Texas A&M (13-5, 5-0 SEC) narrowly defeated the visiting Florida Gators (10-8, 3-3 SEC) 54-52 on Wednesday night in what could only be described as a defensive melee dished up by poor shooting by both teams, as the Aggies shot a pedestrian 35.5% from the field, which looked heroic compared to Florida’s paltry 26.2%, and 8.0% in the first half.
The Aggies were once again led by Julius Marble with 19 points, scoring 12 on 6-9 shooting of the team’s 23 points at halftime. Dexter Dennis recorded yet another double-double, scoring 11 points and 16 rebounds, while Wade Taylor IV once again provided clutch moments deep into the game, scoring only 8 points on 2-15 shooting, but hitting four game-changing free throws in the final minute of the second half on a night that saw only seven trips to the charity stripe for the Aggies, hitting a perfect 7-7.
From an offensive standpoint, Texas A&M aside from Julius Marble’s early dominance in the paint dropped off tremendously from what we saw against South Carolina, which is to be expected after scoring what will most likely remain a season high 94 points and 56% shooting. This game, however, will be remembered for the defensive effort shown by both programs, and Florida’s second-half comeback reminiscent of the numerous blown leads Texas A&M has dealt with in Head coach Buzz Williams’ tenure.
Leading 23-12 at the half, Dexter Dennis made a layup at the 18:54 mark to extend the lead, but after an erratic shooting stretch combined with multiple 3-pointers from the Gators, the gap began to steadily shrink, and scoring at any level for the Aggies became a premium. After a steady dose of feeding Gators star forward Colin Castleton to the tune of 10 second-half points, Texas A&M maintained a 46-43 lead with 2:17 left in the game, until Henry Coleman III committed his fifth foul sending Will Richard to the free throw line to make is 46-44.
Wade Taylor IV and Castelton traded baskets to make it 48-46, and after two missed jumpers from Taylor, the Aggies rebounded both misses which eventually sent Taylor to the free throw line, hitting both from the stripe to make it 50-46. After a Riley Kugel 3-pointer, Florida again fouled Taylor who knocked in his final two from the free-throw line, which leads us to one of the craziest endings you’ll see all year.
Trailing 52-49 on what looked to be Florida’s final possession, guard Myreon Jones missed a layup leading to a Colin Castelton offensive rebound and shot attempt,…
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