COLLEGE STATION – Another chapter in the long history between Texas A&M and Sam Houston State on the hardwood will be written Wednesday night at Reed Arena as the Aggies and Bearkats square off at 7 p.m.
The game will be streamed on SEC Network PLUS which is available to SEC Network subscribers via SEC Network Plus as part of the WatchESPN app and ESPN3.com. Additionally, radio coverage on the Aggie Sports Network can be heard locally in the Bryan/College Station area on WTAW 1620 AM.
The match-up will be the 85th meeting between the schools in a series that dates all the way back to the 1912-13 campaign as SHSU stands out as the ninth-most common opponent in Texas A&M basketball history. Overall, the Aggies own a 67-17 edge in the series and have emerged as the victor in 18 consecutive contests against the Bearkats.
The newcomers on the Aggies’ roster, highlighted by junior forward Jalen Jones, have already made their presence known and provided an immediate impact on the team’s fortunes this season. Jones paces the Aggies in rebounding with a 7.2 rebound-per-game average while contributing 12.8 points per game. The Dallas native has scored at least 12 points in four of five games this season, while also being active on the defensive end where he has totaled seven steals and three blocked shots.
Rookie point guard Alex Robinson dished out a season-high nine assists during the Aggies’ last outing, an 87-65 win over New Orleans last Friday. Fellow freshmanPeyton Allen, meanwhile, was the beneficiary of several Robinson helpers as Allen made 6-of-7 shot attempts, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, to contribute a game-high 16 points against the Privateers.
Junior Danuel House, who joined the active roster on Nov. 21 after receiving an NCAA waiver to play this season, has contributed 32 points in two games on the court and leads the Aggies in scoring at 16.0 points per game.
Sam Houston State comes to Aggieland sporting a 4-2 record on the year under the direction of fourth-year head coach Jason Hooten. The Bearkats exploded for a season-high 111 points during their most recent outing, a win over the University of the Southwest on Saturday.
Last season, the Aggies earned a 79-62 win over SHSU at Reed Arena as Antwan Space led the way with 12 points and nine rebounds.
QUICK HITS
• The Aggies continue a three-game homestand against Sam Houston State Wednesday with a 7 p.m. contest at Reed Arena.
• The Bearkats are the ninth-most common opponent in Texas A&M men’s basketball history with 84 meetings on the hardwood… A&M leads the series 67-17 and has won 18 straight meetings between the schools.
• One of the most consistent performers this season, junior Jalen Jones is averaging 12.8 points per game and has reached double-digit scoring during four of five games this season … The Dallas native also leads the team in rebounding at 7.2 boards per game.
• Since joining the active roster, junior Danuel House has given the Aggies a significant offensive boost, scoring 32 points in two games (16.0 points per game).
• Rookie Alex Robinson dished out a season-high nine assists in the win over New Orleans … his performance marked the first time someone other than Alex Carusohas led the Aggies in assists since Feb. 20 of last season.
• As a team, the Aggies are shooting 34.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc …Peyton Allen and Danuel House lead the way with identical 41.7 shooting percentages from long-range … Allen made 6-of-7 field goal attempts including 4-of-5 from 3-point range to pour in a game-high 16 points during the win over UNO.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SAM HOUSTON STATE (A&M LEADS 67-17)
• Texas A&M leads the all-time series, 67-17, which dates back to 1945 … the Aggies have won 18 in a row, but the teams have played just twice since 1998.
• SHSU has been defeated in its only three trips to Reed Arena, including the most recent meeting which occurred on Nov. 24 of last season.
• During the 79-62 A&M win, Antwan Space approached a double-double with a game-high 12 points and nine rebounds.
• The Bearkats’ last win over the Aggies came on Dec. 5, 1956 in Huntsville (59-58).
• A&M head coach Billy Kennedy is no stranger to the Bearkats and is 10-5 all-time as a head coach against Sam Houston State … Kennedy faced SHSU 13 times while serving as the head coach at Southeastern Louisiana from 1999-05.
• Kennedy’s counterpart, SHSU’s Jason Hooton, is 0-2 all-time against the Aggies.
• Just 77 miles separate the two schools’ home courts.
UP NEXT
The Aggies’ three-game homestand concludes Saturday (Dec. 6) as they welcome Arizona State to Reed Arena for a 1 p.m. contest which will be televised nationally by SEC Network. The Sun Devils are coming off an impressive 21-12 campaign a year ago which culminated in a trip to the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
TEXAS A&M BAHAMAS-BOUND TO BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS IN 2015
ESPN announced on Nov. 28 evening that the Texas A&M men’s basketball team will join an impressive field at next year’s Battle 4 Atlantis, which will take place at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, Nov. 25-27, 2015.
Joining the Aggies for Thanksgiving in the Bahamas next season will be Charlotte, Connecticut, Gonzaga, Michigan, Syracuse, Texas and Washington.