Friday, November 18
College Station
6:00 PM
Texas A&M
vs
USC
Aggies Host USC Friday in Early Season Test
Nov 17, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Aggie Basketball Game #3:
USC (2-0) at Texas A&M (2-0)
Friday, Nov. 17, 2016 · 6 p.m. (CT)
Reed Arena (12,989) · College Station, Texas
TV: SEC Network (For more info – 12thMan.com/TV)
Brett Dolan, Play-by-Play
Barry Booker, Commentary
RADIO: WTAW 1620 AM (Bryan-College Station)
Dave South, Play-by-Play
Mike Caruso, Commentary
LIVE AUDIO/STATS: 12thman.com/live
LIVE MOBILE LIVE STATS: tamustats.com
--
COLLEGE STATION – In a matchup between NCAA Tournament squads from a season ago, the Aggie men's basketball team faces a tough early-season challenge when it welcomes USC to Reed Arena for a 6 p.m. showdown Friday night.
The contest will be nationally televised on SEC Network with Brett Dolan calling the play-by-play and Barry Booker providing color commentary. Additionally, radio coverage will be provided on the Aggie Sports Network, which can be heard locally in the Bryan/College Station area on WTAW (1620 AM).
In addition to being a marquee meeting between successful SEC and Pac-12 programs, the night is being billed as Neon Night at Reed Arena with a bevy of promotions and giveaways for fans planned. Halftime will see fans entertained by the illusions of magician Grant Price. Originally, the ZuZu acrobats were slated as entertainment, but due to an injury they have disappeared from the intermission schedule.
On the hardwood, the showdown will pit a pair of 2-0 teams against one another as the Trojans come to Aggieland having already notched home wins over Montana and Omaha this season. During the win over Omaha on Sunday, USC rallied from behind by as many as nine points to defeat the Mavericks 82-72.
Led by junior guard Elijah Stewart, who is averaging 20.5 points through the opening two games, the Trojans' roster USC features just two seniors but four players that have started at least 28 games during their career.
The Aggies are of a similar roster make-up with just three upperclassmen on the roster in seniors JC Hampton and Tavario Miller and junior Tonny Trocha-Morelos. Texas A&M's youthful talent has been paced by sophomore center and preseason All-SEC selection Tyler Davis, who paces the squad in both scoring at 16.5 points per game and rebounding at 7.0 boards per contest.
Texas A&M will make a return trip to Los Angeles to place USC inside the Galen Center next season.
OPENING TIPS
• Texas A&M takes aim at a third consecutive victory to start the 2016-17 campaign when it hosts USC on Friday night at Reed Arena.
• The matchup is the first of two Aggie contests against the Pac-12 this season as Texas A&M will also face Arizona inside Houston's Toyota Center on Dec. 17. Another potential Pac-12 showdown with the UCLA Bruins could come to fruition as both teams are also in the field for the 2016 Wooden Legacy, but on opposite sides of the tournament bracket.
• Through two games this season balanced scoring has been an A&M calling card as sophomore Tyler Davis averages double-digit scoring (16.5 points per game) through two games to lead a group of nine Aggies who averaged at least 5.5 points per contest — DJ Hogg (9.5 ppg), Admon Gilder (8.5 ppg), Robert Williams (8.0 ppg), JC Hampton (6.5 ppg), Eric Vila (6.5 ppg), Tavario Miller (6.0 ppg), Caleb Smith (6.5 ppg) and Tonny Trocha-Morelos (5.5 ppg).
• The Aggies are 138-13 (.914) all-time in non-conference games inside Reed Arena, which hosted its first basketball game in the fall of 1998 ... Texas A&M has won 19 consecutive non-conference games at Reed Arena dating back to a loss to Louisiana Tech during the second round of the 2015 NIT
SERIES HISTORY VS USC (TROJANS LEAD 1-0)
• This will be the first matchup between both schools in 80 years. USC took home a 26-18 victory in the 1936-37 season.
• Texas A&M is 2-1 against Pac-12 opponents in the Billy Kennedy era, the last matchup was a 54-67 defeat at Arizona State last season.
• This is the first time USC has faced an SEC opponent in the Enfield era, and the first since the 2012-13 season when they were defeated at Georgia, 56-64.
• In his time as an assistant coach at Cal, Billy Kennedy helped the Golden Bears to a 6-2 record against USC.
WILLIAMS REVIVING AGGIES' BLOCK PARTY
Billed as one of the SEC's most athletic rookies, Robert Williams has wasted little time making his presence felt on the court for the Maroon & White and one of his biggest statistical impacts has come in the blocked shots column.
