In a gripping showdown on Thursday evening in College Station, two desperate teams—the Ole Miss Rebels and Texas A&M Aggies—took to the hardwood, each seeking to snap their losing streaks. The Rebels managed to maintain the lead for most of the game, but a strong late-game rally from the Aggies propelled them to an 80-77 victory, ending their four-game slump.
Chris Beard’s Ole Miss held a commanding lead from the ten-minute mark of the first half until just two minutes remained in the second half. This period marked one of their most consistent performances; however, it ultimately fell short as they failed to score in the final three and a half minutes. Rashaun Aggee stepped up for Texas A&M during this critical stretch, hitting key shots that secured their comeback.
Ole Miss found success on fast breaks, which played a significant role in keeping them ahead throughout much of the contest. They outscored Texas A&M 23-0 in fast break points and recorded eight steals. On paper, Beard’s squad outmaneuvered Bucky McMillan’s Aggies at their own game. It appeared that Ole Miss was set to break their seven-game losing streak and return to winning ways.
However, basketball is unforgiving; leaving opportunities open for teams like A&M—still striving to keep their postseason hopes alive—can be detrimental. A significant advantage on rebounds and scoring 50 points in the paint allowed Texas A&M to surge late in the game. Aggee’s double-double performance of 17 points and 10 rebounds opened crucial pathways for his team.
For Ole Miss, AJ Storr continued to shine with 21 points, while Malike Dia contributed 20 points. Unfortunately for the Rebels, they could not find a way to close out the game on the road. Looking ahead, Ole Miss will return home to Oxford on Saturday for a noon clash against the Florida Gators (20-6), currently ranked No. 1 in the SEC.