Aggies add March Madness insult, beating Nebraska 98-83 after hiring Huskers' AD
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Wearing three-piece suits matters to Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams.
Since his Aggies snapped a five-game skid with him wearing a more casual outfit, he's stuck with the same clothes, down to boxers and undershirt.
Wade Taylor IV scored 25 points and No. 9 seed Texas A&M sent eighth-seeded Nebraska home still looking for its first NCAA Tournament victory, beating the Huskers 98-83 on Friday night in the South Region.
“We need to find a cleaners in Memphis because they’re wet after every game, and I’m making everybody wear the same thing over and over, which I’ve never done,” Williams said. “But I’m not saying there’s causation, and that’s why we’re winning. But in case there is, that’s what I’ll wear on Sunday.”
Texas A&M (21-14) will play top-seeded Houston on Sunday with a trip to Dallas awaiting in the Sweet 16.
The Aggies added insult to injury by beating Nebraska after unexpectedly hiring athletic director Trev Alberts away from his alma mater for the same job last week.
Manny Obaseki added 22 points for the Aggies, who put five players in double figures and scored a season high in points. Tyrece Radford finished with 20, making Texas A&M the first SEC team with a trio scoring at least 20 points in this tournament since 2007.
Jace Carter also had 13, and Henry Coleman III scored 10.
“The job is not finished,” Radford said of his message to the Aggies. “Yes, it feels amazing to win. It’s an honor to even be here. But we just can’t get stuck on this win, because we still have a long tournament ahead of us.”
Nebraska (23-11) leaves Memphis still looking for that elusive NCAA victory following the program's best finish in Big Ten play since 1992-93. The Huskers tied for third and then reached the Big Ten semifinals, posting the second-most wins in program history to earn coach Fred Hoiberg an extension.
“We ran into a buzzsaw,” Hoiberg said of the Aggies.
Brice Williams led the Huskers with 24 points. Keisei Tominaga had 21, and Josiah Allick had 14.
The Aggies gave the Southeastern Conference a much-needed win after getting eight teams in, and now the league is 3-5. The Aggies also used their size to dominate Nebraska inside with a 40-28 outrebounding difference while outscoring them 44-38 in the paint.
Texas A&M is 6-1 in March since Williams put Obaseki into the starting lineup.
Obaseki had been averaging 6.3 points per game this season and 15.8 in this stretch as a starter. Obaseki had 19 by halftime, making his first three 3s and posing for a moment after the last one. Taylor scored 17, then went to the bench with two fouls. Obaseki scored the final 16 points of the first half for the Aggies.
“It’s been fun playing alongside Wade,” Obaseki said. “It’s been an honor. I played against him since fourth, fifth grade, just seeing his game and seeing him succeed at a high level makes me happy.”
Together, they broke open what had sounded and looked like a Nebraska home game with a thrilling start featuring nine lead changes and three ties. The Huskers last led 31-30 when the Aggies, who lost the SEC Tournament semifinals in Nashville, took control.
Taylor's fifth 3 put the Aggies ahead to stay at 33-31, and they led 58-44 at halftime after failing to reach 58 points in four games during the season.
BIG PICTURE
Texas A&M: The Aggies improved to 14-16 all-time in their 16th appearance in the tournament, getting their first win since 2018 and the first since Williams took over in 2019. ... The Aggies have become 3-point specialists after averaging just 6.9 made 3s a game coming into this tournament. They went 13 of 23 (56.5%). ... They also set a team record at this tournament, topping the 92 points scored in a pair of games in 2016.
Nebraska: The Huskers came in 10th nationally in field goal defense, holding opponents to 39.7% shooting. They allowed Texas A&M to shoot 49.3% (35 of 71). ... They weren't much better on offense after finishing the first half missing 12 of their final 13 shots.
