Texas A&M dominates inside in 72-44 win over Northwestern St
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) Tyler Davis tallied game highs with 16 points and 10 rebounds and fellow big man Tonny Trocha-Morelos added 11 points as Texas A&M overpowered Northwestern State for a 72-44 victory on Friday night to open the season.
''We knew we had the size advantage, so we just played to our strengths in this game,'' Davis said. ''We just tried to execute and run our offense, and see what we can get.''
The Aggies dominated inside, outscoring the Demons 42-8 in the paint.
''That's where we want the ball,'' A&M coach Billy Kennedy said of A&M's guards following his game plan.
The game's outcome was never in doubt, as A&M quickly built on a 12-point halftime lead, and had more than doubled up the Demons at 57-28 about halfway through the second half. A&M shot 46 percent (28 of 61) from the field, while holding NSU to 28 percent (12 of 43).
''They have size and strength,'' Demons coach Mike McConathy said of the Aggies. ''In the second half, they were just too much.''
The Demons were led by Zeek Woodley's 10 points, and Ishmael Lane added eight points. The Aggies led 33-21 at the break, thanks largely to shutting down the Demons 18-0 in the paint over the first 20 minutes.
The Aggies replaced four senior starters from last year's Sweet 16 team, but didn't miss a beat in the opener.
''People talk about the seniors who left, but we know that we're capable of doing the same thing, (maybe) better,'' Trocha-Morelos said. ''We just have to show people we're here to play basketball.''
BIG PICTURE
Northwestern State: The Demons figure even with a tough early schedule -facing SEC and Big 12 foes for starters - their stiff competition helps prepare them for Southland Conference play. And that there's plenty to learn from even in a 28-point loss.
Texas A&M: The Aggies did exactly what coach Billy Kennedy promised in the offseason, mostly running the offense through their talented big men, often resisting the urge to just get out and run against an overmatched opponent.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Aggies didn't even allow the Demons a point in the paint in the first half, and wound up with a 42-8 advantage. The Demons could do nothing with bullish center Davis, a member of the SEC coaches' preseason first team.
TURNING POINT
The Aggies led only 25-19 with 2:50 left in the first half when sharpshooter D.J. Hogg coolly drained a 3-pointer, deflating the Demons' hopes of keeping the game tight at the break.
CROWD PLEASER
A crowd pleaser occurred with about 12 minutes remaining in the game, when A&M guard Admon Gilder tossed an alley oop to dynamic freshman forward Robert Williams, who snagged the pass a foot above the rim and slammed it home for a 55-28 A&M lead.
''I wish I could jump like him,'' Kennedy said.
ROLE PLAYER
Williams came off the bench in his first college game and made 3-of-5 from the field for six points, He also snagged seven rebounds, tying for second with Tavario Miller behind Tyler Davis's game-high 10. His five blocks were four more than anyone else in the game.
UP NEXT
Northwestern State will try and get its first victory of the season on Sunday afternoon at Oklahoma.
Texas A&M will try and stay unbeaten against American on Monday night in Reed Arena.