Texas A&M rallies to defeat Rutgers in close match
- Texas A&M trailed Rutgers but made a strong comeback to win the game.
- Wade Taylor IV led his team in scoring with 24 points.
- The victory secured Texas A&M's fifth-place finish at the Players Era Festival.
On November 30, 2024, Texas A&M University overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Rutgers University 81-77 in the fifth-place game at the Players Era Festival held in Las Vegas, USA. Texas A&M started the game with difficulty, trailing Rutgers at halftime. In the second half, Rutgers managed to take a nine-point lead with 12:51 left, but Texas A&M mounted a significant comeback, closing the game with a strong 27-14 run. Wade Taylor IV was instrumental for the Aggies, contributing 24 points. Fellow teammates Solomon Washington, Henry Coleman III, and Manny Obaseki supported the effort by each scoring 11 points. This win improved Texas A&M's season record to 6-2. On the opposing side, Rutgers, which fell to a 5-3 record, had a solid performance led by Ace Bailey, who scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Jeremiah Williams contributed 20 points and Dylan Harper added 18 points. Throughout the first half, shooting struggled for both teams, as they combined to shoot only 2 of 20 from beyond the arc. The statistics showed that Texas A&M, known for averaging 31.4% from three-point range, failed to hit any of their seven attempts in the first half, while Rutgers made a mere 2 of 13 attempts. Overall, Texas A&M finished the game 2 of 15 in three-point shooting, while Rutgers improved slightly with a total of 6 from 26 attempts. A critical moment in the game came when Rutgers was trailing by just one point and had a chance to claim the lead. However, a miscommunication led to Zach Martini fumbling a pass out of bounds that gave Texas A&M the momentum. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Taylor converted two free throws to extend their lead to three points with mere seconds left. Following Taylor's crucial free throws, Zhuric Phelps sealed the deal with two additional free throws, finalizing the score of 81-77 in favor of Texas A&M. Looking ahead, Texas A&M is set to host Wake Forest in their upcoming SEC/ACC Challenge match, while Rutgers will open its Big Ten play against Ohio State. Both teams will need to focus on their shooting efficiency, especially from the three-point range, as they continue their respective seasons. This exciting matchup showcased the competitive spirit of collegiate basketball, highlighting the skills and determination of both teams on the court.