COLLEGE STATION—Texas A&M opens a two-game road swing on Saturday when the Aggies (12-11, 3-8) head to Ames to face the Iowa State Cyclones (17-7, 7-4). Tipoff at Hilton Coliseum is set for 3 p.m. and the game will air on the Big 12 Network (Digital Ch 3.2/Suddenlink Ch 8 in Bryan/College Station).

GAME 24:
Texas A&M AGGIES (12-11, 3-8) at Iowa State CYCLONES (17-7, 7-4)
Saturday, Feburary 11, 2012 • 3:01 PM CT • TV: Big 12 Network
Hilton Coliseum (14,376) • Ames, Iowa

Media Coverage

TELEVISION: Big 12 Network
Brad Sham, Play-by-Play
Rich Zvosec, Commentary
Local: CW Texas (KBTX-DT 3.2)
Satellite: ESPN Full Court
Clearance List: Click Here (big12sports.com)

RADIO: Texas A&M Sports Network
Dave South, Play-by-Play
Al Pulliam, Commentary
Local: WTAW-AM 1620
Satellite Radio: Sirius/XM 85 (ISU feed)

LIVE AUDIO/STATS: aggieathletics.com

Snapshot: Texas A&M

Record: 12-11, 3-8 Big 12
Ranking: NR
Streak: Lost 3
Last 5 / Last 10: 1-4 / 3-7
on the Road: 1-7
Last Game: lost to Texas (H), 70-68 (Mon.)
Head Coach: Billy Kennedy (SE Louisiana '86)
Record: 223-190 (14th year)
at Texas A&M: 12-11 (first year)
vs. Iowa State: 0-1

A&M Probable Starters (based on previous game)

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG APG GP / Min
2 Naji Hibbert G 6-5 192 Jr. 4.3 2.2 1.4 19 / 19.5
4 Keith Davis C 6-10 231 So. 1.5 3.9 0.7b 23 / 17.5
10 David Loubeau F 6-8 234 Sr. 11.1 4.4 0.6 23 / 27.1
20 Daniel Alexander F 6-9 212 RFr. 3.1 2.6 0.5 19 / 12.4
31 Elston Turner G 6-5 211 Jr. 14.8 3.5 2.4 23 / 32.6

Snapshot: Iowa State

Record: 17-7, 7-4 Big 12
Ranking: RV (AP), RV (USAT/ESPN)
Streak: Lost 1
Last 5 / Last 10: 3-2 / 6-4
at Home: 12-2
Last Game: lost to OSU (A), 69-67 (Tue).
Head Coach: Fred Hoiberg (Iowa State '95)
Record: 33-23 (second year)
at Iowa State: 33-23 (second year)
vs. Texas A&M: 1-1

Iowa State Probable Starters (based on previous game)

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG APG GP / Min
2 Chris Babb G 6-5 225 Jr. 9.1 4.3 1.6 24 / 33.5
3 Melvin Ejim F 6-6 220 So. 8.8 6.2 1.0 24 / 22.4
4 Chris Allen G 6-3 205 Sr. 12.2 2.5 2.3 24 / 29.2
11 Scott Christopherson G 6-3 195 Sr. 11.0 3.0 2.0 24 / 31.0
30 Royce White F 6-8 270 So. 13.5 9.4 4.7 24 / 30.7

Series History: Texas A&M leads, 10-8

A&M streak: Lost 1
In Ames: A&M leads, 4-3
At Hilton Coliseum: A&M leads, 4-3
In College Station: A&M leads, 5-4
At Reed Arena: A&M leads, 5-3
At Neutral Sites: tied, 1-1
At Big 12 Tournament: tied, 1-1
Longest A&M Win Streak: 8 (2005-11)
Longest ISU Win Streak: 5 (1997-01)
Largest A&M Win: 24 (73-49, 01/31/07)
Largest ISU Win: 27 (97-70, 03/13/03)
Billy Kennedy vs. ISU: 0-1
Fred Hoiberg vs. A&M: 1-1

• Iowa State's victory earlier this season snapped A&M's 8-game win streak in the series ... all 18 meetings have come in the Big 12 era (16 regular season, 2 conference tournament).
• the Aggies have won 3 straight and emerged victorious in 4 of their last 5 trips to Hilton Coliseum ... three of those games have been decided by five points or less, including a 4-point A&M win in their last trip in 2010.
• the schools had never met on the hardwood prior to the formation of the Big 12 in 1997.
• Iowa State's campus is the farthest in distance from Texas A&M in the Big 12, with 915 miles separating the two arenas.

