Aggies ignite SEC play at home, boasting nation-leading offense and depth. Can their relentless pace overwhelm a surging LSU squad?
Texas A&M stays home Saturday to kick off SEC play, welcoming LSU to Reed Arena for a 3 p.m. CT tip with both teams rolling and the Aggies' offense looking like it’s powered by jet fuel.
The Maroon & White ended non-conference action by torching Prairie View 111-82 on Monday, setting a new program mark with six 100-point games already this season. Rashaun Agee led the way with 19 points and 13 rebounds, securing his fifth double-double.
Marcus Hill added a hyper-efficient 16 points in 16 minutes, hitting 5-of-6 from the floor. Texas A&M also hammered the paint again, posting 52 points inside - their second straight game with 50-plus paint points.
The Aggies' offense is built on movement and depth. Texas A&M leads the nation at 22.1 assists per game and recently tied a season-high with 32 assists in the win over East Texas A&M. Jacari Lane has been the steady hand, totaling 47 assists to just 11 turnovers.
His 4.3 assist-to-turnover ratio leads the SEC and ranks 11th nationally, keeping A&M's high-tempo attack from turning reckless.
Then there's the bench, arguably Texas A&M's biggest weapon.
The Aggies rank No. 1 nationally in bench scoring, averaging 44.1 points per game, and they've gotten at least 40 points from reserves in nine games.
They dropped 45 bench points against Prairie View, with Pop Isaacs providing a recent spark. Over the last two games, Isaacs has hit 5-of-7 from three, scoring 15 against East Texas A&M and 13 Monday.
Texas A&M's pace is only getting faster. The Aggies have scored 110-plus points in three straight, lifting their season average to 96.2 points per game, good enough for No. 4 in the nation.
They're also top-10 nationally in made three-pointers per game (11.6). And on the defensive end, the Aggies have been disruptive, ranking No. 4 among Power 4 teams by forcing 16.4 turnovers per game.
LSU arrives hot, too. The Tigers enter Saturday on a four-game win streak at 12-1, coming off a 90-62 win over Southern Miss. This is the 53rd meeting between the programs, with LSU holding a narrow all-time edge (29-23), but Texas A&M has won five of the last six, including a 68-57 Reed Arena win last season.
Saturday's opener has the feel of an early SEC statement game ... LSU's momentum vs. Texas A&M's depth, pace, and paint pressure.
If the Aggies turn it into a track meet again, Reed Arena could be in for another loud afternoon.