Free throws fail No. 10 Texas A&M men’s basketball in loss to No. 5 Alabama

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - While Texas A&M guard Wade Taylor IV sported a T-shirt and sweats on the Aggie bench for the second consecutive game, Alabama standout guard Mark Sears was bobbing and weaving his way through the Aggie defense as a part of a 94-88 No. 5 Crimson Tide win Saturday in Reed Arena.

Naturally, there is a handful of assets the 10th-ranked Aggies (13-3, 2-1) miss when Taylor can’t play due to injury. Saturday, it was simply his consistency at the free throw line that could have been helpful in Reed Arena’s first top-10 matchup.

The Aggies finished 28 for 48 at the charity stripe, setting a new high-mark for free throw attempts in the Buzz Williams era. However, the 58.3% clip from the stripe ties for the third worst free-throw performance of the season.

“I thought they really attacked us well,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said. “Honestly, we’re fortunate they couldn’t make free throws. If they could make free throws, this game would have been a little bit different.”

While the Aggies have struggled at the free-throw line in seasons past, A&M entered Saturday’s contest shooting 70% and 75% in games against high-major teams, a positioning that pleased Williams up until this point.

Taylor leads the Aggies in free-throw percentage at a 90% hit rate. Williams declined to comment on a timetable for Taylor’s return Saturday after the game. For the past two seasons, Williams stated he will not provide details on his team’s injuries due to concerns with the growing world of sports gambling.

It was some of A&M’s better free throw shooters that suffered a blip Saturday. Guard Zhuric Phelps went 5 for 10 at the free throw line, including a 1 for 7 start to the game. Guard Jace Carter followed with a 4 for 8 night from the free-throw line. Forward Henry Coleman hit 2 of 4.

“We just didn’t make free throws. That’s it.” Coleman said. “We’ll get back to work tomorrow and we’ll make more free throws.”

Against an Alabama squad (14-2, 3-0) that ranks second in the country in offensive efficiency, the Aggies needed free throws and second-chance points to hold serve against the Tide. Halfway through the first half, the Aggies had reached the free throw line 13 times, but made only six attempts.

The Tide jumped to a 10-point lead twice in the first half, thanks to a 3-point attack from guards Chris Youngblood and Sears. Alabama ended the first half having made 10 of 22 from behind the arc to aid in a 52-44 lead at the break.

However, the Aggies held the Tide to a 3 for 15 clip from 3-point range in the second half, while tallying 18 second-chance points on 12 offensive rebounds. The Aggies mounted a 14-5 run late in the second half to pull the game within three points with a minute remaining.

According to the Aggies’ analytics, the conditions were right to attempt a game-tying 3-pointer, which was drawn up for guard Hayden Hefner. Both Hefner and Williams liked the look the play created.

“It depends on, are we in the single bonus or the double bonus?” Williams said on the decision to go for two or three. “It depends on exactly how much time is left, because it was a short clock for the game, not for the possession. Are they in single bonus or double bonus? Which guys did they have in that are most likely going to rebound it?… And then, we also had two time outs. Rarely do you have two time outs with under one minute to go in the game.”

However, his attempt clanked the rim and the Aggies couldn’t keep stay within three for the remainder of the final minute.

Phelps continued to carry an offensive load with Taylor sidelined, finishing the game with a team-high 24 points and nine rebounds. Through the middle of the game, the Aggies attacked the rim through center Pharrel Payne, working the post with his back to the basket. He posted 23 points and had an impressive 11 for 15 night from the free-throw line. Payne entered the game shooting 54% from the charity stripe, However, Payne has shot under 71% only once in the last eight games.

“We’re like going to have a slumber party at some point when we have time for [Payne’s] performance from the free-throw line,” Williams said with a laugh.

Hefner added 16 points, including a 2 for 6 clip from behind the arc, and five rebounds. Coleman posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Sears, the SEC preseason player of the year, worked his offensive magic to the tune of 27 points. Youngblood and guard Aden Holloway were the Tide’s two other double-digit performers with 14 and 15 points respectively. The pair combined for a 6 for 12 night from 3-point range to help end the Aggies’ nine-game winning streak.

It’s still early in the conference season, but Oats was confident a battle like Saturday night could have ramifications on the conference title nearly two months away.

“[A&M is] going to be right in that, you know, for the league title… We’ve got a long ways to go before we’re having serious conversations about winning the league title, but this game — if we’re fortunate enough to win the games we need to moving forward, this would be one that you look back on that was a big one in my opinion, because I think they’re right there," Oats said.