it to 68-64 on Dexter Dennis’ dunk with 4:10 to go, but Arkansas held on to win for the third time in eight games.
–Field Level Media