As a team last season, the Aggies collected 133 blocks in 37 games for an average of 3.59 blocks per game. Albeit in a small sample size, Williams has seven blocks in just two games (3.5 per game) while the Aggies have 15 in the two contests (8.5 per game). The rookie from Vivan, La., notched five swats against Northwestern State during his first collegiate game to become the first Aggie to notch five blocks in a game since Keith Davis against Sam Houston State on Dec. 7, 2011.
TEXAS A&M GERMANY-BOUND FOR 2017 STATE FARM ARMED FORCES CLASSIC
In a move that honors Texas A&M University's strong traditions and connection with the United States military, the Aggie men's basketball team has been selected to take part in the 2017 State Farm Armed Forces Classic, facing West Virginia on Nov. 10, 2017, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
The Armed Forces Classic – a series of Division I men's college basketball games that are televised from United States military bases around Veteran's Day as a morale event for service members – is scheduled to continue for the foreseeable future. The Armed Forces Classic is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN.
REED ARENA SUCCESS
• The Aggies were 17-1 on their home court last year (2-0 this season) and are now 227-77 (.747) all-time in 18 seasons at Reed Arena ... the Aggies were 41-41 the first six years at Reed and are 186-36 since.
• In the last three seasons, Texas A&M is 50-8 (.862) on its home floor.
• A&M has won 95 of its last 111 home games against unranked opponents (38 of last 50 in league play).
• Texas A&M was 9-0 in non-conference games at Reed Arena last season (2-0 this season) ... the Aggies are 138-13 (.914) all-time in non-conference games inside the facility, which hosted its first basketball game in the fall of 1998 ... a loss to Rice on Dec. 22, 2011, snapped A&M's 67-game non-conference home win streak at Reed Arena (which dated back to the start of the 2005-06 season) and 80-game regular-season, non-conference home win streak (which dated back to 2003), both school records.
UP NEXT
The Aggies are West Coast bound as they travel to southern California for the 2016 Wooden Legacy. Texas A&M will face CSUN (Cal State Northridge) in the event's opening round on Thursday at 1 p.m. (CT) before returning to the court Friday for a match up against New Mexico or Virginia Tech.
The first two days of event will take place at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gym before the site of competition flips to Anaheim's Honda Center for the final day of the tournament (Sunday, Nov. 27).
On the opposite side of the bracket from the Aggies is Dayton, Nebraska, Portland and UCLA.
USC (2-0) at Texas A&M (2-0)
Friday, Nov. 17, 2016 · 6 p.m. (CT)
Reed Arena (12,989) · College Station, Texas
TV: SEC Network (For more info – 12thMan.com/TV)
Brett Dolan, Play-by-Play
Barry Booker, Commentary
RADIO: WTAW 1620 AM (Bryan-College Station)
Dave South, Play-by-Play
Mike Caruso, Commentary
LIVE AUDIO/STATS: 12thman.com/live
LIVE MOBILE LIVE STATS: tamustats.com
--
COLLEGE STATION – In a matchup between NCAA Tournament squads from a season ago, the Aggie men's basketball team faces a tough early-season challenge when it welcomes USC to Reed Arena for a 6 p.m. showdown Friday night.
The contest will be nationally televised on SEC Network with Brett Dolan calling the play-by-play and Barry Booker providing color commentary. Additionally, radio coverage will be provided on the Aggie Sports Network, which can be heard locally in the Bryan/College Station area on WTAW (1620 AM).
In addition to being a marquee meeting between successful SEC and Pac-12 programs, the night is being billed as Neon Night at Reed Arena with a bevy of promotions and giveaways for fans planned. Halftime will see fans entertained by the illusions of magician Grant Price. Originally, the ZuZu acrobats were slated as entertainment, but due to an injury they have disappeared from the intermission schedule.
On the hardwood, the showdown will pit a pair of 2-0 teams against one another as the Trojans come to Aggieland having already notched home wins over Montana and Omaha this season. During the win over Omaha on Sunday, USC rallied from behind by as many as nine points to defeat the Mavericks 82-72.
Led by junior guard Elijah Stewart, who is averaging 20.5 points through the opening two games, the Trojans' roster USC features just two seniors but four players that have started at least 28 games during their career.
The Aggies are of a similar roster make-up with just three upperclassmen on the roster in seniors JC Hampton and Tavario Miller and junior Tonny Trocha-Morelos. Texas A&M's youthful talent has been paced by sophomore center and preseason All-SEC selection Tyler Davis, who paces the squad in both scoring at 16.5 points per game and rebounding at 7.0 boards per contest.
