This evening, the Texas A&M Aggies will grapple with the St. Mary’s Gaels at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City in an intriguing Round of 64 matchup.<\/p>\n
The Aggies got an at-large bid to the Big Dance, thanks to a 21-11 overall record and an 11-7 mark within the SEC. However, A&M fell 83-63 to Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Saint Mary’s also got here via an at-large bid after going 27-5 overall and 16-2 within the WCC. They fell to Santa Clara by a score of 76-71 in the Semis of the WCC Tournament.<\/p>\n
Which team will bounce back from tough conference tournament losses?\u00a0 Read on to see my Texas A&M vs St. Mary’s prediction.<\/p>\n
Odds: St. Mary’s -3: Over\/Under 148<\/strong><\/p>\n Texas A&M enters the NCAA Tournament at 21-11 after an 83-63 loss to Oklahoma in the SEC quarterfinals. The Aggies earned an at\u2011large bid behind a strong overall r\u00e9sum\u00e9, but their recent form has been shaky. They are 4-7 in their last 11 games, allowing 83.5 points during that stretch.<\/p>\n Offensively, the Aggies average 82.9 points and shoot 43.7%, leaning on Rashaun Agee<\/a>, who leads with 14.7 points and 8.9 rebounds. Rylan Griffen<\/a> adds 11.6 points and 2.6 assists, while Marcus Hill<\/a> contributes 10.8 points. Rub\u00e9n Dominguez<\/a> also provides 10.3 points and perimeter shooting. When their guards are efficient, A&M can score in bunches.<\/p>\n Defensively, Texas A&M has struggled late in the season. They allow 81.1 points and give up 44.1% shooting, with opponents hitting 53.6% inside the arc. Their perimeter defense is inconsistent, and they must tighten rotations to avoid giving Saint Mary\u2019s clean looks. The Aggies rebound well with 33.3 boards, but they must limit second\u2011chance points and avoid foul trouble. Their biggest challenge will be slowing Saint Mary\u2019s disciplined half\u2011court offense. If A&M can force turnovers and speed up the game, they can disrupt the Gaels\u2019 rhythm.<\/p>\n For Texas A&M to advance, they need Agee to control the paint and Griffen to provide efficient scoring. Hill must create tempo, and Dominguez must hit timely 3s. The Aggies also need to defend without fouling and avoid the long defensive lapses that have hurt them recently. Their best path is a faster, more physical game where they attack early in the clock and pressure Saint Mary\u2019s ball handlers. If A&M rebounds well and finds consistent offense, they can keep this matchup competitive.<\/p>\n Saint Mary\u2019s enters the NCAA Tournament at 27-5 after falling 76-71 to Santa Clara in the WCC semifinals. The Gaels have been one of the nation\u2019s most consistent teams, going 16-2 in conference play and 8-1 in their last nine games. Their defense has been elite, allowing just 63.8 points during their last nine games. Offensively, Saint Mary\u2019s averages 78.2 points and shoots 46.1%, leaning on Paulius Murauskas<\/a>, who leads with 18.8 points and 7.7 rebounds. Mikey Lewis<\/a> adds 14.2 points, while Joshua Dent<\/a> contributes 13.0 points and 5.7 assists. Their balance and efficiency make them difficult to disrupt.<\/p>\n Defensively, Saint Mary\u2019s is one of the best units in the field. They allow 64.6 points and hold opponents to 40.5% shooting, including just 30.9% from three. Their rebounding is excellent at 40.3 boards, and they rarely give up second\u2011chance opportunities. The Gaels excel at forcing long possessions and limiting transition scoring. Their biggest challenge will be containing A&M\u2019s athleticism and preventing Agee from dominating the paint. If Saint Mary\u2019s controls tempo and keeps the game in the half court, their defense can dictate the matchup.<\/p>\nTexas A&M Aggies<\/h3>\n
St. Mary’s Gaels<\/h3>\n