UP NEXT
The Aggies may get a rematch with the Big 12 program a mere 100 miles away if Houston takes care of its business. The Cougars beat Texas A&M 70-66 on Dec. 16 in Houston.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Wildens Leveque vs. Josiah Allick (Tyrece Radford gains possession) | |||
19:35 | Manny Obaseki turnover (lost ball) (Juwan Gary steals) | |||
19:30 | Solomon Washington blocks Juwan Gary's two point layup | |||
19:28 | Josiah Allick offensive rebound | |||
19:26 | +2 | Josiah Allick makes two point layup | 0-2 | |
19:14 | +3 | Solomon Washington makes three point jump shot (Wade Taylor IV assists) | 3-2 | |
18:45 | Solomon Washington blocks Josiah Allick's two point layup | |||
18:42 | Tyrece Radford defensive rebound | |||
18:35 | +2 | Wade Taylor IV makes two point jump shot | 5-2 | |
18:22 | +3 | Keisei Tominaga makes three point jump shot (Rienk Mast assists) | 5-5 | |
18:08 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot | 8-5 | |
17:48 | +3 | Keisei Tominaga makes three point jump shot (Brice Williams assists) | 8-8 | |
17:36 | Manny Obaseki misses two point layup | |||
17:34 | Wildens Leveque offensive rebound | |||
17:30 | Wildens Leveque misses two point layup | |||
17:27 | Josiah Allick defensive rebound | |||
17:08 | +2 | Brice Williams makes two point jump shot | 8-10 | |
17:08 | Wade Taylor IV shooting foul (Brice Williams draws the foul) | |||
17:08 | +1 | Brice Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 8-11 | |
17:00 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point jump shot | 10-11 | |
16:44 | Andersson Garcia personal foul (Rienk Mast draws the foul) | |||
16:34 | Josiah Allick misses two point layup | |||
16:32 | Solomon Washington defensive rebound | |||
16:23 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot | 13-11 | |
16:11 | +3 | Rienk Mast makes three point jump shot (Brice Williams assists) | 13-14 | |
15:54 | Manny Obaseki misses two point jump shot | |||
15:52 | Solomon Washington offensive rebound | |||
15:46 | Solomon Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
15:44 | Josiah Allick defensive rebound | |||
15:31 | +3 | Keisei Tominaga makes three point jump shot | 13-17 | |
15:17 | Wade Taylor IV misses two point jump shot | |||
15:15 | Josiah Allick defensive rebound | |||
15:07 | Solomon Washington personal foul (Keisei Tominaga draws the foul) | |||
15:08 | TV timeout | |||
15:05 | +3 | Brice Williams makes three point jump shot (Keisei Tominaga assists) | 13-20 | |
14:42 | Juwan Gary shooting foul (Solomon Washington draws the foul) | |||
14:42 | +1 | Solomon Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-20 | |
14:42 | +1 | Solomon Washington makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-20 | |
14:18 | Keisei Tominaga misses two point jump shot | |||
14:16 | Jace Carter defensive rebound | |||
14:03 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot (Tyrece Radford assists) | 18-20 | |
13:35 | Jamarques Lawrence misses three point jump shot | |||
13:33 | Solomon Washington defensive rebound | |||
13:22 | Tyrece Radford turnover (lost ball) (Brice Williams steals) | |||
13:11 | +2 | Juwan Gary makes two point layup (Brice Williams assists) | 18-22 | |
12:57 | +2 | Henry Coleman III makes two point dunk (Wade Taylor IV assists) | 20-22 | |
12:36 | Solomon Washington personal foul (Juwan Gary draws the foul) | |||
12:33 | Juwan Gary misses two point hook shot | |||
12:31 | Andersson Garcia defensive rebound | |||
12:12 | +2 | Henry Coleman III makes two point layup (Tyrece Radford assists) | 22-22 | |
11:47 | Jamarques Lawrence turnover (traveling) | |||
11:48 | TV timeout | |||
11:39 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot (Andersson Garcia assists) | 25-22 | |
11:16 | +2 | Jamarques Lawrence makes two point layup (Josiah Allick assists) | 25-24 | |
11:07 | Wade Taylor IV misses two point jump shot | |||
11:06 | Aggies offensive rebound | |||
11:06 | Josiah Allick personal foul (Henry Coleman III draws the foul) | |||
10:53 | +2 | Jace Carter makes two point layup | 27-24 | |
10:34 | +2 | Josiah Allick makes two point layup | 27-26 | |
10:17 | Andersson Garcia misses three point jump shot | |||
10:15 | Brice Williams defensive rebound | |||
10:10 | +2 | Brice Williams makes two point layup | 27-28 | |
10:10 | Manny Obaseki shooting foul (Brice Williams draws the foul) | |||
10:10 | +1 | Brice Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 27-29 | |
10:02 | Brice Williams shooting foul (Manny Obaseki draws the foul) | |||
10:02 | Manny Obaseki misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:02 | +1 | Manny Obaseki makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-29 | |
9:52 | Keisei Tominaga turnover (traveling) | |||
9:36 | +2 | Manny Obaseki makes two point layup (Wade Taylor IV assists) | 30-29 | |
9:25 | Josiah Allick misses two point layup | |||
9:23 | Jace Carter defensive rebound | |||
9:12 | Jace Carter misses two point layup | |||
9:10 | Brice Williams defensive rebound | |||
8:54 | Keisei Tominaga misses two point jump shot | |||
8:52 | Manny Obaseki defensive rebound | |||
8:46 | Manny Obaseki misses two point layup | |||
8:44 | Brice Williams defensive rebound | |||
8:40 | +2 | Josiah Allick makes two point dunk (Jamarques Lawrence assists) | 30-31 | |
