Coming off a record-setting 3-point-shooting performance, Texas A&M will look to continue to build when it hosts Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday night at College Station, Tex.
The Aggies (4-2) have averaged 89 points per game this season, albeit mostly against non-major conference opponents. It’s nearly a 15-point-per-game jump from last year and stems in part from the team shooting 35.3% from 3-point range.
That percentage went up markedly in the Aggies’ last game as they sank 18 of 37 3-point tries to set the school’s single-game record during a 109-68 win over Manhattan on Friday.
Ruben Dominguez led the charge by hitting 10 of 14 3-point attempts to break the previous school record by two. The 22-year-old sophomore guard from Spain finished with 30 points, which boosted his team-best scoring average to 14.8 points per game and his 3-point accuracy to 48.9% (23 of 47).
“I was joking around — I asked him how he missed four,” Texas A&M coach Bucky McMillan said. “He’s one of the best shooters in the world, and he’s getting in game shape now. A lot of these guys, it takes a second to get in game shape. I’m not going to say he’s going to (always) shoot 70% from three. But he is capable.”
Dominguez is one of four Aggies averaging double figures in scoring along with Marcus Hill (12.5), Rashaun Agee (11.2) and Rylan Griffen (11.2).
Mississippi Valley State (1-6), which faces its first major-conference foe this season, ranks last among the 365 Division I teams in offensive efficiency (90.3 points per 100 possessions) and defensive efficiency (121.6 points allowed per 100 possessions), according to KenPom.com.
Nonetheless, the Delta Devils boast a pair of explosive playmakers in guard Michael James and forward Daniel Mayfield. James averages 19.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. While he’s struggling from the field (40.7%), he has drilled 30 of 31 free throws (96.8%).
Mayfield has been the Delta Devils’ biggest threat in the frontcourt, averaging 15.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He led Mississippi Valley State in scoring in each of its past two games with 28 points against Manhattan and 22 against Cal State Bakersfield.
Mayfield earned a spot on the Rainbow Classic all-tournament team after averaging 23.5 points and 8.5 rebounds against Manhattan and Utah Tech.
–Field Level Media
