Ags Start Strong But Fade 70-51

The Texas Aggie basketball team started off strong and led No. 5 Missouri on the road midway through the first half, but a 28-6 run to end the first stanza was too much for Texas A&M to overcome.

Michael Dixon hit four three-pointers over a 5-minute span late in the first half to fuel a big Missouri run and lift the No. 5 Tigers to a 70-51 victory over Texas A&M Monday afternoon before a sellout crowd of 15,061 at Mizzou Arena.

The win kept Mizzou (17-1, 4-1 Big 12) unbeaten at home, while the Aggies slipped to 10-7 and 1-4. Four of A&M’s setbacks this year have come against teams currently ranked in the top 15.

With the Aggies holding a 17-14 lead midway through the first half, the Tigers found their shooting stroke. Mizzou went on a 28-2 run, highlighted by Dixon’s outburst from behind the arc. Dixon scored 15 of his game-high 18 points over the run that put MU ahead, 42-28, with just under 90 seconds to go. A&M would cut the deficit to 19 at the break.

The Aggies came out strong in the second half, going on a 14-5 run and holding MU to one field goal in the first 8 minutes to pull within 10 at 47-37—the last three points capped by a big 3-point play from Ray Turner. The game stayed close until about 7 minutes left, but Mizzou then scored 8 straight to take control.

Khris Middleton and Elston Turner scored a team-high 13 to lead A&M, while Ray Turner added 11 points and a game-high 9 boards and David Loubeau scored 10.

Ricardo Ratliffe poured in 17 for Missouri, while Marcus Denmon added 16 and Phil Pressey 10.

For the game, the Tigers out-shot the Aggies, 40 to 35, despite being held to 30 percent from the field in the second half. MU won the rebounding edge, 38-28.

Texas A&M returns to action on Saturday afternoon when the Aggies host Oklahoma at Reed Arena. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.