Janice R. Andrews
Texas A&M lost badly to the fifth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in a difficult road game. The Aggies made an attempt to remain competitive, but they were unable to match the Volunteers’ unrelenting offensive assault, and they lost handily, 86-51.
Within the first five minutes of the game, Tennessee had already established an 11-3 advantage, demonstrating their dominance. Wade Taylor put out a heroic effort for the Aggies, scoring nine points in a row, but Texas A&M was forced to force several offensive fouls in order to tie the game at 15–15. But the Aggies struggled mightily with their shooting in the first half, as their field goal percentage sat at 33%.
Wade Taylor and Tyrece Radford were two of Texas A&M’s top players who failed to sustain their early momentum as the offense battled to find a rhythm in the first half. The Aggies trailed 37-27 at the half and were shooting a pitiful 27% from the field and just 21% from beyond the arc overall.
Tennessee took advantage of Texas A&M’s offensive woes in the second half to steadily increase their lead. The Aggies made an attempt to rally, but they were unable to get beyond their shooting problems, which allowed the Volunteers to take a commanding lead. Tennessee easily won the game, 86-51, displaying their depth and talent as the game was getting closer and closer.
Despite the team’s general difficulties, Wade Taylor IV, Tyrece Radford, and Jace Carter were notable players for Texas A&M. They all made significant contributions. But stellar outings from Dalton Knecht, Zakai Zeigler, and Jonas Aidoo helped Tennessee win easily and cemented their place as a serious contender in the SEC.
As they get ready to meet No. 20 South Carolina at Reed Arena on February 28 at 6:30 p.m. CT, Texas A&M will look to make amends. The Aggies are still committed to winning and proving their tenacity in the face of difficulty, even after the loss to Tennessee.
