Houston Dominates Texas A&M 88-57 in NCAA Tournament Round of 32

Cougars' physicality overwhelms Aggies in second-round matchup

Mar. 22, 2026 at 3:53am

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Texas A&M's season came to an end Saturday night in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with an 88-57 loss to the University of Houston in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars' dominant performance, led by 18 points from Emanuel Sharp and 17 from Chris Cenac Jr., propelled them to the Sweet Sixteen.

Why it matters

This loss marks the end of a significant turnaround season for Texas A&M under first-year head coach Bucky McMillan, who took over a team with only one scholarship player and led them to a 22-12 record and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance. While disappointing, the Aggies' rapid improvement suggests a promising future for the program.

The details

Houston's physicality and dominance on the boards proved to be the decisive factors, as the Cougars outrebounded Texas A&M 19-9 on the offensive glass and scored 18 second-chance points. Josh Holloway led the Aggies with 12 points, but the team struggled to overcome Houston's 24-2 run to close the first half.

  • The game took place on Saturday night, March 22, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
  • Texas A&M's season concluded with this second-round loss in the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Emanuel Sharp

A player for the University of Houston who led the Cougars with 18 points in the victory.

Chris Cenac Jr.

A player for the University of Houston who scored 17 points in the win.

Josh Holloway

The leading scorer for Texas A&M, contributing 12 points in the loss.

Bucky McMillan

The first-year head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies, who took over a team with only one scholarship player and led them to a 22-12 record and an NCAA Tournament berth.

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What’s next

Houston will advance to the Sweet 16, where they will face the winner of the Illinois-VCU matchup.

The takeaway

This game highlights the impressive turnaround of the Texas A&M program under first-year head coach Bucky McMillan, who took over a team with limited resources and led them to the NCAA Tournament. While the loss is disappointing, the Aggies' rapid improvement suggests a bright future for the program.