Vols heavily out rebounded, fall to Aggies 63-58

By: John Dunn

The All Vol Call in Show

Jan. 28, 2020

After coming up short in an upset bid against (3)Kansas, the Tennessee Volunteers played host to the Texas A&M Aggies on Tuesday night.

After being out rebounded by more than double, the Vols succumbed to the Aggies, 63-58.

With the nation’s tenth-best defense, the Vols looked to limit the SEC’s lowest scoring team. Through all home games this season, Tennessee was only allowing an average of 55 points-per-game inside Thompson-Boling arena.

The Vols held much of the early game momentum, before a few costly turnovers allowed the Aggies to tie things at 14-14 behind an 8-0 run. An emphatic dunk by Yves Pons, followed by a steal by Jordan Bowden that led to an equally emphatic dunk allowed Tennessee to retake the lead at 18-14.

Another steal by Santiago Vescovi led to a fast break layup, extending the Vols’ lead to 20-14 with just under six minutes remaining in the first half.

The Aggies battled back by winning the offensive glass and playing physical. They inevitably tied the game at 21-21 with under three minutes remaining in the first half.

After holding the Vols to a shot clock violation, Texas A&M took their first lead of the game at 23-21. However, on the following play, Jalen Johnson connected on a three pointer to give Tennessee the lead back at 24-23.

With under one minute remaining in the first half, Texas A&M was able to regain the lead on a pair of free throws 25-24. They held the slim one point lead at the half.

Tennessee came out of the gate in the second half with three free throws from Vescovi and a three pointer from Pons to regain the lead, 30-25.

The Aggies drew back to within two points at 34-32 before the Vols began to separate, taking 39-32 lead with 14:21 remaining in the game.

Again, Texas A&M battled back to within one point at 39-38 before taking the lead, 40-39, on a pair of free throws with 10:20 remaining in the game.

After trading turnovers, the ball found it’s way into the hands of Jordan Bowden, who gave the Vols the lead back 41-40 on a ferocious dunk.

Continuing the trend of the game, A&M worked back to within a point at 44-43 before Bowden sunk a pair of free throws, extending the lead back to 46-43.

The Aggies tied the game at 46-46 with just under six minutes remaining, before regaining the lead at 49-46 on a three pointer. Texas A&M maintained the three point lead at 51-48 before Pons was found under the basket for an easy flush, bringing Tennessee back to within one point, 51-50, with three minutes and change remaining in the game.

The Aggies continued to dominate the offensive glass, allowing them to regain a three point advantage 53-50.

With just under a minute and a half remaining in the game, Bowden connected on his first three point attempt of the night, trying to score at 53-53.

On the ensuing play, Texas A&M notched a three pointer as the shot clock expired, giving the Aggies a three point lead 56-53.

From that point on, Texas A&M closed the game from the charity stripe and secured a five point victory.