Texas A&M-CC defeats New Orleans 83-69
Texas A&M-CC Stuns New Orleans 83-69 Behind Strong Team Effort
The American Bank Center was electric on New Year's Eve as Texas A&M-CC took down visiting New Orleans 83-69 in a conference matchup that saw the home team shine from start to finish.
At halftime, Texas A&M-CC held a slim 32-27 lead, but it was clear that this was going to be a game where no team would pull away. The largest leads of the night came at 22 points for the Aggies and 5 points in favor of New Orleans.
Mason Gibson led the charge for Texas A&M-CC, scoring 22 points on 3-for-5 three-point shooting with an impressive 55.6% field goal percentage from the floor. Cenker Evran chipped in with 9 rebounds and 9 points, while Kam Parker dished out 5 assists.
For New Orleans, Jakevion Buckley led the way with 15 points on 42.9% shooting, but the Pelicans struggled to find consistency on offense. Kedrick Osby contributed 6 rebounds and 6 points off the bench for New Orleans.
In terms of team statistics, Texas A&M-CC's balanced attack was a major factor in their victory. The Aggies shot 40.0% from the field, made 43.0% of their three-point attempts, and converted 76.0% of their free throws. They also outrebounded New Orleans 24-24 on the defensive end.
New Orleans struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 45.0% from the field and making 31.0% of their three-point attempts. The Pelicans were forced to settle for 66.0% from the free throw line, but it wasn't enough to overcome their struggles in the paint and on defense.
The final margin of 14 points was a testament to Texas A&M-CC's dominance throughout the night. With this win, they take a significant step forward in conference standings, while New Orleans falls back into a tough stretch of schedule.
For Texas A&M-CC, this is just their second conference win under new coach, and it's clear that this team has some serious potential. With Gibson's strong performance leading the way, the Aggies will look to keep rolling as they head into the second half of the season.
Game Stats:
* Field Goals: Texas A&M-CC (29/72) - 40.0%, New Orleans (23/51) - 45.0%
* Three-Point FG: Texas A&M-CC (6/14) - 43.0%, New Orleans (4/13) - 31.0%
* Free Throws: Texas A&M-CC (19/25) - 76.0%, New Orleans (19/29) - 66.0%
Key Performance Indicators:
* Mason Gibson (Texas A&M-CC): 22 points, 3-5 three-point shooting
* Cenker Evran (Texas A&M-CC): 9 rebounds, 9 points
* Jakevion Buckley (New Orleans): 15 points