TAMPA, Fla. — Texas A&M came to Amalie Arena needing to play its way into the NCAA Tournament.
Three wins in three days — including Saturday’s 82-64 SEC tournament semifinal win over fourth-seeded Arkansas — should do the trick. The latest triumph sends the eighth-seeded Aggies to their second-ever SEC championship game and the first since an overtime loss to Kentucky in 2016. Texas A&M hasn’t won a conference tournament of any sort since claiming the Southwest Conference crown in 1987.
The Aggies started hot, as they have all week long. Texas A&M was 6 of 11 from 3-point range in the first half, continuing an uncharacteristic streak. The Aggies made 32.6% of their long-range attempts during the regular season and 6.8 per game. In wins over Florida and Auburn, the Aggies were a combined 17 of 33 from deep.
