SEC college basketball final: Texas A&M 97, Kentucky 92 in overtime
In a matchup of two teams off to opposite starts in SEC men’s basketball, the Kentucky Wildcats visit College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and ESPN has the television coverage.
No. 6-ranked Kentucky is 2-0 in league play with a road win over Florida, 87-85, and a home win over Missouri, 90-77. Ranked No. 15 in the preseason AP Top 25, the now unranked Aggies lost their SEC opener at home to LSU, 68-53, then fell on the road to No. 16 Auburn, 66-55.
Weather conditions and flight cancellations kept me from making it to College Station, but Ben Roberts will be courtside. You can follow Ben on Twitter/X at @BenRobertsHL. You can follow me at @johnclayiv.
You can find a Kentucky basketball Twitter/X list by clicking here.
Final: Texas A&M 97, Kentucky 92 in overtime
Wade Taylor IV scored 31 points and Tyrese Radford added 28 as the Aggies defeated the Cats in overtime. UK’s Reed Sheppard made two free throws with 0.6 seconds left in regulation to send the game to the extra period, but UK had trouble scoring in OT. And stopping the guard combo of Taylor and Radford.
UK fell to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in the SEC. Texas A&M improved to 10-6 and 1-2 in league play.
Kentucky 65, Texas A&M 61 with 11:23 left
After missing all but a minute of the first half, UK 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw got an offensive rebound and pass out to Antonio Reeves, who hit a three 24 seconds into the second half to give UK a 48-46 lead. Then four second later, Bradshaw picked up his third foul and a return to the bench.
Luckily, Ugonna Onyenso has filled in admirably for Bradshaw. And Reeve is up to 21 points as UK leads 65-61. The Cats are now 25-of-53 shooting from the floor for 47.2 percent. Kentucky has made 11 of 27 three-points shot for 40.7. Texas A&M is 23-of-51 shooting for 45.1 percent, including 6-of-15 this half for 40 percent. Buzz Williams’ team is 8-of-23 from three for 34.8 percent.
Halftime: Texas A&M 46, Kentucky 45
Can Texas A&M keep making buckets? After scoring 53 and 55 points in their first two SEC games, the Aggies have 46 points at halftime in their third. Buzz Williams’ team was 17-of-36 in the first half for 47.2 percent. It was 6-of-18 from three-point range for 33 percent. Wade Taylor led the home team with 12 points.
Two of Kentucky’s weaknesses have hurt the Cats in the first half. One is defense. A&M has scored on drives to the basket. And Kentucky can’t keep the hosts off the offensive glass. The No. 1 team nationally in offensive rebounding percentage at 44 percent, A&M had 9 offensive rebounds in 21 opportunities in the first half for 42.8 percent.
Kentucky did play all but one minute of the first half without 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw, who picked up two quick fouls. Antonio Reeves led UK with 16 points. The Cats actually shot over 50 percent -- 17-of-33 for 51.5 percent. They were also 8-of-17 from three-point land for 47.1 percent. And they trailed by 11 points (38-27) before actually pulling ahead 45-44 right before A&M’s Wade Taylor made two free throws with 7.9 seconds left before intermission.
Texas A&M 25, Kentucky 18 at 11:56 mark
Off-target shooters of late, Texas A&M has found its stroke against Kentucky. The Aggies are shooting 10-of-18 from the floor for 55.6 percent. And after making just 11-of-61 threes over the last three games for 18 percent, Buzz Williams’ team made three of its first four triples against the Cats. They are 3-of-8 with 11:56 left in the first half, but lead UK 25-18.
Aaron Bradshaw picked up two quick fouls for the Cats, who are 7-of-14 from the floor for 50 percent. Cats are also 3-of-8 from 3. Antonio Reeves has made all three. He’s 3-of-5 behind the line. He leads the visitors with nine points.
Pregame information
Texas A&M basketball statistics
Kentucky basketball statistics
Kentucky basketball game-by-game individual stats
Kentucky basketball game-by-game leaders
Kentucky-Texas A&M basketball history
AP Top 25 and Coaches’ Poll rankings
SEC men’s basketball statistics
Texas A&M limps into its game against Kentucky. The Aggies are still a dangerous team.
Team status reports as SEC men’s basketball heads into Saturday’s games
Kentucky basketball’s win over Missouri showed a nit to pick with these Wildcats
Who’s the No. 1 team in the history of college basketball? The AP poll says it’s Kentucky.
Calipari challenges Coach K on one-and-dones. ‘I did it before you, and then you copied.’
