The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team faced a challenging matchup against the No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. Despite a valiant effort, the Gamecocks fell short, with a final score of 76-72 in favor of the Aggies.
Texas A&M's guard Wade Taylor IV led all scorers with 25 points, tying his career high by hitting seven three-pointers. His sharpshooting was pivotal in establishing and maintaining the Aggies' lead throughout the game.
The Aggies started strong, building a 12-5 lead early in the first half. However, the Gamecocks responded with an 11-2 run, briefly taking the lead at 16-14. Texas A&M regained control, extending their advantage to 44-36 by halftime.
In the second half, the Aggies expanded their lead to 49-36, but the Gamecocks mounted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 49-47. Despite South Carolina's efforts, Texas A&M maintained their lead, with Taylor's seventh three-pointer putting them ahead 68-59. The Gamecocks continued to fight, coming within two points with 6:59 remaining, but the Aggies secured the win with crucial free throws in the final seconds.
For South Carolina, sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles delivered an outstanding performance, leading the team with 22 points, going 11-of-16 (68.8%) from the floor. He also contributed seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and two steals. Guard Jamarii Thomas contributed 15 points, while Zachary Davis and Morris Ugusuk added 12 points each.
The Aggies started strong, establishing a 12-5 lead early in the first half. The Gamecocks responded with an 11-2 run, briefly taking the lead at 16-14. However, Texas A&M regained control, leading 44-36 at halftime. In the second half, the Aggies extended their lead to 13 points, but South Carolina rallied, narrowing the gap to two points with 6:59 remaining. Despite the comeback effort, the Gamecocks couldn't overcome the deficit.
The Gamecocks will look to build on this performance as they continue their SEC schedule, aiming to secure their first conference win in the upcoming games.