Final:
Virginia 59 Texas A&M 47
Numbers:
All five Virginia starters scored in double figures. Zero bench points.
Texas A&M shot 4-23 from three
Henry Coleman III 16 points, 14 rebounds
2nd Half
Virginia starts the half on a 7-0 run thanks to Texas A&M feeling like they are a three-point shooting team.
That has allowed the Cavaliers to operate their offense in secondary transition. It’s hard to understand how the Aggies have fallen back into this trap.
With 16:20 left, they are 2-13 from three. If those misses don’t turn into offensive rebounds, the Cavaliers could get into a comfortable margin.
It’s grown to a 12-2 start for Virginia and at the under 16 (15:23), the Cavaliers have their largest lead, 39-28.
The one thing I’ve seen little spurts of is Virginia competing on the offensive boards and that has paid dividends. Twice in a single possession, the possession was extended because the ball went off of Texas A&M.
A&M has gone on a 8-0 run. That’s cut Virginia’s lead down to 41-36. Cavaliers off has gone back stagnant. It’s hard to understand why they go through these patches.
By the way, just took at that UNC-Tennessee score and the Heels 24 point lead is down to 14 with and they aren’t to the under-12 yet. Is Hubert down there sweating?
This half has been so UVA-centric that you wonder if Texas A&M has the offense to comeback? I know they came back from 20+ against Iowa State but the Cyclones defense is far from being the Cavaliers’ defense.
50-41 Cavaliers. You just get the feeling that UVA is an 8-2 run from putting this away because A&M has no rhythm on offense so if they can’t get the offensive board, they have little else.
With a little over 9 minutes left, that Tar Heels lead is down to 11. Hubert is setting up to get some serious smoke.
Virginia on a 7-0 run to push their lead to 55-41 with 4:58 left.
The Cavaliers have forced seven turnovers (so far) in the second half. Coming in Texas A&M’s turnover% was 23rd in the country (per KenPom).
Wade Taylor IV was fouled on a three and only made one. That’s not the recipe for a comeback. That’s for sure.
Fans leaving with 1:38 left and Virginia up 57-47. Certainly couldn’t do that if Hubert was coaching in Charlottesville.
By the way, only five Cavaliers have scored. Virginia has 0 bench points.
And we are done here… Virginia closes out Texas A&M.
1st Half
The first half has been what you would expect from Virginia and Texas A&M.
A physical match-up with both teams trying to impose their will.
The Aggies strength is hammering the offensive boards. They have done just that to the tune of seven offensive rebounds for seven second chance points.
Henry Coleman III has led the way with four offensive rebounds, seven overall. Coleman III also leads the Aggies with 10 points.
On Virginia’s side, their 5-11 shooting from three has enabled them to have a 27-26 lead at the half.
At times, the offense has becomes stagnant as players have stood around and watched Reece Beekman try to bail them out.
On defense, the Cavaliers have been the Cavaliers. The Aggies are only shooting 37% from the floor including 2-11 from three.
Texas A&M’s offensive rebounding has prevented this from being a double-digit game at the half.
