Texas A&M Dominates Manhattan in Record-Breaking 109-68 Victory

Texas A&M University achieved an impressive victory on March 15, 2024, defeating Manhattan by a score of **109-68**. This win marks the highest point total for the Aggies since 1989 and showcases their offensive prowess, highlighted by a record-setting performance from sophomore sharpshooter Rubén Dominguez. The team hit a remarkable **16 three-pointers**, with Dominguez contributing **10** of those, further establishing his reputation as a formidable player.

First-year head coach Bucky McMillan expressed confidence in Dominguez’s abilities leading up to the game. During the offseason, McMillan noted that Dominguez, originally from Spain, achieved an astonishing **73 consecutive three-pointers** in practice, a feat that underscored his shooting skills. After scoring **30 points** against Manhattan, Dominguez’s performance lived up to the expectations set by his coach.

The victory was not solely attributed to Dominguez; it was a comprehensive team effort. The Aggies featured four players scoring in double digits, contributing to a well-rounded offensive display. Seniors Jacari Lane and Marcus Hill showcased their skills as a dynamic guard duo, combining for **31 points** and **nine assists**. Their contributions were vital in maintaining the team’s momentum throughout the match.

Despite the excitement surrounding the game, the debut of star transfer forward Mackenzie Mgbako was short-lived. Mgbako played only four minutes and finished without scoring, a decision made by McMillan to prioritize the player’s recovery. Mgbako’s minutes are expected to increase in the upcoming home game against Mississippi Valley State.

After the game, the trio of McMillan, Dominguez, and Hill addressed the media, sharing insights on their performance. Dominguez reflected on his record-breaking game, stating, “I knew at some point that I was going to have a seven or eight three game. My teammates were trying to find me, so shoutout to them. It takes time, but it was going to come.”

Hill added to the praise for Dominguez, saying, “It feels like he’s in a video game. I was like, is this for real? I’m proud of him; it was amazing to see. I see this every day in practice. I knew it was going to come.”

In discussing the team’s performance under the “Bucky Ball” system, Dominguez noted, “This is how we’re supposed to play. We knew they were going to break, and that happened today. We lost that the last few games, but we got back to that tonight.”

McMillan commented on the shooting success, saying, “I felt like we were on the wrong side of variance shooting the ball. We were shooting it well below what we were shooting. Tonight is much more what we are shooting the ball. This is just the standard of how we should make threes.”

He emphasized the importance of maintaining performance standards, stating, “This is indicative of who we are shooting the ball. Full 40 minutes of sustained effort. We’ve got to get back to who we are. Being us and living with it.”

Reflecting on Dominguez’s record-setting performance, McMillan stated, “I saw him make 73 in a row and 75 the next day in practice, so I joked with him how did he miss four today? He’s one of the best shooters in the world. He’s capable to get hot.”

Texas A&M’s high-variance nature was evident in the game. McMillan noted, “I told you there will be nights you watch this team where you think we’ll never lose again, and there will be nights where you think we’ll never win again. Tonight was one of those nights, like how does this team lose if Rubén keeps making threes?”

Concerning Mgbako’s limited playtime, McMillan explained, “He pulled himself out of the game because it was hurting him a little bit. He was so amped up to play. Our trainer thinks he’s good. He should be good.”

The Aggies will look to build on this momentum in their next matchup. Fans can follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.