A&M Beats Mizzou 91-63

[Jimcs50]

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Three-point shooting was the star of Texas A&M's 91-63 win over Missouri on Saturday night, but Acie Law played a superb supporting role.

Law scored 11 points, but more important was his career-high 14 assists.

"That was about the best 20 minutes Acie has played as a lead guard," said Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie. "He ran the team flawlessly. He got everybody shots."

Texas A&M (15-5, 4-5 Big 12) shot 75 percent from 3-point range in the second half, making 9-of-12 to erase a one-point halftime deficit and coast to its most lopsided win ever in Big 12 play.

All of the Aggies' second half 3-pointers came in the game's final 17:20, a span in which Missouri (10-12, 2-7) was outscored 52-20.

It was a turnaround from the first half when the Aggies made just 2-of-7 3-point shots.

"Coach told me and Bobby (Leach) to be aggressive so we took it upon ourselves to drive and give our teammates the opportunity to knock down shots," Law said. "That's what allowed those 3-pointers to take place."

Antoine Wright and Leach scored 20 points apiece for the Aggies. Leach's 20 points were a career high for the senior. He made 4-of-5 3-pointers, with three coming in the second half.

"That's probably the best we've played in the Big 12 since I've been here," said Wright, a junior. "It was one of those nights that everything went in."

The win is Texas A&M's 15th of the season, which assures the Aggies their first winning season and best finish since going 19-11 in the 1993-1994.

Joseph Jones added 17 points and had four blocked shots for Texas A&M.

The Aggies trailed 43-39 with 17:15 left before going on a 13-0 run fueled by hot 3-point shooting to take a 52-43 lead. In that span of under three minutes, Texas A&M made three 3-point goals, including two by freshman Dominique Kirk.

The Aggies hit four more from beyond the arc and Wright made his second three-point play of the night to put Texas A&M ahead 73-55 with just more than six minutes remaining.

Missouri managed only eight more points the rest of the game, while Texas A&M piled on 18, six of which were from 3-pointers.

Freshman Jason Horton led Missouri with 17 points, including five 3-pointers and Jason Conley added 12.

Texas A&M took advantage of 19 Missouri turnovers that led to 24 points.

Missouri led 7-4 early, but Texas A&M outscored the Tigers 11-0 to take a 15-7 lead with 13:27 left in first half.

Missouri made two 3-pointers late in the first half to lead 35-34 at halftime.

"Obviously we felt good going into halftime, but in the second half Texas A&M played lights out basketball," said Missouri coach Quin Snyder. "We couldn't find a way to dig in and stop them."

The Tigers have now lost four straight and seven of the last eight and remain winless on the road. Texas A&M's 91 points is the most Missouri has allowed all season.

Former Texas A&M coach Melvin Watkins was greeted with a warm ovation on his return to College Station as an assistant with Missouri. Watkins resigned last season after the Aggies went 7-21 and winless in Big 12 play. His last game as Texas A&M coach came in a loss to Missouri in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.

[Jimcs50]

I am going to Ok St game on Sat and I really think A&M has a chance to win that game. This team is playing great ball right now.
Look at standings:

BIG 12 CONFERENCE STANDINGS
TEAM CONF W-L TOTAL W-L
#3 Kansas 8-0 18-1
#11 Oklahoma State 7-2 17-3
#16 Oklahoma 6-2 17-4
Texas Tech 6-2 14-5
#18 Texas 4-4 15-6
Texas A&M 4-5 15-5
Kansas State 3-5 13-6
Iowa State 3-5 11-8
Nebraska 3-5 10-9
Colorado 3-6 11-9
Missouri 2-7 10-12
Baylor 1-7 9-10

If A&M can finish in Top 6, they havea shot at NCAAs.
With the wat UT is playing, A&M has a shot to pass them in the standings.

Wright and Law are playing as well as anyone and have a shot at All Conference 2nd team.

[SPARKY]

Hopefully they can build some momentum going into the conference tourney. Man, Texas looked like crap against Iowa State yesterday.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Gillespie is a great coach. Awesome actually.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The forgotten man on this team is Bobby Leach. Since conference rolled around he's been playing better and better. Every game he bests his previous game. About all you can ask for really.

Saturday was fun, can't wait for OSU next week.