The Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Providence Friars, 73-69, on Friday, March 16 in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Texas A&M covered the spread as 3.5-point favorites while the game went over the total of 138.5.
The Aggies will move on to face the winner of another first-round game between North Carolina and Lipscomb on Sunday. Odds for that matchup will be released at the BetDSI Sportsbook when it is set, but North Carolina is favored by 19.5 points and is expected to be Texas A&M’s opponent. If that is the case, the second-seeded Tar Heels likely would be favored over the Aggies.
Notes
Two players recorded double-doubles for Texas A&M, Tyler Davis with 14 points and 15 rebounds and Robert Williams with 13 points and 14 boards. Admon Gilder scored 18 points and TJ Starks added 15 points and eight assists. The Aggies (21-12) shot 50 percent from the field while holding Providence to 43.5 percent.
Friars forward Rodney Bullock had 22 points, and Alpha Diallo had 21. Providence (21-14) shot 37.5 percent from 3-point range and was 9 of 12 from the free-throw line but was badly out-rebounded, 44-26.
Providence scored the game’s first six points, and Texas A&M didn’t take the lead until Jay Jay Chandler hit a 3-pointer for a 21-20 advantage with 4:56 left in the first half. The Aggies led 28-27 at halftime.
The Friars retook a small edge early in the second half, but Texas A&M used a 10-0 run to lead 45-37. The Aggies never trailed again, though Providence did catch them at 50-50.
The game did not hit the over until the final minute, with both teams making several trips to the free-throw line. Jalen Lindsey hit a 3-pointer for Providence with 18 seconds left to send the total over 137.5.
Looking ahead
Texas A&M’s odds of winning the NCAA Tournament were quite long before the Big Dance began, with oddsmakers pegging the Aggies at +15000. Their likely opponent in the round of 32, second-seeded North Carolina, is among the tournament favorites at +2000.
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