Texas A&M Falls in Last Minute Heartbreaker to South Carolina
On Wednesday night at Reed Arena, No. 18 South Carolina dealt the Texas A&M Aggies their fifth straight defeat in SEC play, edging past them 70-68.
Despite trailing by 13 points in the second half, the Aggies (15-13, 6-9 SEC) mounted a comeback and briefly seized the lead with just over five minutes remaining. However, their momentum faltered, leading to a momentary unraveling before a brief recovery.
© Christopher Hanewinc, USA TODAY
In a nail-biting finish, the Aggies managed to tie the game at 68-68 thanks to Wade Taylor's clutch runner with nine seconds remaining. However, their hopes were dashed when the Gamecocks swiftly responded with a layup by Zachary Davis just three seconds before the final buzzer.
Despite the Aggies' valiant effort, a fumble during the subsequent inbounds play sealed their fate, marking their fifth consecutive loss without a final field-goal attempt.
This defeat dealt a significant blow to A&M's NCAA Tournament prospects, as their chances continue to dwindle due to persistent struggles with shooting accuracy. Their abysmal 2-of-17 performance from beyond the arc against the Gamecocks underscored this ongoing challenge.
Looking ahead, the Aggies brace for another tough matchup as they hit the road once again to take on Georgia, a team grappling with its own set of challenges with a 15-13 record and a 5-10 conference standing.
Despite facing adversity, A&M remains determined to finish the regular season strong, with pivotal home games against Mississippi State and Mississippi awaiting them.
With the SEC tournament looming on the horizon, the Aggies understand the importance of making a strong statement and potentially securing a ticket to the NCAA Tournament, underscoring the high stakes as they prepare for postseason action commencing on March 13 in Nashville, Tenn.
