COLLEGE STATION, Texas – An early second half run by Texas A&M broke open a tight game as TSU men's basketball fell 104-70 Wednesday night inside Reed Arena.
Having history against Texas A&M's new coach, the Tigers were up to the task from the opening tip as Duane Posey scored six of the team's first eight points using driving layups as TSU led 9-8 with 17:22 left. The Aggies would counter with an 8-0 run for a 16-9 lead but newcomer Troy Hupstead put the Tigers on his back with a pair of three points to draw TSU within 16-15 at the 14:25 mark. Fellow newcomer Cameron Patterson joined in on the fun and scored six points himself as his last basket capped off a 14-1 run and a 23-17 lead at the 12:34 mark.
TSU and Texas A&M went back-and-forth over the next several minutes as Ahmed Nadal Abdelrahman's trey moved them ahead 31-30 with 5:06 left. A&M would regain the lead but Patterson's three-point play with 3:20 left move TSU ahead 34-33. However, A&M would outscore the Tigers 8-2 over the final 2:34 to enter halftime ahead 41-36.
The Aggies opened the second half with a 15-6 surge to up its margin to 56-42 entering the first media timeout. Both teams were on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of field goals as Texas A&M went 8-of-14 within the first seven minutes. The turnover bug haunted TSU as they committed seven within the first seven minutes along with a five-minute scoring drought as Zytarious Mortle's driving layup ended the drought with 13:14 left.
The Tigers would have several positive moments throughout the second on both ends but the Aggie lead was too much to overcome along with the untimely turnovers.
Patterson led TSU with a career-high 18 points while Hupstead and Alex Anderson followed with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Hupstead finished one rebound short of a double-double with a team-high nine rebounds while Patterson grabbed eight,
TSU is back in action next Wednesday night as they'll host Samford at 7 p.m. inside the H&PE Arena.
NOTES
- Troy Hupstead made his TSU debut off the bench in the first half
- Freshman Anthony "LJ" Andrews made his first career start
- TSU shot 58.3 percent from the field in the first half
