The free throw total Sunday for Texas A&M basketball looked like something out of an early season Division I versus Division II matchup. But it was against fellow Power Four program Arizona State that Texas A&M attempted a whopping 38 free throws in an exhibition win.
With the regular season opening in just about a week, the Aggies beat the Arizona State Sun Devils, 95-88 at the Fort Bend Epicenter. San Antonio native Zach Clemence led the way with 20 points. The 6-foot-11 transfer added seven rebounds and made five 3-pointers over 20 minutes.
Anthony Johnson had a game-high 27 points with seven rebounds for Arizona State.
Texas A&M shot 28-for-60 from the field in its first game under new head coach Bucky McMillan. McMillan is known for his high-pace, high-volume 3-point shooting, but ASU actually put up more shots than the A&M.
The Aggies held the Sun Devils to just 30-for-69 shooting on the night. ASU made 10 of 36 3-point attempts compared to A&M’s 13 of 29. The home team, playing in the Houston suburb of Rosenberg, made 26 of their 38 free throw tries; the Sun Devils were 18-for-23.
Clemence’s former Kansas teammate, Rylan Griffen, scored 10 points for the Aggies in the first half as A&M trailed 42-40. Green was second on the team with four made 3-pointers.
Texas A&M comes into the season with a revamped roster after the departure of former head coach Buzz Williams, who’s now with Maryland. He led the Aggies to a 23-11 record and the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
A&M opens its first regular season under McMillan, who previously coach at Samford, on Nov. 3 against Northwestern State.