The Aggies defend SEC lead at home against surging Florida. Expect a high-scoring, intense battle for first place in a must-see showdown.
Texas A&M returns home Saturday night with plenty on the line as the Aggies welcome No. 17 Florida to Reed Arena for a prime-time SEC clash.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the stakes feel bigger than your average February game.
Despite a gut-wrenching 100-97 loss at Alabama earlier this week, Texas A&M still sits atop the SEC standings. That thriller was one of the most entertaining games in the league this season, featuring 28 lead changes and coming down to the final possession. It also showcased just how dangerous this Aggie group can be offensively.
Rashaun Agee once again set the tone, pouring in 21 points for his fourth 20-point performance of the season. Marcus Hill followed with 18 points and six rebounds, while Rylan Griffen added 17 points and six boards of his own. The Aggies scored at will, posting their highest point total in an SEC game this year.
Agee has been the engine behind Texas A&M’s consistency in conference play. He’s averaging 16.2 points and 9.4 rebounds in SEC action and has scored in double figures in 11 straight games. His 10 double-doubles rank second in the league, and his career total of 30 places him among the top active rebounders in Division I basketball. On the glass, Agee is elite, ranking second in the SEC in both total rebounds (8.7 per game) and defensive boards (6.2 per game).
Offensively, the Aggies rank third nationally at 92.0 points per game and are knocking down 11.6 3-pointers per contest, fifth-best in the country. One of their biggest advantages has been depth. Texas A&M averages 38.0 bench points per game, second nationally, and has received at least 30 points from reserves in 14 games this season.
Defensively, the Aggies rank fourth among Power 4 teams in forced turnovers (14.8 per game) and average 8.9 steals. Griffen leads the way at 1.7 steals per game, placing him among the SEC’s best perimeter defenders.
Florida arrives tied with Texas A&M atop the SEC standings at 7-2. The Gators have bounced back strongly after a late-January loss at Auburn, posting dominant wins over South Carolina and Alabama. While Florida leads the all-time series, the Aggies have won five of the last seven meetings and are looking to protect Reed Arena once again.
With first place on the line and a blackout atmosphere expected, Saturday night has all the makings of an SEC classic in College Station.