Texas A&M Tops Kentucky in Key SEC Matchup

Aggies' 13-minute surge in first half proves decisive in 96-85 victory

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Texas A&M defeated Kentucky 96-85 in a key late-season Southeastern Conference matchup on Tuesday in College Station, Texas. The Aggies used a dominant 13-minute stretch in the first half, outscoring Kentucky 27-2, to build a 12-point halftime lead. A&M then extended the advantage to 21 points early in the second half before Kentucky fought back to cut the deficit to 7 late, but the Aggies held on for the victory.

Why it matters

Both Texas A&M and Kentucky are projected to receive at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament, so this game had significant implications for their seeding and positioning. The win likely secures A&M's spot in the tournament field, while the loss is a setback for Kentucky's hopes of earning a higher seed.

The details

Texas A&M was led by Rylan Griffen's 21 points and Ruben Dominguez's 17 points. The Aggies took control of the game with a 27-2 run over the final 8 minutes of the first half to build a 12-point halftime lead. A&M then extended the advantage to 21 points early in the second half before Kentucky mounted a late comeback, cutting the deficit to 7 points, but the Aggies held on for the victory.

  • The Aggies outscored Kentucky 27-2 over the final 8 minutes of the first half.
  • A&M built a 21-point lead with 14:49 remaining in the second half.
  • Kentucky cut the deficit to 88-81 with 1:10 left, but A&M hit 5 free throws in the final minute to seal the win.

The players

Rylan Griffen

A Texas A&M player who scored a team-high 21 points in the victory.

Ruben Dominguez

A Texas A&M player who scored 17 points, including 14 in the first half, to help the Aggies build their lead.

Otega Oweh

A Kentucky player who led all scorers with 24 points in the losing effort.

Mouhamed Dioubate

A Kentucky player who scored 19 points for the Wildcats.

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The takeaway

This victory gives Texas A&M a significant boost in its quest to secure a favorable seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, while the loss is a setback for Kentucky's tournament positioning. The Aggies' dominant 13-minute stretch in the first half proved to be the difference in this key late-season SEC matchup.