OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Danuel House scored 20 points as Texas A&M pulled away in the second half to win its first NCAA Tournament game since 2010 with a 92-65 first-round victory over Green Bay on Friday night.
House was 8 of 12 from the field and hit a pair of 3-pointers for Texas A&M, which shot 56.1 percent (32 of 57) in a comfortable victory over the 14th seed.
Khalil Small scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Horizon League Tournament champion Phoenix (23-13), who were making their first tournament appearance in 20 years, while Jamar Hurdle added 11 in the loss.
Tonny Trocha-Morelos added 15 points for the Aggies, while Tyler Davis had 12 and Jalen Jones andAdmon Gilder 11 each in the victory.
After trailing by as many as eight points early, Texas A&M (27-8) closed the first half on a 27-11 run and led 41-33 at halftime.
The Aggies pushed their lead to 57-39 early in the second half after an inside basket by Tavario Miller — capping a 43-17 run that all-but secured the school’s first NCAA tourney win since a first-round victory over Utah State in 2010.
Texas A&M’s tournament appearance was its first since 2011, and its No. 3 seed matched the highest in school history. Led by House and the dominating inside presence of 6-foot-10 freshman Davis, the Aggies lived up to their pre-tournament billing by winning for the ninth time in their last 10 games.
On a day when second-seeded Michigan State was shocked by Middle Tennessee State, the Aggies’ inexperience and higher-seeded target didn’t slow them from earning a decisive win — one in which the Southeastern Conference runners-up outrebounded Green Bay 45-25 and scored 46 points inside the paint.
Green Bay entered the game fueled by the up-tempo style of first-year coach Linc Darner, whose motto of “RP40” — Relentless Pressure for 40 minutes — helped the Phoenix to a school-record 344 steals for the season entering Friday.
That pressure gave Texas A&M all kinds of fits early, with Green Bay forcing nine turnovers by the Aggies in less than eight minutes to open the game. The Phoenix turned those miscues into 10 points and took a 22-14 lead after Tevin Findlay’s putback capped a 12-0 run before the Aggies responded.
Texas A&M Basketball
NCAA Tournament – West Region First Round ? Postgame Notes
#3 Texas A&M 92, #14 Green Bay 65
March 18, 2016 ? Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
? Texas A&M’s victory was its 27th of the season, tying a school record (27 in 2006-07).
? Texas A&M now leads the all-time series with Green Bay, 2-0.
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
? Texas A&M’s 92 points were the most an Aggie team has ever scored in an NCAA game (previous record 82 vs Colorado, 1969).
? The 27-point win was A&M’s largest in NCAA Tournament history.
? Texas A&M’s 13 steals were a new team NCAA Tournament record (12 vs Duke, 1987).
? Texas A&M’s 32 made field goals were a new NCAA Tournament record (30 vs Cincinnati, 1975).
? Texas A&M is now 10-13 all time in 13 trips to the NCAA Tournament.
? The Aggies have now won their first-round game in 6 of their last 7 trips to the NCAA Tournament.
? Danuel House (20 points) recorded the 11th 20-point game by an Aggie in NCAA Tournament history.
? Alex Caruso tied A&M’s NCAA Tournament record with 4 steals (Dominique Kirk vs Syracuse, 2006; Mike Clifford vs Duke, 1987)
? Texas A&M’s plus-20 rebound margin was the Aggies’ largest in NCAA Tournament history (+15 vs Trinity, 1969).
? The Aggies dished out 17 assists, one shy of their NCAA high (18 vs BYU, 2008).
? Billy Kennedy improves to 2-2 all time in NCAA Tournament games.
TEAM NOTES
? Texas A&M used the starting combination of Anthony Collins, Alex Caruso, Danuel House, Jalen Jonesand Tyler Davis for the 21st time this season (16-5).
? Texas A&M led 41-33 at halftime … the Aggies are now 21-5 when leading at the break.
? Texas A&M committed 12 first-half turnovers, one shy of its first-half season high … 10 came in the first 9 minutes of the game, when the Aggies trailed 22-14 … over the final 11 minutes of the half, A&M only turned the ball over twice and outscored Green Bay 27-11.
? The Aggies held Green Bay without a field goal over the final 5:18 of the first half, closing the period on an 11-2 run.
? Texas A&M’s 13 steals were a new season high.
? Texas A&M put five players in double figures in scoring for the fourth time this season and for the first time since the Aggies’ SEC opener vs Arkansas (Jan. 2).
? The Aggies held Green Bay, who ended the regular season ranked fourth nationally in scoring, 19 points under the Phoenix’ season average (84.2 ppg).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
? Tyler Davis (12 points) hit double figures for the 7th time in the last 10 games.
? Danuel House (20 points) registered his eighth 20-point game of the season.
? Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy is 98-69 in his fifth season at Texas A&M and 309-248 in 18 seasons as head coach.
? Tonny Trocha-Morelos tied a career high with 15 points.
UP NEXT
? Texas A&M will face the winner of the Northern Iowa/Texas game on Sunday at a time to be announced.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics