A&M wins, heads to NIT quarterfinals

The Aggies won their twenty-first game of the season on Saturday, defeating the DePaul Blue Demons 75-72 in Chicago’s Allstate Arena in Second Round NIT action. The win drives Texas A&M into the third round of the NIT for the first time since 1982.

Texas A&M (21-9) was up 44-26 at halftime and led DePaul by (20-11) 20 at one point in the game. But the final minutes were much closer, as DePaul, 14-2 on its own floor headed into the game, made a huge comeback in the second half.

Four Aggies scored in double figures. Bobby Leach had a strong showing, putting up 23 points and 5 assists. Antoine Wright had 19 points and 5 assists. Joseph Jones led the Aggies in rebounds with 11. Jones also added 14 points. Dominique Kirk had 10 points. The Aggies had four steals.

With no time-outs remaining in the final seconds of the game, DePaul attempted to call a time-out, resulting in a technical foul on the Blue Demons. Seconds later Leach fouled DePaul’s Drake Diener on a three point shot, sending him to the line to shoot three free throws.

On Wednesday night at a site to be determined the Aggies will face the winner of the Holy Cross vs. Buffalo/St. Joseph's.