Texas A&M HC Bucky McMillan praises team's 'must-win' victory over Ole Miss

The Aggies overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half to secure a crucial 80-77 win.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Texas A&M men's basketball head coach Bucky McMillan and senior forward Zach Clemence spoke after the Aggies' 80-77 victory over Ole Miss on Wednesday night. McMillan acknowledged the game was a 'must-win' for his team's NCAA Tournament hopes, as they overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half to secure the crucial win.

Why it matters

The win likely saved Texas A&M's season, as they improved to 18-8 overall and 8-5 in SEC play. With five games remaining, the Aggies are now in a strong position to earn an NCAA Tournament bid, which would be a major accomplishment for McMillan in his first year as head coach.

The details

Despite trailing for most of the second half, the Aggies rallied late, led by clutch shots from sophomore Rubén Dominguez and a key layup from Zach Clemence to give A&M its first lead of the half. The Aggies' defense also stepped up, holding Ole Miss scoreless for the final 3:32 to seal the victory.

  • Texas A&M defeated Ole Miss 80-77 on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Bucky McMillan

The first-year head coach of the Texas A&M men's basketball team.

Zach Clemence

A senior forward for the Texas A&M Aggies.

Rubén Dominguez

A sophomore sharpshooter for the Texas A&M Aggies.

Marcus Hill

A senior guard for the Texas A&M Aggies.

Rashaun Agee

A player for the Texas A&M Aggies.

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What they’re saying

“I never told our guys this, but I'm going to tell you the truth. That was a must-win game. That was a must-win game and our guys came through.”

— Bucky McMillan, Head Coach, Texas A&M (Yahoo Sports)

“We led twice. We just battled back. We showed we had heart. That's all you can ask for.”

— Zach Clemence, Senior Forward, Texas A&M (Yahoo Sports)

“We just locked in down the stretch. We made adjustments. We wanted it more. That was all.”

— Zach Clemence, Senior Forward, Texas A&M (Yahoo Sports)

“Incredible win. Our fight was there. We were down by 10 and we needed to win that game or else we'd put ourselves in a tough position. We had guys playing to win the game. We will remember this game as a key win in our season.”

— Bucky McMillan, Head Coach, Texas A&M (Yahoo Sports)

“We turned it up. We got some key turnovers and were solid getting stops. The game was won with our offensive rebounding. We thought our pressure would take it's toll late. We had 16 extra opportunities, which was 12 more than them.”

— Bucky McMillan, Head Coach, Texas A&M (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Texas A&M will travel to Norman, Oklahoma to face the struggling Oklahoma Sooners in their next game, as they look to secure another road win to further solidify their NCAA Tournament standing.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory over Ole Miss showcases the resilience and determination of the Texas A&M Aggies under first-year head coach Bucky McMillan. The team's ability to battle back from a double-digit deficit and make crucial plays down the stretch could be a season-defining moment as they push for an NCAA Tournament berth.