Texas A&M Aggies take on No. 5 Houston Cougars in NCAA Tournament

The two teams clash in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Oklahoma City

Mar. 21, 2026 at 7:33am

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The Texas A&M Aggies (22-11) and No. 5 Houston Cougars (29-6) will face off in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. The Aggies advanced after defeating the Saint Mary's Gaels 63-50 in the first round, while the Cougars dominated the Idaho Vandals 78-47. Houston is favored by 10.5 points in the matchup.

Why it matters

This game features a clash between a double-digit seed in Texas A&M and a top-5 team in Houston. The Cougars are looking to continue their strong tournament run after falling in the Big 12 championship game, while the Aggies hope to pull off the upset and advance further in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Texas A&M was led by forward Rashaun Agee, who scored 22 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the first-round win over Saint Mary's. Houston, meanwhile, got 18 points from guard Kingston Flemings and 18 rebounds from forward Chris Cenac Jr. in their blowout victory over Idaho. The Cougars have been strong defensively of late, holding opponents under 66 points in 5 of their last 7 games.

  • The game tips off at 6:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • Texas A&M defeated Saint Mary's 63-50 in the first round on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
  • Houston defeated Idaho 78-47 in the first round on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

The players

Rashaun Agee

A forward for the Texas A&M Aggies who led the team with 22 points and 9 rebounds in the first-round win.

Kingston Flemings

A guard for the Houston Cougars who scored a game-high 18 points in the first-round victory.

Chris Cenac Jr.

A forward for the Houston Cougars who dominated the glass with 18 rebounds in the first-round win.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a very good Houston team. They are well-coached and play great defense, so we'll need to execute on both ends of the floor.”

— Buzz Williams, Head Coach, Texas A&M Aggies

“Our defense has been the key to our success all season. We'll need to bring that same intensity and focus against a scrappy Texas A&M team that's proven they can win in this tournament.”

— Kelvin Sampson, Head Coach, Houston Cougars

What’s next

The winner of this game will advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This second-round matchup features a classic clash of styles, with the high-powered offense of Texas A&M taking on the stifling defense of Houston. The Cougars will be heavily favored, but the Aggies have shown they can pull off upsets in this tournament.