Agee's double-double and late free throws secured a nail-biting 75-72 victory, opening SEC play with a crucial win against rival LSU.
Texas A&M opened Southeastern Conference play with a gritty, late-game stand Saturday, holding off LSU 75-72 at Reed Arena behind a double-double from Rashaun Agee and a clutch finish at the free-throw line.
Agee delivered 15 points and 11 rebounds as the Aggies improved to 11-3 overall and 1-0 in SEC action.
The win also continued Texas A&M's recent control of the series as the Aggies have now won four straight against LSU and six of the last seven meetings.
Texas A&M looked ready to turn the opener into a comfortable afternoon when Agee's dunk pushed the lead to 60-50.
LSU, though, punched back with a furious 14-3 surge to flip the game and take a 64-63 advantage with 5:33 remaining. The pace slowed after the run, and the teams went more than two minutes without a field goal before Agee stepped to the line and tied it at 64.
From there, Texas A&M answered with its best composure of the day. Agee scored four points during a 5-2 spurt that gave the Aggies a 69-66 lead with 1:58 to play, helping them regain control just when LSU's momentum threatened to tip the game.
But the Tigers wouldn’t go away.
LSU cut the margin to two points twice in the closing seconds, but Texas A&M survived at the stripe. Rylan Griffen split a pair of free throws with three seconds left, and the Aggies caught a break when Mazi Mosley's last-ditch three-pointer missed to end it.
Texas A&M got key production across the lineup. Ruben Dominguez knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with 13 points, while Ali Dibba added 12. Pop Isaacs chipped in 11, and Griffen contributed timely buckets and the final free throw that helped seal the win.
LSU was led by Mike Nwoko's 21 points and Max Mackinnon’s 20, with Mackinnon hitting 4-of-9 from deep. Rashad King scored 10, and Pablo Tamba posted 11 rebounds to go with six points as the Tigers fell to 12-2 and 0-1 in conference play.
The first half featured runs on both sides.
Texas A&M built a nine-point lead midway through the opening period before LSU responded with a 19-6 burst to take a 34-31 lead. The Aggies closed strong before the break, getting threes from Griffen and Dominguez to carry a 37-34 advantage into halftime, a margin that proved valuable in a finish that tightened down to the final possession.
Up next, the Aggies hit the road for a matchup with Auburn on Tuesday.