No. 12 Aggies Face Mid-Week Challenge From Commodores

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The No. 12 Texas A&M men's basketball team (20-7 overall / 9-5 vs. SEC) hosts the Vanderbilt Commodores in a 6 p.m. matchup on Wednesday at Reed Arena.

Vanderbilt holds an 11-8 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to the first meeting in 1955 -- a 79-69 Commodore victory in Nashville.
In the Buzz Williams era, the teams are tied at three wins each, but the Aggies won the lone matchup at Reed Arena, 72-66, on Jan. 28, 2023.
Last season, the Commodores handed the Aggies a 74-73 loss in Nashville on Ezra Manjon's buzzer-beater.
Since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012-13, VU holds a 10-8 advantage in the series. In games at Reed Arena, however, the Aggies lead 4-2.

PROMOTIONS FOR VANDERBILT VS. TEXAS A&M

Aggie Fan Chain Giveaway: Available for the first 300 kids (12 and younger) in the Fan Zone at the North entry of Reed Arena. Limit (1) per kid 12 years of age or younger. Kid must be present.
Junior Aggie Club Game: JAC members can claim a FREE ticket in advance to the game. (15 Total Tickets as of 2/19 [15 Comp, 0 Paid]) 2/19/25
Reading Program Game #2: Two (2) FREE tickets in advance to students & teachers that achieved their respective goals over the fall semester.
A&M Student Early Entry: The North AND South entry of Reed Arena will open at 4:30 p.m. for ANY A&M student. All doors will open to all fans at 5 p.m.
Fan Zone (North Entry): Tent setup with TVs, music, games & more! For ALL fans starting at 5 p.m. Special table for FACE Mental Health student-athlete organization.

STATISTICAL COMPARISON

Statistic	Vanderbilt	Rank	Texas A&M	Rank
Scoring Offense	79.6	53	73.6	196
Scoring Defense	72.9	212	66	T-30
Scoring Margin	6.7	88	7.6	68
Field Goal %	45.6	133	42.1	310
Free Throw %	74	103	68.9	279
3-Point %	32.6	257	30.6	329
Free Throws/G	14.7	120	16.4	39
3-Pointers/G	8.1	131	6.9	T-257
FT Attempts/G	19.8	T-144	23.8	17
3-Point Attempts/G	25	T-88	22.6	174
FG% Defense	46.1	303	39.8	19
3-Point % Defense	37.2	340	32.4	113
Fouls/G	16.8	183	16.9	187
Rebound Margin	0.9	187	9.2	6
Off. Rebounds/G	11.67	T-93	15.81	1
Def. Rebounds/G	23.26	T-292	25	T-153
Rebounds/G	34.93	206	40.81	8
Assist/Turnover Ratio	1.4	60	1	279
Turnovers Forced/G	14.41	42	14	T-51
Effective FG pct	0.522	138	0.479	317

As of 2/23

LAST 10 GAMES VS. VANDERBILT

Date	Opponent (RK)	Result	TAMU	Opp
03/09/2017	*Vanderbilt	L	41	66
02/24/2018	@Vanderbilt	W	89	81
03/02/2019	Vanderbilt	W	64	57
03/13/2019	*Vanderbilt	W	69	52
01/11/2020	@Vanderbilt	W	69	50
03/10/2021	*Vanderbilt	L	68	79
02/19/2022	@Vanderbilt	L	67	72
01/28/2023	Vanderbilt	W	72	66
03/11/2023	*Vanderbilt	W	87	75
02/13/2024	@Vanderbilt	L	73	74

* SEC Tournament, Nashville, Tenn.

NEED-TO-KNOWS
CHASING RECORDS: Wade Taylor IV needs three 3-pointers to match Josh Carter's school record for 3's in conference games only of 139, set from 2005-09. Taylor's next made free throw will match Bernard King's career school record of 488 from 1999-2003.
CONTINUITY IN COLLEGE STATION: On Wednesday, it will have been 762 days since the last time Vanderbilt visited College Station on Jan. 28, 2023, but the Aggies' leaders in points, rebounds and assists from the 72-66 victory are back for the 2025 matchup.
Henry Coleman III led the Aggies with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting in a game-high 36:17, while Andersson Garcia pulled down a game-high eight rebounds and Wade Taylor IV dished out seven assists. Additionally, Hayden Hefner chipped in five points and three boards in 16:23, while Manny Obaseki and Solomon Washington missed the game due to injury.
Ironically, the only member of VU's current roster that was at the game was guard Jordan Williams, who was redshirting at Texas A&M in 2022-23,
STINGY ON DEFENSE: The Aggies rank No. 6 in KenPom.com's Adjusted Defensive Efficiency rating at 92.4, which is an estimate of the defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions) a team would have against the average D-I offense.
LAYMAN'S TERMS: In more common statistical measures, A&M is one of 20 D1 teams holding opponents to less than 40.0% from the field. Opponents hit just 39.8% of their FGA vs. the Aggies, which is No. 19 nationally. Similarly, the Aggies allow 21.6 FGM/G (No. 11) on 54.2 FGA/G (No. 31).
SHOOTERS SHOOT: The Aggies average 6.5 more shots/game than their opponents in SEC play, which ranks No. 2 among league schools (behind only VU, which averages 7.7 more FGA/G than its SEC opponents.
DEFENDERS DENY: A&M limits its league opponents to just 54.2 FGA/G, which is the lowest average in the conference by 1.3 FGA/G over Vanderbilt (53.7).
SUM OF PARTS: A&M is one of three SEC teams averaging more than 40.0 rebounds/G for the full season (No. 3 with 40.8/G), and are doing it without a single individual ranked among the league's top 20.
Among the 16 D1 teams averaging 40+ rebounds/G, Texas A&M and Tennessee State are only schools without a player averaging 6.0+ rebounds/G. .
ONE OF A KIND: Texas A&M is D1's only team ranked in the top 10 in total rebounds/G (No. 8, 40.8/G), offensive rebounds (No. 1, 15.8/G) and rebound margin (No. 6, +9.2/G).
BEST BENCH: Texas A&M's bench leads the SEC in KenPom's "bench minutes" metric at 40.0% (No. 21 nationally). The Aggie reserves average 27.3 points/G, while making 46.4% of their FGA.

