Texas A&M claws back from 13-point deficit, defeats Arkansas 67-61 in SEC Quarterfinals
The 2023 SEC Tournament action continued on Friday with a quarterfinals matchup between Texas A&M (23-8, 15-3 SEC) and Arkansas (20-12, 8-10 SEC). After a double-bye gave the No. 2 seeded Aggies an extra 48 hours of preparation, Friday night’s matchup proved to be a thrilling ride from tip-off to the final buzzer.
The Aggies were at the expense of some tenacious defense by Arkansas early in the first half, as the Razorbacks forced four early turnovers with some active hands in the passing lanes. The Hogs were quick to flex their efficiency from deep as well, going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc to push Arkansas to a quick 18-12 lead with 9:42 left in the first period.
Texas A&M was also forced into a few unfamiliar rotations with Wade Taylor IV picking up two early fouls. In light of going 0-3 from the field, the Aggies’ leading scorer was forced to the bench early on, and coupled with Tyrece Radford on the sideline, the Aggies clearly suffered from lack of a much-needed scoring punch.
One name that could not be stopped in the first half was Arkansas’ Nick Smith Jr., who put together a quick 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field. The Hogs also benefited from going 5-for-8 from the charity stripe, while the Aggies simply could not buy a call from the refs. After leading the SEC in free throw attempts per game, Texas A&M did not attempt a single shot from the charity stripe in the first half until 2:30 left in the period.
Despite the Aggies entering halftime with a 19-11 advantage on the boards, the Hogs flexed their length in the paint with a dominant 9-1 blocks advantage.
Texas A&M leaders at the half: Tyrece Radford (8 points, 3 rebounds), Henry Coleman III (4 points, 2 rebounds). Team: 36.7% from the field. 20% (1-5) from 3-point, 2-2 from the free throw line, and 19 rebounds.
Arkansas leaders at the half: Nick Smith Jr. (13 points, 2 assists), and Anthony Black (7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists). Team: 54.2% from the field. 41.7% (5-12) from 3-point, 7-10 from the free throw line, and 11 rebounds.
HALFTIME: Texas A&M: 25, Arkansas: 38
Heading into the second half Head coach Buzz Williams made it clear that the Aggies needed to be aggressive and enforce their will in the paint. Safe to say that the team answered the call, as Texas A&M jumped out to a 16-7 run to cut the deficit to just a one-possession game.
It was a welcome return to the winning type of basketball that served the Aggies well in the regular season: getting to the line, converting second-chance opportunities, and scoring in transition.
After surviving the first half with two early personal fouls it was evident that Wade Taylor IV was playing with more freedom in the second period. The Aggies’ leading scorer converted three quick field goals and Coleman III took it upon himself to dominate in the paint, racking up 11 points.
After a silky smooth up-and-reverse layup from Dexter Dennis, the Aggies took a one-point lead with 10:22 left in the second half after trailing by as much as 13.
From there it proved to be a back-and-forth scoring affair between SEC foes, as each team traded baskets with just a single scoring possession separating them both. The Aggies were much more effective in keeping the Razorbacks out of the paint in the second half, forcing the Hogs to earn their money from mid-range or beyond the arc.
After Texas A&M decided to put the back-and-forth affair to bed, the Aggies locked in on defense to pull off three defensive stops and extend their lead in the closing minutes. They outscored the Hogs 42-23 in the second half and went 16-for-22 from the charity stripe to send the Razorbacks home to the tune of 67-61, and punch their own ticket to the semifinals on Saturday.
Wade Taylor IV led all scorers with 18 points to go with a perfect 6-for-6 outing from the charity stripe, while Henry Coleman III dominated with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double. Dexter Dennis and Tyrece Radford each chipped in with 11 points.
The Aggies’ second-half reversal was just another example of this team’s resiliency, and it mirrors the larger turnaround they undertook since their early season struggles. If anything, it only furthers the case that Texas A&M is a force to be reckoned with as they continue their march in the SEC tournament and beyond into March.
Texas A&M will now wait to see who they will face in the semifinal matchup on Saturday, as Kentucky and Vanderbilt will fight for a chance to face the Aggies at 2:00 p.m CT on ESPN.
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