Series History

Date AM/Op Rk Site Score
1997 F1 —/11 College Station L 57-71
1998 J17 Ames L 59-68
1999 J16 College Station L 43-64
2000 J26 Ames L 58-65
2001 J28 ­—/17 College Station L 53-72
2002 J29 Ames W 52-50
2003 F19 College Station W 66-54
2003 M13 Dallas L 70-97
2004 J28 Ames L 82-91
2005 F22 College Station W 75-59
2006 J21 Ames (OT) W 86-81
2007 J31 8 /— College Station W 73-49
2008 F5 18/— Ames W 69-51
2008 M13 Kansas City W 60-47
2009 F28 College Station W 87-69
2010 F20 23/— Ames W 60-56
2011 F16 17/— College Station W 71-66
2012 J7 College Station L 50-74

Tale of the Tape

A&M ISU
62.7 points/game 74.3
60.3 opp. points/game 66.8
+2.3 scoring margin +7.5
.443 field goal % .453
.389 opp. field goal % .429
.335 3-point % .385
35.7 rebounds 36.4
+2.9 rebound margin +3.4
12.5 assists 14.0
13.9 turnovers 12.7
5.6 steals 5.9
2.5 blocks 3.0

Quick Hits

• The Aggies have lost three in a row entering Saturday's game at Iowa State, with two of those setbacks coming down to the last possession ... on Feb. 1, A&M led No. 6 Baylor 60-58 before Pierre Jackson hit a three with 17 seconds left to give the Bears the lead, then added two free throws with one second left to make the final score 63-60 ... on Monday, J'Covan Brown's layup with 53 seconds left put Texas up 68-67, and he added two free throws with 17 seconds to go to put the 'Horns up by 3 ... Elston Turner made one free throw with 3 seconds left, then missed the second on purpose but the Aggies were unable to get the rebound and fell, 70-68.
• This year's senior class (Dash Harris, David Loubeau) have seen their teams finish strong in Big 12 play ... in each of the last 3 seasons, A&M has gone 6-2 to close out the conference schedule ... after Monday's 2-point setback to Texas, the Aggies have 7 regular-season games remaining.
• Texas A&M has posted a 30-19 Big 12 record over the last 3 calendar years (February 2009-February 2012).
• The Aggies lead the Big 12 in two defensive categories (through Feb. 10): scoring defense and 3-point FG% defense; A&M ranks second in field-goal percentage defense and third in defensive rebounds and defensive rebound percentage.
• Through games of Feb. 6, Texas A&M ranked 13th nationally in field-goal percentage defense, seventh in 3-point FG% defense and 26th in scoring defense.
• The Aggies' conference road losses this year have come to Baylor, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State, squads that have combined to go 60-6 at home.
• A&M held Baylor (2/1), who entered the game ranked eighth nationally in FG% (.494), to just 39.7 percent from the floor ... it was the third-lowest shooting output this year by the Bears, behind Mississippi State (34.5) and A&M earlier this year (39.2) ... the Aggies and MSU are the only two teams to hold BU under 40 percent shooting this season.
• A&M held No. 5 Kansas to 64 points on Jan. 23, a low for the Jayhawks this year at Allen Fieldhouse and (at the time) KU's third lowest scoring output of the season (61 vs Duke, 63 at USC) ... the Aggies held Kansas to 42.6 percent from the floor, KU's lowest output in Big 12 play and its fourth-lowest overall on the year.
• Six of A&M's 11 losses this year have come to teams currently ranked in the top 20 nationally, all but one away from home (#4 Missouri, #6 Baylor [twice], #7 Kansas, #8 Florida, #18 Miss. State).
• A&M played three games against top-5 ranked opponents in Big 12 play—all on the road—through the first seven games of the conference season ... the only other year A&M had three top-5 teams on the Big 12 slate was 2003 ... the Aggies matched a school record on Feb. 1 with their fourth top-10 Big 12 opponent of the year (Baylor, No. 6).
• The Aggies have won 52 Big 12 games since the start of the 2007 league season ... prior to that, A&M had totaled only 43 victories in the first 10 years of Big 12 play (52-37 since 2006, 43-116 from 1997-2006).
• A&M has finished .500 or better in Big 12 play in each of the past 7 years, one of just 3 teams to do so (Kansas, Texas).
• A&M is one of just 12 schools that have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 6 seasons (Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Villanova, Wisconsin, Xavier).
• Texas A&M is one of only 8 schools in the entire country that have won 24 or more games in each of the last 5 seasons (Butler, BYU, Kansas, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, VCU, Xavier).

