Rashaun Agee scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as Texas A&M held on for a 75-72 win over LSU in an SEC showdown on Saturday afternoon in College Station, Tex.
Ruben Dominguez added 13 points for Texas A&M (11-3, 1-0), which won its conference opener under first-year coach Bucky McMillan. Ali Dibba (12 points) and Pop Isaacs (11 points) helped the Aggies’ reserves outscore the Tigers’ backups, 29-18.
Mike Nwoko scored 21 points on 7-for-10 shooting to lead LSU (12-2, 0-1). Max Mackinnon had 20 points and Pablo Tamba scored six points to go along with 11 rebounds and five steals.
Texas A&M fended off a rally by LSU in the back end of the second half.
The Aggies led 62-52 with 8:53 remaining. Isaacs made a floating jump shot from 5 feet to give Texas A&M a double-digit advantage.
LSU regrouped with a 12-1 run to grab a 64-63 advantage with 5:33 to play. Rashad King made a 3-pointer to start the run, which also included a layup by Jalen Reece, a 3-pointer by Mackinnon and a dunk and a hook shot by Robert Miller III.
The score was tied at 66 before Texas A&M regained the lead for good. Agee made a pair of free throws to put the Aggies on top 68-66 with 2:05 to play.
LSU cut the deficit to one point on two occasions but could not overcome the Aggies.
Texas A&M led 37-34 at the half.
The Aggies built a 24-15 lead when Marcus HIll fed a pass to Federiko Federiko for a dunk with 9:29 remaining in the half.
LSU regrouped with a driving layup by Nwoko and a 3-pointer by Mackinnon. That cut the Tigers’ deficit to 24-20 with 7:34 to go.
Texas A&M fell behind 34-31 after Mackinnon made a pair of free throws with one minute left.
The Aggies closed the first half on a 6-0 run to regain the lead. Rylan Griffen made a 3-pointer with 42 seconds remaining, then Dominguez drilled a 3-pointer with four seconds to go.
–Field Level Media
