Texas A&M beats Buffalo, 89-73
COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Duane Wilson scored 23 points and Savion Flagg added 21 as No. 8 A&M, playing without three suspended players, beat Buffalo 89-73 on Thursday night.
A&M announced before the game that junior guard D.J. Hogg, the team's leading scorer at 14.6 points per game, was suspended for three games for a violation of university policy. In addition, freshman guards J.J. Caldwell and T.J. Starks missed the game because of violations of team rules.
No explanation was given for any of the suspensions. Hogg and Caldwell had already been previously suspended to start this season (including only an exhibition game for Hogg). The thin Aggies also are missing starting guard Admon Gilder with an injured knee at least through early in Southeastern Conference play.
SEC play starts on Dec. 30 as A&M (11-1) plays at Alabama, and Hogg is scheduled to miss that game along with the conference home opener against Florida on Jan. 2.
Forward Robert Williams returned Thursday night after missing two games because of a concussion. Williams, the reigning SEC defensive player of the year, was suspended the first two games of the season because of an undisclosed violation of team policy.
The Aggies did what they needed to do for the victory over the Bulls (7-5).
The Aggies led 60-58 with 6:36 remaining when Wilson hit a layup. Williams followed with a block on the other end, and Tonny Trocha-Morelos was fouled on an ensuing A&M fast break. Trocha-Morelos made the layup and resulting free throw, and within the span of less than a minute the Aggies led 65-58.
The Aggies got a scare a couple of minutes later when Williams missed a dunk on a fast break and landed awkwardly. He limped off the court with 4:24 remaining and didn't return, but appeared to be OK afterward.
BIG PICTURE
Texas A&M: The downside for the Aggies is missing a handful of players they'll be counting on to compete
for an SEC championship and perhaps make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The upside is valuable playing time for the likes of Flagg and Jay Jay Chandler. No question, however, the negatives outweigh the positives for what's been a troubling nonconference stretch for A&M.
Buffalo: The Bulls lost their second consecutive game following three straight victories, but Buffalo should be buoyed by playing another tough opponent fairly close on the road. The Bulls lost at Syracuse 81-74 on Tuesday night.