Preview: Texas A&M, Saint Mary’s Meet in NCAA Tournament First Round

OKLAHOMA CITY (Interstat) — A streaky Texas A&M squad faces a consistent Saint Mary’s team when the seed Aggies and seed Gaels meet in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Thursday at Paycom Center.

Texas A&M (21-11) enters the postseason looking to rebound from a blowout loss. The Aggies fell 83-63 to Oklahoma in their most recent outing on March 12, a performance coach Buzz Williams will hope was an aberration. Prior to that, Texas A&M showed a high ceiling, including a thrilling 94-91 triple-overtime win at LSU on March 7 and a 96-85 victory over Kentucky on March 3. The Aggies’ season has been marked by volatility, with impressive wins often followed by head-scratching losses.

The Aggies will lean on forward Rashaun Agee, who has been a consistent force. He scored 26 points in 47 minutes in the marathon win at LSU and is averaging 17.1 points over his last seven games. Guards Rylan Griffen and Pop Isaacs, who each had 13 points against Oklahoma, provide backcourt scoring.

Saint Mary’s (27-5) presents a stark contrast in consistency. The Gaels have won 10 of their last 12 games, with the only stumbles being a 76-71 home loss to Santa Clara on March 9 and a January road loss to Gonzaga. Their resume includes a dominant 70-59 win over those same Zags in late February and several decisive conference victories.

The Gaels are powered by forward Paulius Murauskas, who erupted for 26 points in the loss to Santa Clara. He has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games. Guard Mikey Lewis, who had 23 points against Santa Clara, and distributor Joshua Dent, who tallied seven assists in that game, form a potent backcourt.

The matchup pits Texas A&M’s offensive firepower — the Aggies have scored 90-plus points three times in their last eight games — against Saint Mary’s disciplined system. The Gaels have held opponents under 70 points in 22 of their 32 games this season.

The game will be played at a neutral site, though Oklahoma City is roughly a four-hour drive from Texas A&M’s College Station campus. The over/under is set at 148 points.

Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 6:10 p.m. CDT Thursday, with the winner advancing to face either Duke or South Dakota State in the second round on Saturday.