Story courtesy of Evan Roberts, Texas A&M Athletics Communications
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Quenton Jackson had 15 points and five steals, lifting Texas A&M to a 57-50 win over Butler Tuesday in the Maui Invitational.
The Aggies led by 12 at halftime and kept it near double digits most of the second half before Butler chipped it down to 52-48 with just over a minute left.
Butler’s Chuck Harris scored on a layup to make it 53-50 with 27 seconds left, but Marcus Williams hit two free throws to send the Aggies (5-1) into Wednesday’s fifth-place game. Jair Bolden had 10 points to lead Butler (3-3), which had 19 turnovers that led to 21 Texas A&M points. The Bulldogs shot 36% and went 5 for 20 from the 3-point arc.
The Aggies fell into a big early hole in their Maui opener against Wisconsin and saw their comeback attempt run out of steam late in a 69-58 loss.Butler got off to a brutal start in its Maui opener against No. 12 Houston, allowing the Cougars to score the game’s first 17 points on their way to a 70-52 win.
The Bulldogs got off to a better start against Texas A&M, but the Aggies used a closing 15-4 run to lead 33-21 at halftime. Jackson had eight points during the run, including a par of 3-pointers.
Texas A&M Men’s Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas A&M 57, Butler 50
Michelob Ultra Arena (Las Vegas)
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
- Texas A&M improved to 5-1 on the year after defeating Butler, 57-50. The Aggies are 5-1 after the first six games for the second time under third-year head coach Buzz Williams.
- Texas A&M’s all-time record at the Maui Invitational is 2-3.
- The Aggies’ all-time record against Butler moves to 1-0.
TEAM NOTES
- Texas A&M closed out the first half on a 16-3 run and took at 33-21 lead in to the half. The Aggies only allowed five points in the final 9:03 of the first stanza.
- For the game, A&M forced 19 turnovers forced and scored 21 points off turnovers. In the first half, Texas A&M forced 13 turnovers and turned those in to 17 points.
- The Aggies held Butler to 5-of-20 shooting from three, tying the lowest threes made by an opponent this season.
- Texas A&M used the starting lineup combination of Javonte Brown, Henry Coleman III, Andre Gordon, Tyrece Radford and Marcus Williams for the fourth time this season (5-1).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Quenton Jackson led the Aggies offensively with 15 points off the bench, marking his fifth-consecutive game with at least 13 points. Over the five-game stretch, Jackson is averaging 14.2 pointers per game.
- Jackson was also a menace on the defensive end, recording a career-high five steals. Jackson’s previous high was four, which he did twice with the most recent coming against Mississippi State on Feb. 22, 2020.
- Henry Coleman III led the team in rebounding with 10 while scoring eight points.
- Ethan Henderson registered a season-high seven points on 3-of-4 shooting while blocking a season-high two shots.