COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The runner-up Texas A&M Aggies insisted throughout the year that he should be considered one of the best teams in the country.
When they had a chance to shine against another top 5 team on Sunday, they proved it.
“We needed to win this game to solidify who we were and what we achieved,” said Texas A&M coach Gary Blair.
Aaliyah Wilson scored 17 points and N’dea Jones added 16 to lead Texas A&M in the 65-57 victory over fifth-placed South Carolina, giving the Aggies their first regular season Southeast Conference title.
Jones said they had a team meeting before the season to set their goals and make sure everyone knew how important it would be to be vigilant about coronavirus protocols in their season.
“We knew we could win,” she said. “We just needed to follow the protocols and maintain them and we could be here.”
It is the Aggies’ tenth consecutive victory and their ninth victory over a qualified opponent this season, who leads the country. Texas A&M (22-1, 13-1 SEC) suffered a seven-game skid against South Carolina and ended the season 13-0 at home, after playing in front of 2,700 on Sunday.
“We are the two best teams in the SEC and we had to prove it night after night,” said Blair. “Now it’s up to both of us to throw away this season and start all over again at the SEC tournament and the NCAA Tournament. “
Gamecocks lost to up to 14 in the fourth period, but narrowed the lead to 3 in a 3-point basket from Aliyah Boston with about three minutes left.
Wilson increased Texas A&M’s lead to 62-57 in a basket with less than 90 seconds remaining and Kayla Wells added two free throws with 12 seconds remaining to guarantee victory.
“It’s not always beautiful, but we found a way … we just keep protecting ourselves,” said Wilson.
The Aggies overcame South Carolina (19-4, 14-2) by 19-8 in the third quarter to take the lead before the Gamecocks came back late.
Destanni Henderson and Zia Cooke each had 15 points for Gamecocks, who won SEC regular season titles and conference tournaments last season.
“We hoped to win championships and that was within reach, but we ran out of gas,” said coach Dawn Staley. “We just didn’t have enough in the tank.”
Texas A&M led by 14 at the start of the fourth period, before South Carolina took advantage of a 9-0 run, with Cooke’s first seven points, to stay within 56-51 with about 5½ minutes remaining.
The Aggies scored a free throw before Henderson, 3 points, reduced to 57-54, five minutes from the end.
Texas A&M moved up 1 at the break and scored the first 10 points of the second half to make it 45-34, with about four minutes to go for the third. Jordan Nixon started that race with a shot and finished with a 3-point basket.
The Gamecocks failed to do anything right in this stretch, missing seven shots and making four turns. They won the first point of a period when Cooke hit one of two free throws about three minutes from the end of the fourth.
“When you lose a tray and give up an easy basket on the other side – when it happens continuously, it takes a toll on you,” said Staley.
The Aggies added a basket after that, before South Carolina made its first field goal of the second half on a Lele Grissett tray a few seconds later.
A 5-0 led by Texas A&M, with another 3 by Nixon, came next, made the 52-37 and prompted South Carolina to call for a break.
The Gamecocks ended the quarter with a 5-2 spurt to cut the lead to 52-42 entering the room.
RECOVERY RECORD
Jones had 14 rebounds to overtake Anriel Howard (1,002) for most career rebounds in school history, with 1,010.
Jones has played 16 games with at least 10 rebounds this season and 62 in his career.
“In fact, I wrote this before the game to be extraordinary … I’m happy I did it for them,” said Jones.
NEXT
Both teams will resume play next week at the SEC tournament, which starts Wednesday.
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.