For most teams in the ESPN Events Invitational, it’s a long way from home. For Texas A&M men’s basketball semifinal opponent, there’s only 175 miles of separation.
In its first game against a ranked opponent this season, No. 12 A&M squared off against the No. 19 FAU Owls. Despite a career-high effort from junior Guard Wade Taylor IV, FAU’s 3-point barrage was too much for the Aggies to handle, falling 96-89.
A&M’s 3-point defense finally came back to bite them
Against SMU earlier this season, the Mustangs were able to hang late with the Aggies thanks to their 3-point shots. Fortunately for A&M, they were able to out-muscle their opponent in that game to secure victory.
That was not the case against FAU.
The Owls shot 16-30 from 3, accounting for exactly half of their 96. This is the most points the Aggies have surrendered since they gave up 103 points to Colorado in the Myrtle Beach Invitational last November where they also gave up 16 3s.
Even though the Aggies had their best 3-point shooting performance of the season, A&M is just not equipped to get into shootouts against teams with elite guard tandems like FAU’s junior guards Alijah Martin and Johnell Davis, who combined for 51 of FAU’s points.
The Maroon and White will play some of the country’s best this season, and allowing 16 3s in a game almost always spells disaster.
Not having Henry Coleman and Tyrece Radford put too much weight on A&M’s bench
Late in the first half, senior forward Henry Coleman III elevated for a layup, but landed on an FAU defender, rolling his ankle. He was then escorted to the locker room and did not return in the second half.
Coleman, who was the star in yesterday’s game against Penn State with 24 points has been the Aggies’ best big man. Without him, A&M lacked a true post presence, even with senior F Andersson Garcia and sophomore F Solomon Washington getting extended minutes.
Senior G Tyrece Radford, who started the game only played 3 minutes in the second half, with Williams saying that Radford was having difficulties breathing.
A&M has to have both Coleman and Radford to be successful this season. Luckily for the Aggies, Coleman was able to walk off the court on his own power and was back on the bench in the second half, but word is still out on Radford’s condition.
Either way, with the third-place game and contests against Virginia and Memphis still left on the non-conference schedule, A&M needs them back sooner rather than later.
Welcome back, Wade Taylor
Taylor, despite being the Aggies’ leading scorer, has had moments where he has struggled to make consistent shots.
Against FAU, the Dallas native nearly kept A&M in the game by himself in the waning minutes of the second half. Taylor set a career high with 35 points on 12-26 shooting and 5-8 from deep.
This is the Taylor that Aggie fans anticipated seeing this season, and although his efforts were not enough to give A&M a win, his play will be critical as the Aggies’ non-conference gauntlet continues.