National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Texas A&M 71, Florida 68
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Where: Reed Arena, College Station, Texas
Officials: # Darron George, # Anthony Jordan, # Olandis Poole
Attendance: 9766

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M point guard Anthony Collins doesn't put up big shooting numbers, but he sure can make big shots.

In fact, he made four of them Tuesday.

Collins, a senior transfer from USF, hit four clutch free throws in the final 25 seconds -- the only four points he scored -- and grabbed a vital rebound as No. 15 Texas A&M held off Florida 71-68.

Collins doesn't shoot often. In fact, he entered the game averaging 5.7 points per game and attempted only one field goal.

Instead, he typically defers to guard Jalen Jones, who scored 26 points, and guard Danuel House, who scored 22.

"I just know my role on the team," Collins said. "We have a bunch of people to score the ball. Everybody has to sacrifice. I feel that's what I have to do."

The Aggies, who posted their seventh consecutive victory and remained unbeaten on their home court, may want to find more ways to get Collins to the foul line. He is 24 for 24 this season.

"He's the best free throw shooter in the league," Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. "He's 100 percent. Who can argue with that?

"I was thinking he's due to miss one."

The Aggies (14-2, 4-0 SEC) can be thankful he did not because Florida (10-6, 2-2) always found a way to come back when Texas A&M appeared on the brink of taking control.

Indeed, the victory wasn't assured until Florida's Chris Chiozza missed a 3-point attempt with two seconds remaining. Collins got the rebound.

Florida, which has suffered five losses to ranked opponents, could lament Collins' late free throw accuracy, but the Gators also hurt themselves with turnovers and poor free throw shooting.

Florida committed 16 turnovers, which A&M converted into 21 points.

"If we come over here and get 10, 11, 12 turnovers we might be sitting here with a win," Florida coach Mike White said.

The Gators might have won if they'd been more accurate at the foul line, too. They converted just 4 of 12 free throws.

"It's not for a lack of effort or reps," White said of the Gators, who are last in the SEC in free-throw percentage. "To come on the road and beat a good team in the SEC you have to shoot better than that."

Yet, A&M was frustrated by its inability to take control.

The Aggies frequently opened up modest leads, but could never quite pull away from the Gators, who were led by Dorian Finney-Smith with 17 points and Justin Leon with 16

Texas A&M led 59-49 with just over eight minutes to play and held a 67-61 advantage with two minutes left.

Finney-Smith hit a 3-pointer from the right wing off a throw-in to bring the Gators within 67-66 with 25.4 seconds remaining.

The Gators were forced to foul and Collins delivered.

Still, the Aggies had to sweat it out until the very end.

They appeared to have the win clinched after Collins hit two free throws with 8.5 seconds left and Florida center John Egbunu was called for an offensive foul as the Gators tried to push the ball upcourt.

However, Chiozza stole Texas A&M's inbound pass and got off a last shot that could have forced overtime.

"Somehow the ball came loose," Aggies guard Alex Caruso said. "I don't know if it was a steal or a foul. (Chiozza) got a good look and Anthony AC came out with a big rebounds. I'm just glad to get out with a win."

Texas A&M has made a habit of pulling out stressful victories of late.

Last week, it held off Mississippi State 61-60 and closed with an 18-4 run to escape Tennessee 92-88.

The Aggies are 4-0 for the first time as an SEC team, last starting with four conference wins in 2007 while in the Big 12.

"It feels good for our confidence," Jones said. "It feels like we're the best team in the SEC. We try to play like that every night. Starting off 4-0 is great for us. We have to continue that on the road.

"Later in the season conference games seem to get tougher and tougher. This game will prepare us for the end of the season."

NOTES: Florida entered the game ranked last in the Southeastern Conference in field goal percentage (.414), three-point shooting (.283) and free throws (.616). ... Texas A&M is 10-0 at home with the first nine victories coming by 10 or more points. ... A&M senior G Alex Caruso also came into the game as the active NCAA leader in career steals with 235. He had two Tuesday.
Top Game Performances
 
Florida   Texas A&M
Dorian Finney-Smith 17 Scoring Jalen Jones 26
Chris Chiozza 8 Assists Alex Caruso 7
Dorian Finney-Smith 12 Rebounds Alex Caruso 7
John Egbunu 2 Free Throws Made Jalen Jones 7
John Egbunu 1 Steals Tyler Davis 3
John Egbunu 2 Blocks Alex Caruso 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Florida 68 44.3 10-26 4-12 18 36 6 1 16
Texas A&M 71 36.1 7-23 20-30 14 37 6 7 7