Texas A&M Routs Alabama State 97-66

PJ Haggerty scores 22 points in his Texas A&M debut as the Aggies open the season with a convincing win.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Basketball

Texas A&M defeated Alabama State 97-66 in the season opener for both teams in College Station, Texas. The Aggies led by 15 points at halftime and forced 25 turnovers.

Why it matters

The opening result gives Texas A&M an early statement win and offers an initial read on how its new roster and full-court pressure defense will perform. Alabama State's loss sets the tone for its early-season schedule.

Texas A&M shot 44.4% from the field and 2-of-10 from three-point range in the first half. Haggerty's 22 points in his debut came close to the 23.4 points per game he averaged at Kansas State last season.

The players

PJ Haggerty

A guard who transferred to Texas A&M after playing at Kansas State, where he averaged 23.4 points per game last season.

Paul McMillan IV

Alabama State's leading scorer in the opener with 17 points.

Mike James

Alabama State player who scored 16 points in the season-opening loss.

The details

Texas A&M used a full-court pressure defense and closed the first half on a 6-2 run, with all six points coming from the free-throw line. Jordan Pope scored 17 points and Jalen Shelly added 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Mackenzie Mgbako and Tyshawn Archie scored 12 and 11 points.

November 3, 2026: Texas A&M defeats Alabama State 97-66 in the season opener.

Season Trajectory

Texas A&M's season opener fits a broader pattern in Division I men's basketball, where transfer portal additions are expected to produce immediately and reshape rotations each year. An early margin of victory like this one gives the Aggies an early marker in a season where roster turnover has become standard across college basketball.

Haggerty's 22-point debut makes him a player to watch for fantasy lineups as Texas A&M's rotation settles. The 25 forced turnovers suggest the Aggies' pressure defense could create more scoring chances on a nightly basis.

The takeaway

Early-season results can show how quickly newly assembled rosters are coming together. Watching how a team handles pressure defense against stronger opponents is a useful way to judge whether an opening win reflects lasting strength.