FAYETTEVILLE -- Transfers from two of Texas A&M's former Southwest Conference rivals are helping the Aggies become relevant in SEC basketball.
Danuel House and Jalen Jones, both 6-7 juniors, are the leading scorers for Texas A&M (19-7, 10-4) going into the Aggies' game against No. 18 Arkansas (22-5, 11-3) at 8 tonight in Walton Arena.
Today’s game
TEXAS A&M AT NO. 18 ARKANSAS
WHEN 8 p.m. today
WHERE Walton Arena, Fayetteville
RECORDS Arkansas 22-5, 11-3 SEC; Texas A&M 19-7, 10-4
SERIES Arkansas leads series 97-53 RADIO Razorback Sports Network
TELEVISION ESPN
TICKETS $35. Loft $30 (sections 207-2011)
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
TEXAS A&M
POS., NAME, HT., YR. PPG RPG G Alex Caruso, 6-5, Jr. 9.3 4.7 G Danuel House, 6-4, Jr. 14.8 3.8 G Jordan Green, 6-5, Sr. 5.5 1.7 F Jalen Jones, 6-7, Jr. 13.5 6.2 F Anthony Roberson, 6-9, Sr. 8.7 6.0 COACH Billy Kennedy (69-56 in fourth season at Texas A&M, 280-135 in 17 seasons overall)
ARKANSAS
POS., NAME, HT., YR. PPG RPG G Ky Madden, 6-5, Sr. 9.9 3.4 G Anton Beard, 6-0, Fr. 6.3 1.9 G Michael Qualls, 6-6, Jr. 15.4 5.2 F Bobby Portis, 6-11, So. 17.4 8.7 F Alandise Harris, 6-6, Sr. 7.3 3.1 COACH Mike Anderson (81-44 in fourth season at Arkansas, 281-142 in 13 seasons overall)
TEAM COMPARISON
Texas A&M Arkansas 67.2 Points for 79.5 61.5 Points against 69.3 +3.4 Rebound margin +1.7 +1.2 Turnover margin +4.7 45.6 FG pct. 45.1 34.4 3-pt pct.FT. 36.0 64.6 pct.FT pct. 72.4
CHALK TALK Nolan Richardson, who coached Arkansas to the 1994 national championship and a school-record 389 victories in 17 seasons, will be honored at halftime tonight with a banner ceremony. … Arkansas point guard Anton Beard was named SEC Freshman of the Week after averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds in victories over Missouri and Mississippi State. … Tonight’s game orignally was scheduled to be televised on the SEC Network but was moved to ESPN as part of its Super Tuesday doubleheader with the Razorbacks and Aggies a combined 40-12 and 21-7 in SEC games. … Arkansas has won six consecutive games. … Arkansas remained No. 18 in The Associated Press poll and moved up to No. 16 from No. 17 in the USA Today coaches poll. … Texas A&M guard Alex Caruso is averaging an SEC-leading 5.9 assists. … The Razorbacks are 46-3 in their past 49 games in Walton Arena. … Arkansas forward Bobby Portis has scored 10 or more points in 26 of 27 games this season. He scored six points against North Texas. … The Razorbacks have won 10 consecutive games in February dating back to last season.
House, a transfer from Houston, is averaging 14.8 points, including 16.6 in SEC games. Jones, a transfer from SMU, is averaging 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds.
"House and Jones have taken their team to a different level," said Florida Coach Billy Donovan, whose Gators lost at Texas A&M 63-62 when House and Jones combined for 30 points.
House has scored 20 or more points in six SEC games, including 25 against Kentucky and South Carolina. He hit 7 of 11 three-pointers in the Aggies' 62-52 road victory against the Gamecocks last Saturday.
"Any time you're a second late, Danuel makes you pay because he's an elite perimeter shooter with size," South Carolina Coach Frank Martin said. "As he's adapted to their system, now you're starting to see a young man whose natural talent to score is shining.
"He might miss two or three shots in a row, but that's not going to faze him. He's going to keep coming at you."
House combined to score 38 points and hit 14 of 27 shots, including 5 of 10 on three-pointers, in the Aggies' two victories over LSU.
"He can really hit some big shots -- I'm talking about deep -- and you can't just put some quick guard out there on him because he's going to raise up over him or try to post him up," LSU Coach Johnny Jones said.
Texas A&M Coach Billy Kennedy said the Aggies -- 15-21 in SEC play the previous two seasons -- needed the scoring mentality House and Jones has brought to the team.
"We lacked that kind of confidence on the offensive side of the floor," Kennedy said. "We've always been good defensively, but now we've given ourselves a chance because we're better offensively."
House and Jones are part of a starting lineup -- along with senior forward Anthony Roberson, senior guard Jalen Green and junior point guard Alex Caruso -- who have played a combined 472 college games with 329 starts.
"They've got five guys that have played heavy, heavy minutes," Martin said. "They don't get rattled.
"They're not fazed by a run by your team. They're not fazed by the opposing crowd. They play very level-headed."
If Texas A&M wins tonight, the Aggies will tie Arkansas for second place in the SEC standings behind No. 1 Kentucky (27-0, 14-0) and move closer to securing their first NCAA Tournament bid since the 2010-2011 season.
The Razorbacks are 66-7 in Walton Arena under Coach Mike Anderson, including 15-1 this season.
"Everybody recognizes how good Arkansas is there," Kennedy said. "Any time you win there it's special, but especially this time of year and what's at stake."
Anderson said the Razorbacks won't be caught looking ahead to Saturday's game at No. 1 Kentucky and that the Aggies have Arkansas' full attention.
"We're going to get their best shot and hopefully we'll give our best shot as well," Anderson said. "We want to make sure we defend the home court."
The Aggies are 10-2 in SEC games since losing to Kentucky 70-64 in double overtime for an 0-2 conference start.
"They've done a great job of defining everybody's role, and guys are playing to their potential," said Missouri Coach Kim Anderson, whose Tigers have lost twice to the Aggies. "They're a team that executes well.
"They don't take a lot of bad shots. They handle the ball pretty well most of the time. They rebound. I think they're a complete team, and they play with a purpose."
Sports on 02/24/2015