Scouting Iowa State

• Iowa State is 17-7 on the year and sits in fourth place in the Big 12 at 7-4 ... the Cyclones have already eclipsed their win total of last year (16-16) with the last third of the league schedule still left to go ... ISU had won three in a row before being upset on Tuesday night in Stillwater, 69-67 ... the squad averages 74 points per game, shoots 45 percent from the field and is holding foes to an average of 66.9 points.
• Three Cyclones average double figures, led by Big 12 Player of the Year candidate Royce White ... the sophomore forward averages 13.5 points, 9.4 rebounds and leads the team in assists (113), blocks (27) and steals (29) ... also pacing the offense are senior guards Chris Allen (12.2 ppg) and Scott Christopherson (11.0 ppg).
• Fred Hoiberg (Iowa State '95) is in his second season as the head coach of his alma mater with a record of 33-23.

Aggie Trends

• The Aggies have improved shot selection and offensive execution over the course of Big 12 play, and the offensive improvement shows in the numbers ... A&M has seen its shots start to fall on a more consistent basis over that span:

Offensive Improvement
Big 12 Stretch FGA FG % 3-Pt % FT % PPG
First 3 Games 59.3 32.6 25.0 61.8 51.0
Middle 4 Games 50.3 44.8 40.7 65.3 63.2
Last 4 Games 47.8 47.1 39.7 71.2 64.2

• A&M is shooting 47.3 percent from the floor over its last 6 games.
• A&M is shooting 41.5 percent from 3-point range over its last 6 games (averaging 6.5 threes per game) ... the Aggies rank fourth in league games in 3-point field goals (5.91/game) and fourth in 3-point percentage (34.9).
• Texas A&M's starting rotation has seen lots of action in conference play ... in Big 12 games, A&M starters are averaging 29.4 minutes a game (after averaging 25 a game in non-conference play) ... all five starters played at least 30 minutes against Texas (Jan. 11), the first time that's happened on an Aggie team since March 2007 (Big 12 quarterfinal vs Oklahoma State).
• The Aggies have played their last 4 games without starters Dash Harris and Khris Middleton, who have a combined career 196 games and 149 starts between them ... a look at how A&M's lack of depth and increased minutes have affected second-half and late-game defense:

Defensive Effort, Last 4 Games
Opponents Opp 1st Half FG% Opp 1st Half Pts Opp 2nd Half FG% Opp 2nd Half Pts
OSU, Baylor 46.3 32.5 32.3 29.5
K-State, Texas 38.5 28.5 56.5 38.5

• A&M's defensive effort has been solid through a very tough Big 12 schedule ... the Aggies have allowed just one Big 12 foe to score more points than its season average (Oklahoma, who needed OT to do so) ... A&M has allowed four of 11 teams to shoot higher than their season average from the floor (Iowa State, Oklahoma, K-State, Texas).

Aggie Defense in Big 12 Play
Opponent FG% (entering) FG% (game) PPG (entering) Pts (game)
@ Baylor 49.0 39.2 77.6 61
Iowa St 46.0 46.7 76.4 74
@ Texas 45.0 43.9 76.7 61
Texas Tech 47.2 33.3 65.3 54
@ Missouri 51.2 40.4 83.9 70
Oklahoma 43.6 49.2 73.3 75*
@ Kansas 48.3 42.6 76.4 64
Oklahoma State 41.8 37.9 66.6 61
Baylor 49.4 39.7 78.0 63
@ K-State 44.6 45.7 73.6 64
Texas 44.1 48.1 74.0 70
* in OT (65 in regulation)

