For the Last Time: Aggies vs. Longhorns Hoops

The Aggies and Longhorns have played each other in basketball for nearly a century, but tonight's contest at Reed Arena on Big Monday could be the last meeting of the two in-state rivals for the foreseeable future. Here's a look at the game by the numbers.

Texas A&M returns to Reed Arena on ESPN's "Big Monday" when the Aggies (12-10, 3-7) host the Texas Longhorns (14-9, 4-6) for what could be the last meeting of the long-time in-state rivals for the foreseeable future. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.

Texas A&M Basketball Trends

• The Aggies have improved shot selection and offensive execution over the last 7 games of Big 12 play, and the offensive improvement shows in the numbers ... A&M has seen its shots start to fall on a more consistent basis over that span ... after opening league play 0-3, A&M is 3-4 on the stretch with three of the losses coming to top-6 ranked teams (at Missouri, at Kansas, home to Baylor).


Offensive Improvement

Big 12 Stretch (Record) FGA FG % 3-Pt % FT % PPG

First 3 Games (0-3)....... 59.3........32.6....... 25.0........61.8........51.0
Last 7 Games (3-4)........ 50.3........45.5....... 39.3........65.5........63.1

• In its last 10 halves of basketball, A&M has shot 48 percent or better in 6 ... the Aggies have connected at 45.2 percent from the floor over the last five games.

• A&M is shooting 41 percent from 3-point range over its last 6 games (averaging 6.5 threes per game) ... the Aggies rank fourth in league games in 3-point field goals (6.0/game).

• A&M's defensive effort has been strong through a very tough Big 12 schedule thus far ... the Aggies have allowed just one Big 12 foe to score more points than its season average (Oklahoma, who needed OT to do so) ... A&M has allowed only three teams to shoot higher than their season average from the floor (Iowa State, Oklahoma, K-State).


Aggie Defense in Big 12 Play

Opponent FG% (entering) FG% (game) PPG (entering) Pts (game)

@ Baylor.................49.0...................39.2...................77.6.....................61
Iowa St....................46.0...................46.7...................76.4.....................74
@ Texas..................45.0...................43.9...................76.7.....................61
Texas Tech............47.2...................33.3...................65.3.....................54
@ Missouri.............51.2...................40.4...................83.9.....................70
Oklahoma...............43.6...................49.2...................73.3....................75*
@ Kansas..............48.3...................42.6...................76.4.....................64
Oklahoma State....41.8...................37.9...................66.6.....................61
Baylor......................49.4...................39.7...................78.0.....................63
@ K-State................44.6...................45.7...................73.6.....................64

* in OT (65 in regulation)


By the Numbers

• Texas A&M's starting rotation has seen lots of action in conference play ... in Big 12 games, A&M starters are averaging 29.2 minutes a game (after averaging 25 a game in non-conference play) ... all five starters played at least 30 minutes against Texas (Jan. 11), the first time that's happened on an Aggie team since March 2007 (Big 12 quarterfinal vs Oklahoma State).

• A&M has averaged 16.6 bench points in its last 7 league games (3-4), after averaging just 9.0 in the first 3 (0-3).

• A&M has seen its free-throw percentage take a slight up-turn in Big 12 play ... the Aggies shot 61.6 percent from the line in non-conference play, but has shot 64.7 percent in Big 12 action ... A&M has connected at a 67 percent clip or better from the charity stripe in 6 of its 10 league contests.

• A&M is shooting 68.6 percent from the line in the second half of Big 12 games (59-of-86) ... the Aggies have shot just 56.4 percent in the first half (31-of-55).

• A&M is averaging 13.8 assists in its last 5 games, after averaging 7.8 over the first 5 games of Big 12 play.

• A&M is 7-2 this year when dishing out 15 or more assists (losses to #13 Florida, #6 Baylor) ... the Aggies totaled 23 in the win over Arkansas Tech (Dec. 29), the most by an A&M squad since December 2007.

• The Aggies are 11-1 this year when leading at halftime (losses at Kansas, K-State) and 11-0 when leading with 5 minutes to play.

• A&M is 11-0 when leading with 5 minutes to play.

• A&M is 10-2 when holding opponents under 40 percent from the field (both losses to Baylor).

• The Aggies have held 10 of their opponents under 60 points and are unbeaten in those games.

• A&M has held 8 opponents under 35 percent shooting (8-0).

• The Aggies are 8-0 this year when shooting more free throws than their opponent and 9-1 when out-rebounding them (loss is to Texas).

• A&M has already bested last year's total for blocks, and done so in just 20 games ... the Aggies are averaging 2.5 blocks per game this year (56 blocks), up from last year's average of 1.5 (51 in 33 games).

• The Aggies have won 4 of their last 5 overtime games dating back to last season.