8:21 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot (Jace Carter assists) | 33-31 | |
8:05 | Brice Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
8:02 | Aggies defensive rebound | |||
7:52 | Tyrece Radford misses two point jump shot | |||
7:50 | Wade Taylor IV offensive rebound | |||
7:43 | Jace Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
7:41 | Tyrece Radford offensive rebound | |||
7:41 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point layup | 35-31 | |
7:41 | Sam Hoiberg shooting foul (Tyrece Radford draws the foul) | |||
7:39 | TV timeout | |||
7:41 | +1 | Tyrece Radford makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 36-31 | |
7:25 | Keisei Tominaga misses two point jump shot | |||
7:23 | Tyrece Radford defensive rebound | |||
7:18 | Tyrece Radford misses two point jump shot | |||
7:16 | Jace Carter offensive rebound | |||
7:15 | Jace Carter misses two point layup | |||
7:12 | Brice Williams defensive rebound | |||
6:56 | Hayden Hefner shooting foul (Brice Williams draws the foul) | |||
6:56 | +1 | Brice Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-32 | |
6:56 | +1 | Brice Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-33 | |
6:46 | Tyrece Radford misses two point layup | |||
6:44 | Henry Coleman III offensive rebound | |||
6:41 | +2 | Henry Coleman III makes two point layup | 38-33 | |
6:30 | Rienk Mast turnover (lost ball) (Wade Taylor IV steals) | |||
6:25 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point layup (Hayden Hefner assists) | 40-33 | |
6:25 | Cornhuskers 30 second timeout | |||
6:25 | TV timeout | |||
6:05 | Keisei Tominaga misses three point jump shot | |||
6:02 | Aggies defensive rebound | |||
5:54 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point layup | 42-33 | |
5:35 | Wade Taylor IV shooting foul (Keisei Tominaga draws the foul) | |||
5:35 | +1 | Keisei Tominaga makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-34 | |
5:35 | +1 | Keisei Tominaga makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-35 | |
5:24 | +2 | Manny Obaseki makes two point jump shot | 44-35 | |
5:08 | Rienk Mast misses three point jump shot | |||
5:06 | Josiah Allick offensive rebound | |||
5:01 | Josiah Allick misses two point layup | |||
4:59 | Jace Carter defensive rebound | |||
4:53 | Tyrece Radford misses two point layup | |||
4:51 | Rienk Mast defensive rebound | |||
4:43 | Keisei Tominaga misses two point layup | |||
4:40 | Cornhuskers offensive rebound | |||
4:32 | +2 | Brice Williams makes two point layup | 44-37 | |
4:19 | +3 | Manny Obaseki makes three point jump shot (Tyrece Radford assists) | 47-37 | |
4:02 | Brice Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
4:00 | Tyrece Radford defensive rebound | |||
3:52 | Hayden Hefner misses three point jump shot | |||
3:50 | Josiah Allick defensive rebound | |||
3:37 | Henry Coleman III shooting foul (Jamarques Lawrence draws the foul) | |||
3:37 | TV timeout | |||
3:37 | +1 | Jamarques Lawrence makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-38 | |
3:37 | +1 | Jamarques Lawrence makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-39 | |
3:23 | +2 | Manny Obaseki makes two point layup | 49-39 | |
3:23 | Juwan Gary shooting foul (Manny Obaseki draws the foul) | |||
3:23 | +1 | Manny Obaseki makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 50-39 | |
3:09 | Andersson Garcia blocks Josiah Allick's two point layup | |||
3:07 | Henry Coleman III defensive rebound | |||
2:55 | +3 | Manny Obaseki makes three point jump shot (Jace Carter assists) | 53-39 | |
2:47 | Keisei Tominaga misses three point jump shot | |||
2:45 | Aggies defensive rebound | |||
2:36 | Jace Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
2:34 | Josiah Allick defensive rebound | |||
2:24 | Jace Carter personal foul (Brice Williams draws the foul) | |||
2:24 | +1 | Brice Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 53-40 | |
2:24 | Brice Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:22 | Josiah Allick offensive rebound | |||
2:20 | Brice Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
2:18 | Tyrece Radford defensive rebound | |||
2:04 | +3 | Manny Obaseki makes three point jump shot | 56-40 | |
1:41 | Keisei Tominaga misses three point jump shot | |||
1:39 | Henry Coleman III defensive rebound | |||
1:22 | Manny Obaseki misses three point jump shot | |||
1:20 | Cornhuskers defensive rebound | |||
1:20 | Andersson Garcia personal foul (Josiah Allick draws the foul) | |||
1:20 | +1 | Josiah Allick makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 56-41 | |
1:20 | +1 | Josiah Allick makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 56-42 | |
1:05 | Tyrece Radford misses two point layup | |||
1:03 | Rienk Mast defensive rebound | |||
0:58 | Henry Coleman III blocks Brice Williams's two point jump shot | |||
0:56 | Jace Carter defensive rebound | |||
0:35 | +2 | Manny Obaseki makes two point layup | 58-42 | |
0:05 | Jace Carter shooting foul (Rienk Mast draws the foul) | |||
0:05 | +1 | Rienk Mast makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 58-43 | |
0:05 | +1 | Rienk Mast makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 58-44 | |
0:02 | Wade Taylor IV turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:00 | End of period |