• A&M has averaged 16.6 bench points in its last 8 league games (3-5), after averaging just 9.0 in the first 3 (0-3).
• A&M is shooting 71.2 percent from the line in its last 4 games.
• A&M has seen its free-throw percentage take a slight up-turn in Big 12 play ... the Aggies shot 61.6 percent from the line in non-conference play, but has shot 67 percent in Big 12 action ... A&M has connected at a 67 percent clip or better from the charity stripe in 7 of its 11 league contests.
• A&M is shooting 70.9 percent from the line in the second half of Big 12 games ... the Aggies have shot just 59.7 percent in the first half.
• The Aggies are 11-3 this year when leading at halftime (losses at Kansas, at K-State, home Texas) and 11-0 when leading with 5 minutes to play.
• A&M is 10-2 when holding opponents under 40 percent from the field (both losses to Baylor).
• The Aggies have held 10 of their opponents under 60 points and are unbeaten in those games.
• A&M has held 8 opponents under 35 percent shooting (8-0).
• The Aggies are 8-1 this year when shooting more free throws than their opponent (loss to Texas) and 9-1 when out-rebounding them (loss is to Texas).
• A&M has already bested last year's total for blocks, and did so in just 20 games ... the Aggies are averaging 2.5 blocks per game this year (58 blocks), up from last year's average of 1.5 (51 in 33 games).
• The Aggies have won 4 of their last 5 overtime games dating back to last season.
• A&M has won over 70 percent of its games since the start of the 2006-07 season (136-56, .708) ... the Aggies are 178-74 (.706) since the start of the ‘04-05 campaign.

Player Notables

Elston Turner

• has slid over and started at the point in each of the last 4 games for the injured Dash Harris ... is averaging 36 minutes in those contests.
• Over his last 6 games, is averaging 19.3 pts, 4.2 rebs and 3.8 assists ... scored a then career-high 23 points against Oklahoma (1/21) then bested it 2 days later with 24 at No. 5 Kansas (1/23) and poured in 23 vs Oklahoma State (1/28) ... became the first Aggie since Acie Law in 2007 to score 20-plus in three straight Big 12 games (31 vs Baylor on 2/24/07, 33 at Texas on 2/28, 20 vs Missouri on 3/3).
• In four games against ranked opponents, is averaging 17.2 points, 4 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
• averaging 16.9 points per game in Big 12 play, sixth-best in the league.
• has scored 10-plus points in 11 of the last 12 games and in 19 of 23 overall this year ... he did so just 9 times in 66 games in two seasons at Washington ... he is in the top 10 of the Big 12 rankings in points, minutes, 3-point field goals and 3-point field goal percentage this season.

Naji Hibbert

• minutes have sharply increased over the last 3 games, averaging 32.7 per game over that span (second highest on team) ... 9.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.3 ast in last 3 games ... poured in a season-high 14 against Kansas State (2/4).
• shooting 44% from floor and 48% from 3-point range (10-of-21) in Big 12 play ... shot 31% from field and 14% from beyond the arc in non-conference action.

David Loubeau

• After averaging 6 points and 3 rebounds through the first 4 games of Big 12 play, has benefitted from A&M's improved offensive execution ... in his last 7 games, is averaging 13.3 points and 4.3 rebounds.
• became only the 16th player in school history this year to score 1,000 career points and grab 500 career rebounds ... ranks 26th all-time in scoring (1,119 points) and needs 43 points to become one of the top 20 most prolific scorers in school history ... ranks 19th all-time in rebounds (536).
• has played in 124 career games, eighth all-time in program history.

Daniel Alexander

• moved into starting rotation with injuries to Khris Middleton and Dash Harris ... has started last 3 games at the "3" position, averaging 33 minutes a contest.
• averaging 7.6 points and 3.8 rebounds over last 5 games, both third-best on the team over that span ... connected at 47% clip over last 5 games from long distance ... has hit at least one trey in 6 of last 8 ballgames.
• set career highs in consecutive games recently, scoring 12 against Baylor (2/1) after posting 11 against Oklahoma State (1/28) on 5-of-6 shooting.

