COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Interstat) — Jalen Shelley recorded a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, and Texas A&M pulled away from visiting Alabama State for a 97-66 victory in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game on Tuesday at Reed Arena. The Aggies improved to 1-0, while the Hornets fell to 0-1 in front of an announced attendance of 6,740. Texas A&M controlled the paint, answered Alabama State’s early pushes and turned a competitive first half into a comfortable win with a decisive second-half run.

The Aggies opened the scoring when Jordan Pope made two free throws and PJ Haggerty followed with a layup. Alabama State responded with Joseph Scott’s tip-in and Terrence Hampton’s tip-in, and Paul McMillan connected on a 3-pointer that kept the Hornets within 11-9. Texas A&M began to create separation midway through the first half as Mackenzie Mgbako scored on a turnaround jumper, Jamie Vinson finished an alley-oop and added a tip-in, and Zach Clemence hit a 3-pointer. Mike James kept Alabama State close with a 3-pointer and a pullup jumper, and his three free throws trimmed the deficit to 22-18. The Aggies answered with free throws from Haggerty and Shelley before James scored again on a floater.

Texas A&M stretched its advantage late in the first half. Jordan Pope made a 3-pointer, Cade Phillips threw down two dunks, and Shelley converted free throws and a floating jumper. Mgbako added two free throws, and Haggerty scored on a layup as the Aggies moved ahead 38-22. Alabama State closed the half with a layup from Isaiah Barganier, a three-point play from McMillan and two free throws from McMillan after Haggerty had made two free throws for Texas A&M. Tyshawn Archie hit a jump shot and Haggerty added another layup before the break, helping the Aggies carry momentum into halftime. The Hornets had trouble slowing Texas A&M’s transition game and gave up several second-chance opportunities.

The decisive stretch came early in the second half. After Damarion Bonds’ layup brought Alabama State within 44-34, Texas A&M answered with a 12-2 run. Mgbako hit a 3-pointer, Haggerty followed with a 3-pointer and a floater, and Pope later connected from beyond the arc as the Aggies pushed their lead to 56-36. The Hornets could not recover, as Texas A&M kept answering every Alabama State basket with efficient offense at the other end. McMillan hit a 3-pointer and Barganier made two free throws, but Haggerty and Shelley combined to keep the margin comfortable.

Alabama State tried to stay within reach. Hampton made a tip-in, James hit a 3-pointer and Dixon scored on a tip-in, but Texas A&M had an answer each time. Vinson tipped in a layup, McMillan made a 3-pointer for the Hornets, and Haggerty made two free throws before Shelley made two from the line and Haggerty scored on a driving layup. Shelley’s layup pushed the lead to 65-46, and after McMillan hit another 3-pointer, Pope connected from deep and Haggerty made a layup to make it 70-51. Barganier made two free throws, Haggerty scored on a layup, and Benny hit a 3-pointer for the Hornets. Pope answered with a 3-pointer, Barganier made a layup and two free throws, and Haggerty made a layup. Benny made two free throws and McMillan made a floater, but Haggerty scored again and Pope made a layup and free throw to keep Texas A&M in control.

Shelley, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward from Little Elm, Texas, was the top star for Texas A&M. He scored 14 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out three assists in 23 minutes, anchoring the Aggies inside and helping them control the glass. Pope added 17 points, two rebounds and one assist in 30 minutes, while Haggerty finished with 22 points and three rebounds in 26 minutes. Mgbako had 12 points, five rebounds, one assist and two blocked shots, and Archie contributed 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Phillips added seven points, five rebounds and two blocks, giving Texas A&M productive minutes from its frontcourt. The Aggies also got timely scoring from Vinson and Clemence during the first half.

Alabama State was led by McMillan, who scored 17 points to go with two rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes. Mike James added 16 points, two rebounds and two assists in 35 minutes. Isaiah Barganier had eight points and six rebounds, while Marquintez Dixon added four points, six rebounds, one assist and one block. The Hornets kept competing despite the growing deficit, getting a 3-pointer from James and a layup from Bonds early in the second half. Noah Benny also hit two 3-pointers and made two free throws, and McMillan continued to attack the lane. Scott and Hampton provided early energy near the basket, but Alabama State could not match Texas A&M’s size or depth over 40 minutes.

The Aggies closed the game emphatically. Pope made a layup and completed a three-point play before Shelley threw down an alley-oop. Archie made a 3-pointer and a tip-in, and Shelley buried a 3-pointer as Texas A&M extended its lead to 92-62. Archie added another layup, and after McMillan made a free throw and Benny hit a 3-pointer for the Hornets, Josh Irving capped the scoring with a free throw. Texas A&M’s defense tightened in the closing minutes, and the Aggies finished with a strong burst from Archie and Shelley, while Alabama State got a late 3-pointer from Benny.

Alabama State will next host Georgia Gwinnett, while Texas A&M is scheduled to host Northern Kentucky. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas A&M 91, Alabama State 80, and Interstat’s ELO system had projected Texas A&M with a 99.7 percent probability to win.