Blistering perimeter shooting ignited a dominant run, propelling Texas A&M past South Carolina and fueling their SEC title charge with impressive depth.
Texas A&M continues to look like a serious Southeastern Conference contender, and Saturday’s convincing win over South Carolina at Reed Arena in College Station only strengthened that case.
Behind a lights-out perimeter performance and a dominant stretch that flipped the game early, the Aggies (16-4, 6-1 SE) rolled to a 92-69 victory that showcased both their depth and growing confidence.
The story of the afternoon was shot-making.
Zach Clemence scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers to lead Texas A&M, while Rylan Griffen added 16 and Pop Isaacs and Rashaun Agee each chipped in 11.
Texas A&M’s spacing and ball movement repeatedly punished South Carolina’s (11-9, 2-5 SEC) defensive rotations, opening clean looks from beyond the arc. When the Aggies caught fire, the Gamecocks had no answer.
What started as a competitive first half quickly turned into a runaway once A&M locked in on both ends of the floor.
That turning point came late in the opening period.
A 19-4 A&M run before halftime transformed a manageable game into a commanding advantage, allowing the Aggies to dictate tempo the rest of the way.
Crisp ball movement led to rhythm threes, while disciplined defense limited second chances and forced South Carolina into tough possessions.
Texas A&M’s balance continues to be one of its biggest strengths. Multiple players reached double figures, and contributions came from both the starting lineup and the bench.
That versatility makes the Aggies difficult to scout and even harder to guard, especially when they’re shooting with confidence.
Defensively, A&M deserves just as much credit. After allowing some early looks, the Aggies tightened up, contested shots, and forced South Carolina to earn every point.
Even with a strong scoring night from the Gamecocks’ Meechie Johnson (26 points), Texas A&M never allowed sustained momentum. The ability to absorb individual scoring runs without letting them swing the game is a hallmark of veteran teams with postseason aspirations.
The win keeps Texas A&M near the top of the SEC standings and reinforces the idea that this group is built for a long conference grind.
The Aggies are defending at a high level, shooting efficiently, and playing with a clear identity on both ends of the court.
Perhaps most importantly, they’re winning in different ways - sometimes with defense, sometimes with shooting, and often with a blend of both.
Looking ahead, road tests against ranked opponents loom, and those games will say even more about the ceiling.
But performances like this one suggest Texas A&M isn’t just chasing relevance in the SEC, it's positioning itself as a legitimate threat when March arrives.