Texas A&M wins 2nd straight; TSU falls at Georgia
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M continues adjusting to playing without senior guard Admon Gilder, and this time transfer guard Wendell Mitchell helped pick up the slack.
The Aggies, who hadn’t played since Nov. 23, won their second consecutive game following a four-game losing streak, in defeating Northwestern State 80-59 on Monday night in a sparsely-filled Reed Arena.
Gilder is out indefinitely with what Aggies coach Billy Kennedy has described as “health issues,” and his return does not appear imminent, if he returns at all. Kennedy has denied any reports that Gilder will be out for the season, and that his college career is done as he pursues a professional career and passes on a redshirt.
In addition late Monday night, A&M announced forward Isiah Jasey has chosen to leave the program. He had averaged 3.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in five games this season.
Mitchell led A&M with a season-high 18 points. The Aggies (3-4) sprang to a 38-24 halftime lead courtesy of T.J. Starks, Brandon Mahan and Christian Mekowulu each scoring eight points in a balanced offensive attack. In that decisive span, too, A&M created 15 NSU turnovers and blocked six shots by the Demons (2-7).
The Aggies next play host to Boston College on Saturday, in trying to win three consecutive games for the first time this season. A&M made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season but lost the majority of its veterans, save for Gilder, and it’s appearing less likely by the game that he plays this season.
GEORGIA 92 TEXAS SOUTHERN 75
Tyree Crump scored a careerhigh 25 points, Nicolas Claxton added 15 points and nine rebounds, and the Bulldogs had little trouble beating the Tigers in Athens, Ga.
Derrick Bruce scored 17 points, and Jeremy Combs added 15 for Texas Southern (3-6). The Tigers have dropped two in a row against Power-Five conference opponents since upsetting thenNo. 18 Oregon last week.
MICHIGAN ST. 90, IOWA ST. 68
Nick Ward made all 10 of his shots, scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the No. 10 Spartans to a win over the 18th-ranked Hawkeyes in East Lansing, Mich.
VIRGINIA 83, MORGAN ST. 45
De’Andre Hunter and Kyle Guy scored 15 points each, and the No. 4 Cavaliers beat the visiting Bears to improve to 8-0.
FLORIDA ST. 83, TROY 67
P.J. Savoy scored 16 points, knocking down four 3-pointers, and the 11th-ranked Seminoles shook off a sluggish performance to defeat the Trojans in Tallahassee, Fla.
WISCONSIN 69, RUTGERS 64
Ethan Happ scored 20 points, and D’Mitrik Trice added 14 as the 12th-ranked Badgers rallied to beat the Scarlets Knights in Madison, Wis.
Women DEPAUL 102, TEMPLE 88
Ashton Millender scored 23 points, including seven of the Blue Demons’ 18 3-pointers, to lead No. 20 DePaul past the Owls in Chicago.