News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
The Texas A&M men’s basketball team was unable to get by Texas, falling 76-70 in the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown Saturday afternoon at Reed Arena.
Rashaun Agee and Marcus Hill led the way for the Aggies with 22 and 17 points, respectively, and grabbed eight rebounds apiece. Pop Isaacs chipped in 14 points to go with four assists.
Texas (18-11, 9-7 SEC) jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first four minutes of the game and remained in control through the midway point in the half. A pair of free throws from Hill halted a two-minute lull for the Aggies and a 3-pointer from Agee sparked an 11-0 run. Hill had a putback in the paint to bookend the 13-2 spree and give Texas A&M (19-10, 9-7 SEC) a 26-22 lead with 4:54 remaining the period.
Production slowed for both teams in the closing minutes, but the Maroon & White eventually took a 30-29 advantage into the break. Agee led the way with 14 points and six rebounds in the first half, while Hill added nine points and four boards.
Play remained close to start the second half as neither team led by more than a possession in the opening minutes. Seven straight points from the Longhorns made it a two-possession game at the 13:33 mark, 44-36. Hill responded, scoring on three straight Texas A&M possessions to cut the difference to four with 11:56 to play.
The Aggies hung around and eventually got back within two, 55-53, with 6:09 on the clock after a 3-pointer from Isaacs and dunk by Agee, but Texas extended its lead to double figures with under a minute to play to seal the game.
UP NEXT
The Aggies remain at home Tuesday when they host the Kentucky Wildcats in a 6 p.m. contest inside Reed Arena. The game airs on ESPN2.
