re: 2017-2018 Rebel Hoops 12-20 (5-13): USCe L; HIRE THAD MATTA

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SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
Texas A&M enters Tuesday’s contest in search of its first SEC win. After beginning the season 11-1 and being ranked as high as No. 5 in the country, the Aggies have dropped all five of their conference games. However, with wins over West Virginia and USC, Texas A&M still has a solid RPI (33). The Aggies’ size has helped them lead the SEC in rebounding (42.3 per game), ranking fifth nationally. They also are eighth in the country in blocks per game (6.2). Four Aggies average double figures in scoring led by junior center Tyler Davis (14.2 ppg), who leads the SEC in field goal percentage at .601. Classmates D.J. Hogg and Admon Gilder are closely behind with 13.9 ppg and 13.1 ppg, respectively. Hogg is making 45.3 percent of his shots from long range, topping the conference. Duane Williams averages 11.6 ppg, while preseason SEC Player of the Year Robert Williams leads the Aggies in rebounds (9.6 per game) and blocks (30). Billy Kennedy is in his seventh season as head coach of the Aggies. Before arriving in College Station, he spent five seasons as Murray State’s head coach.

SERIES HISTORY
Tuesday’s game will be only the eighth meeting between the Rebels and Aggies. Texas A&M is Ole Miss’ least common SEC opponent after the Aggies joined the SEC prior to the 2012-13 campaign. After playing twice in Texas A&M’s inaugural SEC season, the squads have met only once in each of the following four seasons. The Aggies hold a 5-2 advantage, including a 4-2 record in SEC games and a 2-0 mark in College Station. The two teams first met Dec. 29, 1972 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where Texas A&M claimed a 100-83 victory. The Rebels’ last win in the series occurred in Oxford, 69-59 (Feb. 4, 2015).

LAST TIME WE MET
Ole Miss wasn’t able to finish the second half comeback against Texas A&M, falling to the Aggies 80-76 (Jan. 25, 2017). The Rebels were led offensively by Sebastian Saiz and Terence Davis with 19 points apiece. After reducing the 8-point halftime deficit to one possession on multiple occasions, Ole Miss was able to finally tie the game up at 73 off of a Cullen Neal 3-pointer 1:47 to go. However, the Rebels were not able to close out the comeback attempt. Saiz and Davis played a large role in Ole Miss having an opportunity in the closing stages of the game to grab the win. In the second half, the two combined for 17 points on 6 of 10 shooting. Davis had a hot hand from behind the arc all game, hitting five treys. The Aggies +16 margin on the glass coupled with nine offensive rebounds played a large role in the result. The Rebels shot 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from three.

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