Texas A&M beats Texas 74-70 last night, Agee’s double-double leads collapse

Rashaun Agee’s dominant double-double carried Texas A&M to a stunning 74-70 victory over rival Texas last night in Austin. The Aggies (14-4, 4-1 SEC) seized control in the second half with Rylan Griffen electrifying fans. This rivalry clash revealed troubling gaps in Texas‘ defense down the stretch.

Agee Shows Why He’s the Heartbeat of Texas A&M

Rashaun Agee delivered exactly what Coach Buzz Williams needed in crunch time. The junior finished 6 of 14 from the field but dominated the glass with 11 crucial rebounds. This marked his seventh consecutive game in double figures, cementing his status as the Aggies’ most reliable scorer. Agee’s consistency has been the foundation for Texas A&M’s hot start to conference play.

His eighth double-double of the season puts him tied for fourth-most in program history for a single season. The timing was perfect, as Agee made key plays when Texas made its fourth-quarter surge. His ability to finish near the basket neutralized several Longhorn comeback attempts down the stretch.

Griffen’s Second-Half Explosion Destroys Texas Defense

Rylan Griffen came alive after halftime, putting up all 17 of his points in just the second half. This aggressive second-half performance sparked an 11-3 run that gave the Aggies a commanding 10-point lead with just 5 minutes left. Griffen’s fourth three-pointer proved critical as Texas narrowed the gap late.

Texas couldn’t stop the combo of Agee and Griffen dominating paint and perimeter. While the Longhorns fought back with an 8-0 run late in the game, the Aggies held firm. This victory marks Texas A&M’s first win in Austin in recent memory, a huge confidence builder for the rest of SEC play.

Texas Falls Apart When It Matters Most

Player	Points	Rebounds
Jordan Pope (Texas)	17	TBA
Dailyn Swain (Texas)	17	6
Matas Vokietaitis (Texas)	14	9
Tramon Mark (Texas)	13	TBA

The Texas Longhorns (11-7, 2-3 SEC) kept pace early, tying 29-29 at halftime after a back-and-forth first half. But the second half revealed critical defensive lapses. Coach Sean Miller’s team surrendered 45 second-half points on sloppy execution. A four-minute stretch in the fourth quarter proved fatal, with the Aggies embedding multiple backdoor cuts that exposed weak help defense.

Jordan Pope and Dailyn Swain each scored 17 points for Texas, but bench production dried up. The Longhorns’ bench scored just 6 points compared to the Aggies’ 20, a devastating difference in a four-point game. Texas also committed turnovers at critical moments, turning the ball over 8 times while forcing only 6.

“Agee posts double-double as Texas A&M holds off Texas 74-70. The Aggies had a 20-6 advantage in bench points and turned an 8-6 turnover advantage into a 15-5 advantage in points off turnovers.”

— AP Sports, Game Summary

Why This Win Matters for Texas A&M’s SEC Title Push

This Lone Star Showdown victory elevates Texas A&M to 4-1 in SEC play, tying them for the conference lead with Florida at 4-1. The Aggies are clearly one of the league’s hottest teams heading into the second half of conference play. Road wins against ranked opponents build tournament credentials, and this Austin victory sends a message to the rest of the SEC.

Coach Buzz Williams has built a balanced roster where Griffen and Agee can take turns driving matchups. Ruben Dominguez chipped in 10 additional points off the bench, showing the depth that overwhelmed Texas. If Texas A&M maintains this energy, they’ll be a serious contender come March.

What’s Next for Both Programs in the SEC Race?

Texas A&M heads home to face Mississippi State on Wednesday night, looking to extend their win streak. Texas hosts Kentucky on the same night, seeking to bounce back quickly from this heartbreaking loss at home. For the Longhorns, this defeat stings because they’ve now fallen to 2-3 in conference, making their SEC tournament positioning suddenly uncertain.

Will Sean Miller’s team respond with urgency against the Wildcats? Can Texas A&M maintain this winning momentum? The next week shapes the trajectory of both programs’ seasons in one of college basketball’s toughest conferences.

Sources

• ESPN – Texas A&M 74-70 Texas game recap and box score
• CBS Sports – Agee posts double-double as Texas A&M holds off Texas 74-70
• Associated Press – Official game summary and statistics