Spring Break
Wildcats win with late 3-pointers
By: David Arno
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: Sports
The Texas A&M men's basketball team lost its second consecutive game on Saturday in a 65-60 loss to Kansas State in front of a crowd of 10,367 at Reed Arena.
Kansas State (16-7, 5-4) has won five consecutive games after starting conference play 0-4.
The Aggies (17-7, 3-6) went into Saturday's game looking to recover from a close road loss to No. 2 Oklahoma.
A&M built an early lead of 7-2 by the 17:48 mark, but saw that advantage erased by a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Fred Brown to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game at 14:46.
Kansas State built a six-point lead during the half, but the Aggies battled back to a 23-21 score going into the locker room.
There were six ties and 12 lead changes in the second half, both team's offenses opened up while more than 80 points were scored. Though they were able to take the lead, the Aggies were never able to stretch it to more than two points.
Brown and sophomore guard Jacob Pullen hit key 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the game to hand Aggies their sixth Big 12 loss.
"Those were just good shots," said junior Bryan Davis. "Their guys stepped up and made shots today. Our plan was to switch to ball screens late in that play, and it came down to four seconds left on the clock, and [Pullen] pulled up and hit a nice shot. Brown hit another one in the corner, which was another great shot. We had a hand there and everything, and they just made a good shot on us."
Pullen scored 16 points for the Wildcats, and senior forward Darren Kent made 13 points and had 9 rebounds. Junior guard Denis Clemente, who put up 44 points against No. 11 Texas in Austin two games prior, scored 13 points. All of his points came in the second half. Brown added 9 points.
"Tonight we really concentrated on trying to figure out when they switch on ball screens, so that we could get open looks," Pullen said. "We practice hard before we go out to an away game. We really work on our intensity, and practice going hard the whole time."
For the Aggies, senior forward Josh Carter scored 14 points and dished out six assists. Junior center Chinemelu Elonu made nine points, 10 rebounds, and had five blocks on the game. Junior guard Donald Sloan had 12 points.
"I thought Kansas State played really well," said A&M Head Coach Mark Turgeon. "They made some big shots to beat us. I felt that they were in control the whole game. I felt that we were walking uphill the whole game. Give Kansas State credit, they were tougher than we were, and they made the plays to win the game."
Kansas State (16-7, 5-4) has won five consecutive games after starting conference play 0-4.
The Aggies (17-7, 3-6) went into Saturday's game looking to recover from a close road loss to No. 2 Oklahoma.
A&M built an early lead of 7-2 by the 17:48 mark, but saw that advantage erased by a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Fred Brown to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game at 14:46.
Kansas State built a six-point lead during the half, but the Aggies battled back to a 23-21 score going into the locker room.
There were six ties and 12 lead changes in the second half, both team's offenses opened up while more than 80 points were scored. Though they were able to take the lead, the Aggies were never able to stretch it to more than two points.
Brown and sophomore guard Jacob Pullen hit key 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the game to hand Aggies their sixth Big 12 loss.
"Those were just good shots," said junior Bryan Davis. "Their guys stepped up and made shots today. Our plan was to switch to ball screens late in that play, and it came down to four seconds left on the clock, and [Pullen] pulled up and hit a nice shot. Brown hit another one in the corner, which was another great shot. We had a hand there and everything, and they just made a good shot on us."
Pullen scored 16 points for the Wildcats, and senior forward Darren Kent made 13 points and had 9 rebounds. Junior guard Denis Clemente, who put up 44 points against No. 11 Texas in Austin two games prior, scored 13 points. All of his points came in the second half. Brown added 9 points.
"Tonight we really concentrated on trying to figure out when they switch on ball screens, so that we could get open looks," Pullen said. "We practice hard before we go out to an away game. We really work on our intensity, and practice going hard the whole time."
For the Aggies, senior forward Josh Carter scored 14 points and dished out six assists. Junior center Chinemelu Elonu made nine points, 10 rebounds, and had five blocks on the game. Junior guard Donald Sloan had 12 points.
"I thought Kansas State played really well," said A&M Head Coach Mark Turgeon. "They made some big shots to beat us. I felt that they were in control the whole game. I felt that we were walking uphill the whole game. Give Kansas State credit, they were tougher than we were, and they made the plays to win the game."
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