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Red-Hot Texas A&M Takes on Dangerous Mississippi State in SEC Showdown
The No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies (20-5, 9-3 SEC) are rolling. They’ve won five straight games, locked down a top-six seed in the latest NCAA Tournament projections, and continue to grind out victories with elite defense.
But on Tuesday night in Starkville, Mississippi, they’ll face a No. 22 Mississippi State (18-7, 6-6 SEC) team that just pulled off a massive road win against rival No. 19 Ole Miss. The Bulldogs are looking to shake up the SEC standings and solidify their own NCAA Tournament bid.
Texas A&M: Defense Fuels Championship Aspirations
The Aggies are playing their best basketball at the right time. They overcame a slow start against Arkansas on Saturday, using lockdown defense and clutch play to secure a 69-61 win.
“We were a bit slow in the beginning, so we tried to let our defense do the work,” guard Zhuric Phelps said.
That defense—Texas A&M’s calling card—held Arkansas to just 41.7% shooting and forced 17 turnovers.
Key Players for Texas A&M:
- Wade Taylor IV (17.2 PPG) – The Aggies’ leading scorer and floor general. Dropped 18 points in the win over Arkansas.
- Zhuric Phelps (11.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG) – Provides defensive intensity and a knack for making big plays late in games.
- Andersson Garcia (9.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG) – The X-factor, with a high motor and an ability to impact the game on both ends.
Texas A&M is in prime position for a deep March run, but their remaining SEC schedule is brutal. Four of their final five games are against ranked opponents, including No. 5 Tennessee and No. 1 Auburn.
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Mississippi State: A Team on the Rise
The Bulldogs dominated No. 19 Ole Miss 81-71 in their last game, sweeping their in-state rival and building serious momentum.
Coach Chris Jans praised his team’s effort and defense, which held Ole Miss to just 38.3% shooting and won the battle on the boards 40-30.
“We handled the runs and our guys just stuck together,” Jans said.
Key Players for Mississippi State:
- RJ Melendez (12.1 PPG) – Led the way with 17 points vs. Ole Miss.
- Josh Hubbard (13.8 PPG) – A lights-out shooter who stretches defenses.
- KeShawn Murphy (11.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG) – A strong presence in the paint who can make life tough for A&M’s bigs.
Mississippi State has only one more ranked game after this—Feb. 25 at No. 2 Alabama. A win here would be huge for their seeding in March.
What’s at Stake?
- Texas A&M: A win keeps them on pace for a top-2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and extends their dominance in the SEC.
- Mississippi State: A victory cements them as an NCAA Tournament team and adds another top-10 win to their resume.
It’s a classic offensive firepower vs. defensive toughness matchup. Can Texas A&M’s defense hold up against Mississippi State’s shooters? We’ll find out Tuesday night in Starkville.