Texas A&M will make a return trip to Los Angeles to place USC inside the Galen Center next season.
OPENING TIPS
• Texas A&M takes aim at a third consecutive victory to start the 2016-17 campaign when it hosts USC on Friday night at Reed Arena.
• The matchup is the first of two Aggie contests against the Pac-12 this season as Texas A&M will also face Arizona inside Houston's Toyota Center on Dec. 17. Another potential Pac-12 showdown with the UCLA Bruins could come to fruition as both teams are also in the field for the 2016 Wooden Legacy, but on opposite sides of the tournament bracket.
• Through two games this season balanced scoring has been an A&M calling card as sophomore Tyler Davis averages double-digit scoring (16.5 points per game) through two games to lead a group of nine Aggies who averaged at least 5.5 points per contest — DJ Hogg (9.5 ppg), Admon Gilder (8.5 ppg), Robert Williams (8.0 ppg), JC Hampton (6.5 ppg), Eric Vila (6.5 ppg), Tavario Miller (6.0 ppg), Caleb Smith (6.5 ppg) and Tonny Trocha-Morelos (5.5 ppg).
• The Aggies are 138-13 (.914) all-time in non-conference games inside Reed Arena, which hosted its first basketball game in the fall of 1998 ... Texas A&M has won 19 consecutive non-conference games at Reed Arena dating back to a loss to Louisiana Tech during the second round of the 2015 NIT
SERIES HISTORY VS USC (TROJANS LEAD 1-0)
• This will be the first matchup between both schools in 80 years. USC took home a 26-18 victory in the 1936-37 season.
• Texas A&M is 2-1 against Pac-12 opponents in the Billy Kennedy era, the last matchup was a 54-67 defeat at Arizona State last season.
• This is the first time USC has faced an SEC opponent in the Enfield era, and the first since the 2012-13 season when they were defeated at Georgia, 56-64.
• In his time as an assistant coach at Cal, Billy Kennedy helped the Golden Bears to a 6-2 record against USC.
WILLIAMS REVIVING AGGIES' BLOCK PARTY
Billed as one of the SEC's most athletic rookies, Robert Williams has wasted little time making his presence felt on the court for the Maroon & White and one of his biggest statistical impacts has come in the blocked shots column.
As a team last season, the Aggies collected 133 blocks in 37 games for an average of 3.59 blocks per game. Albeit in a small sample size, Williams has seven blocks in just two games (3.5 per game) while the Aggies have 15 in the two contests (8.5 per game). The rookie from Vivan, La., notched five swats against Northwestern State during his first collegiate game to become the first Aggie to notch five blocks in a game since Keith Davis against Sam Houston State on Dec. 7, 2011.
TEXAS A&M GERMANY-BOUND FOR 2017 STATE FARM ARMED FORCES CLASSIC
In a move that honors Texas A&M University's strong traditions and connection with the United States military, the Aggie men's basketball team has been selected to take part in the 2017 State Farm Armed Forces Classic, facing West Virginia on Nov. 10, 2017, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
The Armed Forces Classic – a series of Division I men's college basketball games that are televised from United States military bases around Veteran's Day as a morale event for service members – is scheduled to continue for the foreseeable future. The Armed Forces Classic is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN.
REED ARENA SUCCESS
• The Aggies were 17-1 on their home court last year (2-0 this season) and are now 227-77 (.747) all-time in 18 seasons at Reed Arena ... the Aggies were 41-41 the first six years at Reed and are 186-36 since.
• In the last three seasons, Texas A&M is 50-8 (.862) on its home floor.
• A&M has won 95 of its last 111 home games against unranked opponents (38 of last 50 in league play).
• Texas A&M was 9-0 in non-conference games at Reed Arena last season (2-0 this season) ... the Aggies are 138-13 (.914) all-time in non-conference games inside the facility, which hosted its first basketball game in the fall of 1998 ... a loss to Rice on Dec. 22, 2011, snapped A&M's 67-game non-conference home win streak at Reed Arena (which dated back to the start of the 2005-06 season) and 80-game regular-season, non-conference home win streak (which dated back to 2003), both school records.
UP NEXT
The Aggies are West Coast bound as they travel to southern California for the 2016 Wooden Legacy. Texas A&M will face CSUN (Cal State Northridge) in the event's opening round on Thursday at 1 p.m. (CT) before returning to the court Friday for a match up against New Mexico or Virginia Tech.
The first two days of event will take place at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gym before the site of competition flips to Anaheim's Honda Center for the final day of the tournament (Sunday, Nov. 27).
On the opposite side of the bracket from the Aggies is Dayton, Nebraska, Portland and UCLA.