Keith Davis

• has started all but one Big 12 game for the Aggies at the "5" position ... averaging 20.5 minutes in league play.
• turned the ball over just 3 times in the last 6 games (0.5/gm) after doing so 7 times in the first 5 Big 12 games (1.4/gm).

Ray Turner

• shooting 64% from field over last 4 games (14-for-22) and 67% from the line (6-of-9).
• averaging 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds off the bench in Big 12 play (10 games) ... averaging 12.5 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds at home (15 games).
• has scored 10-plus points in 14 of A&M's 22 games this year ... the Aggies are 9-5 in those contests.
• has posted four double-doubles—the first of his career—including a 13-point, 12-rebound effort against Iowa State (1/7) and a 13-point, 11-board game against Baylor (2/1)... his 15 boards vs Arkansas Tech (12/29) were a career high and the most by an Aggie in a game since March 2010.

Jordan Green

• spent majority of K-State game guarding Wildcats' leading scorer, Rodney McGruder (15.4 ppg, 19.3 ppg in Big 12 play) ... helped limit McGruder to a Big 12 season-low 5 points on 1-of-9 shooting.
• strong 31 minutes of play against OSU after getting the starting nod ... scored 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting, a personal best in Big 12 play ... primary focus was limiting Cowboys' guard Keiton Page (entered 14.7 ppg), and held him to 2-of-13 from the floor and 9 total points.

Zach Kinsley

• has hit a 3 in four straight games ... is 46% from behind arc in Big 12 play (6-for-13) ... shooting 40% overall in last 4 games.

Dash Harris

• has missed last 4 games recovering from right foot injury suffered at end of first half at Kansas (1/23).
• over his last 8 games, is averaging 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists ... Harris has scored in double figures in 5 of his last 9 outings ... he matched a career high with 14 in the win over Oklahoma (1/21).
• leads the team and ranks seventh in the Big 12 in assists (4.3/game) ... he leads the squad and ranks third in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3) ... he was named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list.
• moved into the top 10 in school history in career assists and steals in win over Texas Tech (Jan. 14) ... ranks ninth in both categories (358 assists, 133 steals) ... he is one of only 8 players in A&M history to record 300 assists and 100 steals (list on page 9).

Khris Middleton

• has missed the last 5 games after re-injuring knee early in OT win over Oklahoma (1/21) ... underwent surgery (11/11) to repair partially torn meniscus in right knee ... suffered injury in season opener vs Liberty (11/9) ... missed 7 games, returned vs ULM (12/10).
• picked up first double-double of career at Texas (1/11), 19 pts, 10 rebs ... 10 boards were a career high.

Alex Baird

• reserve senior walk-on point guard played 21 minutes against OSU (1/28) in lieu of injured Dash Harris, dishing out 3 assists, posting 0 turnovers and grabbing 4 rebounds ... took the floor against the Cowboys with a total of 6 career minutes of action in 8 games played.
• played 9 minutes (0 assists, 0 turnovers) and grabbed 2 boards against Baylor (2/1).

Big 12 Bullets

• The Aggies have won 52 Big 12 games since the start of the 2007 league season ... prior to that, A&M had totaled only 43 victories in the first 10 years of Big 12 play (52-37 since 2006, 43-116 from 1997-2006).
• A&M has finished .500 or better in Big 12 play in each of the past 7 years, one of just 3 teams to do so (Kansas, Texas).
• The Aggies are coming off back-to-back 10-plus win seasons in Big 12 play for just the second time ever (2006, 2007 and 2010, 2011) ... it is only the second time in the last 25 years that an A&M team has accomplished that feat ... prior to ‘06-07, the last time an Aggie squad recorded consecutive 10+ win seasons in conference play was in 1985 (10) and 1986 (12).
• 2011 was A&M’s third consecutive winning season in Big 12 play, the first time the Aggies have accomplished that feat in the Big 12 era (9-7 in 2009, 11-5 in 2010, 10-6 in 2011) … it marked the first time since the late 60s (1967-70) that a Texas A&M team finished above .500 in league action for three straight seasons.

Up Next

• Texas A&M will travel to Lubbock for a Tuesday matchup at United Spirit Arena (6 p.m., ESPN2) before opening a two-game homestand with Missouri on Saturday (1 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2).