Texas A&M Men’s Basketball Blazes to Halftime Lead Over Georgia

ATHENS (Azat TV) – The Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball team seized a commanding 51-41 halftime lead over the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Stegeman Coliseum. The Aggies’ potent offense and aggressive defense set a blistering pace from the outset, establishing a significant advantage in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) matchup.

Early Dominance Sets Tone for Texas A&M

The Aggies wasted no time asserting their dominance, jumping out to a 20-2 lead early in the first half and later extending it with a 14-0 run. This initial surge left Georgia struggling to find its rhythm, with the Bulldogs trailing 26-6 at one point. Texas A&M’s efficiency from beyond the arc was evident, hitting 5 of their first 11 three-point attempts, while Georgia struggled, missing their first six attempts.

Despite the early deficit, the Bulldogs managed to chip away at the lead, trimming it to 40-31 with four minutes remaining in the half, and even cutting it to three points on a 3-pointer from Smurf Millender. However, Texas A&M responded by scoring the final seven points of the half, re-establishing their 10-point lead at the break. According to Online Athens, Georgia coach Mike White had prepared his team for a ‘track meet’ against the Aggies’ press, a style both teams are known for.

Key Players Drive Aggies’ Performance

Texas A&M’s impressive first-half performance was fueled by key contributions from several players. Guard Pop Isaacs led the Aggies in scoring at halftime with 11 points, shooting 3-for-6 from the field. Forward Rashaun Agee, who leads the Aggies in overall scoring (13.7 points per game) and rebounding (8.7 rebounds per game) this season, paced the team on the boards with six rebounds by halftime. Rubén Dominguez also made a significant early impact, tallying 8 points, including two 3-pointers and converting all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, as reported by Statesman.com.

For Georgia, guard Blue Cain was a bright spot, leading the Bulldogs with nine points by halftime, shooting 3-for-5 from the field. Forward Dylan James contributed six points and six rebounds. However, Georgia faced challenges, including guard Jordan Ross picking up two early fouls and center Somto Cyril playing limited minutes due to foul trouble.

Context and Conference Standings

Entering the game, Texas A&M (16-4 overall, 6-1 SEC) held a half-game lead atop the SEC standings over Arkansas and Florida. The Aggies, under former Samford coach Bucky McMillan, are known for their aggressive defensive press and their prowess from long range, tying for the SEC lead in steals (8 per game) and ranking sixth nationally in 3-pointers per game (11.5) and second in the SEC in 3-point percentage (37.3%).

Georgia (16-5 overall, 4-4 SEC) was coming off an overtime loss to Tennessee and ranked last in the SEC in rebounding margin in conference games at -7.88, a statistic that continued to be a challenge against the Aggies who outrebounded them 24-22 in the first half. The game was played amidst snow falling in Athens, which coach Mike White acknowledged might affect fan attendance, as noted by Online Athens.

The Aggies’ ability to jump out to a significant lead and maintain it despite Georgia’s efforts to rally underscores their strong position in the SEC and their effective execution of a high-pressure, three-point-heavy offensive strategy.