TREND BULLETS

In a statistical oddity, opponents are making 77.0 of their FTA against the Aggies for the full season. Only nine teams among 355 D1 schools in StatPass.com's database have a higher opponent FT%. Incredibly, the Aggies' opponent FT% is even higher in SEC play with teams connecting on 79.5% of their FTA. No other SEC team's opponent FT% is over 74.8%.
One key to the Aggies' improvement in defensive rebounding has been the play of SMU transfer Zhuric Phelps, who is averaging 7.0 defensive boards over his last three games. Among SEC players, only Auburn's Johni Broome averaged more (9.3) in that span.
Over his past 10 games, Nebraska transfer CJ Wilcher is connecting on 48.4% of his 3-point shots. The sharpshooter has hit at least one 3-pointer in nine of his last 10 games while raising his season 3FG% to 41.0%, which is easily the best on the team.
After hitting 39.1% from deep in non-conference play, Wilcher is connecting 43.2% against SEC opponents.
Of Wilcher's 88 FGA as an Aggie, just five have been inside the 3-point line.
Wade Taylor IV went 0-9 from beyond the arc in last Saturday's loss vs. UT. In his last two games following 0-for or 1-for efforts, Taylor has posted his top two 3-point shooting efforts of the season - 5-8 at Texas (1/25) after 0-6 at Ole Miss (1/22) and 7-10 at South Carolina (2/1) after 1-7 vs. OU (1/28).
Taylor doesn't lose belief in his ability to hit 3-pointers (or in his teammates' ability to get the rebound) as he ranks third in the SEC in 3-point attempts/G at 7.6. His 2.5 treys/G rank No. 7 among SEC players. He has attempted four or more 3-pointers in 55 straight games.
Taylor has reached 10+ points in 22 of 23 games, and 15 or more 15 times, in 2024-25.
Five Aggies average above a +7.0 box plus-minus: Wade Taylor IV (+9.2), Henry Coleman III (+8.5), Andersson Garcia (+8.2), Pharrel Payne (+7.6). and C.J. Wilcher (+7.1).
A&M pounds the offensive glass for a NCAA-best 15.8 offensive rebounds/G, which allows the Aggies to average 5.4 more FGA than their opponent for the full season. In SEC play, the M&W average 14.6 OR/G and shoot 6.5 more balls than their league opponents.
Texas A&M hoops has rallied from a 15-point or more deficit to at least a tie six times in the past two seasons, including twice already in 2024-25. (Comeback history on page 4)
Five of Texas A&M's game results have been decided by three points or less (3-2 record) and 13 games have been within one-possession after the under 4:00 media timeout (9-4). (Tight games history on pg. 4)
Texas A&M averages just 2.3 free throw MAKES fewer than its opponents' free throw ATTEMPTS per game (16.4 FTM to 18.7 FTA).
Texas A&M has earned 40+ rebounds in 15 games, while just allowing 40+ opponent rebounds just three times.
No SEC team has managed more than 33 rebounds against the Aggies since mid-January (40 by Kentucky on 1/14).
In a bit of an oddity, the Aggies shoot better from beyond the arc away from Reed Arena (33.1% in 13 road/neutral) compared to 28.0% in 14 home games. Even weirder, the Aggies make 34.9% from deep in eight true road games.
The Aggies are 15-2 when hitting least 65% of their FTA and 5-5 when connecting on less than 65%. Similarly, the Aggies are 15-4 when they earn 20 or more FTA.

TV/RADIO

The matchup airs on the Texas A&M Radio Network, locally on 1620 AM/94.5 FM or worldwide on the 12th Man Mobile App with Andrew Monaco and Dr. John Thornton describing the action. It is also available on SiriusXM on channel 106 or 190.
The game will be broadcast on SEC Network with Brian Custer and Daymeon Fishback providing the description.

Schedule

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Henry Coleman III

Andersson Garcia

Hayden Hefner

Manny Obaseki

Pharrel Payne

Zhuric Phelps

Wade Taylor IV

Solomon Washington

CJ Wilcher

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