News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
GAINESVILLE – The No. 12 Texas A&M men’s basketball team fell 89-70 to the No. 3 Florida Gators at the Stephen O’Connell Center on Saturday.
The Aggies fell to 20-9 overall and 9-7 in the SEC while dropping their fourth straight game, while the Gators improved to 25-4 and 12-4.
Trailing by 17 early in the second stanza, the Aggies methodically trimmed the deficit to six points with just over eight minutes left but the rally was thwarted by a flurry of 3-pointers from the Gators, who regained control down the stretch.
The Aggies paced offensively by senior Zhuric Phelps and junior Pharrel Payne, who both tallied 16 points. Phelps hit 4-of-10 from the field and 6-of-7 from the line while also grabbing five rebounds. Payne hit 7-of-16 field goals and posted team-high eight rebounds, including three off the offensive glass. Wade Taylor IV scored all 11 of his points in the second half and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the line.
In a rarity, the Aggies were out-rebounded by the Gators, who become just the fourth opponent to reach the 40-rebound plateauy with 42 to earn a five-board advantage over the Aggies.
The Aggies entered the break trailing by 11 points at 45-34 after the Gators beat back a quick start by the Maroon & White. Texas A&M built a six-point advantage with a trio of early 3-pointers from Phelps and Andersson Garcia, but the Gators took their first lead of the game at the 12:24 mark and then slowly built their lead to as many as 14 points.