Dominguez hits a school-record 10 treys in rout of Manhattan, 109-68
Game #6: Texas A&M 109, Manhattan 68
Record: Texas A&M (4-2, 0-0), Manhattan (3-3, 0-0)
Box Score
That’s more like it.
The Bucky Ball system that Aggie fans were promised was much more evident in Texas A&M’s 109-68 college basketball victory over Manhattan on Friday night in front of 7,545 at Reed Arena.
There was a noticeable focus on firing more 3-pointers — making a school record 18 on 37 attempts. The 2017-18 team connected on 16 against Savannah State.
Rubén Dominguez — whose nickname is “Fuego” — now stands alone for most triples by an Aggie in a single game with 10.
The previous individual high was eight, and that record was shared by Bernard King, Jerald Brown and Josh Carter (thrice). Eight was also Dominguez’s personal best at other levels.
Indeed, the Spaniard was “en fuego” on Friday, and only a postgame water bottle shower could cool him off.
“I knew that, at some point, I was going to have a seven, eight [3-pointer] game, for sure,” Dominguez said. “I feel like my teammates were trying to find me. … It takes time, but it was going to come.
“I was feeling good in the game because I was playing good. … It was crazy.”
Additionally, 109 is the most A&M has scored in a game since the Aggies dropped 114 on Florida International in 1989.
That’s Bucky Ball, and Friday was more like it than anything seen in A&M’s last three games.
“I felt like we were kind of on the wrong side of variance shooting the ball,” head coach Bucky McMillan said. “Tonight was more indicative of what I would expect to see from our team shooting the ball. That’s just what we are. This wasn’t like we got hot. This is just what I’ve been waiting to see be the standard for how we make threes.”
Of course, the lopsided scoreline was expected against the Jaspers (3-3), who lost by 31 and 30 to USC and Hawaii, respectively.
A&M led by 28 at halftime, 55-27 — a sign of old habits dying hard.
Previously, the Aggies (4-2) wilted at Oklahoma State, wasted a double-digit second-half lead vs. UCF and nearly squandered a 19-point advantage to Montana.
Many of the woes that plagued them then were hardly evident on Friday.
“I just said, ‘Hey, we got to get back to who the heck we are,’ which is relentless pressure and being us and living with it,” McMillan said. “I know one thing: It feels good to win anyway, but dang sure, if you’re going to lose, I’d rather do it the way that we know and the way that we’ve always done it. That’s what we’ve got to do.”
Dominguez’s sharp-shooting showcase contributed 30 points as he connected on 10-of-14 shots from behind the arc.
Fitting that #9’s record-breaking ninth 3-pointer made it 99-61 with 3:36 remaining.
“It felt like he was in a video game,” guard Marcus Hill said of Dominguez. “I was like, ‘Whoa, is this for real?’ That’s crazy, though. It was amazing to see it, man. I’m proud of him.”
Hill scored 19. Rylan Griffen had 17, and Jacari Lane added 12. Rashaun Agee finished one point shy of a double-double with nine and 10 rebounds.
Manhattan led for all of 10 seconds following a Devin Dinkins triple that was quickly undone by Jamie Vinson’s alley oop from Griffen at 12:16 remaining in the first period.
Up 16-15, A&M never trailed again as the half-court defense forced the Jaspers into 16 giveaways, which were turned into 24 Aggie points. In the second half, A&M even showed its ability to deploy a zone.
The lead swelled to 31-19 on Dominguez’s second consecutive triple — and fourth of the night — with just over seven minutes before the break.
“I was joking around and asked him how he missed four,” McMillan quipped. “He’s one of the best shooters in the world, and he’s getting in game shape now. A lot of these guys, it takes a sec to get in game shape. I’m not going to say he’s going to shoot 70 percent from three, but he is capable.”
Manhattan never again got within 10 points, and the Jaspers’ deficit grew to a chasm at 45-23 on Griffen’s trey just four minutes later as A&M connected on 10-of-19 first-half 3-point attempts.
From 20 points, next came 30, and then 40. At its largest, the canyon-like margin between A&M and Manhattan was 41.
“We’ve been team bonding and talking, trying to speed the game up for everybody, so it felt good,” Hill said of the runaway victory. “We’re definitely getting there.”
Plenty of attention was paid to Mackenzie Mgbako’s insertion into the Aggie starting five. Albeit important, his A&M debut was forgettable, going scoreless on 0-of-2 shooting across four minutes of action.
A slow start for the star transfer is to be expected, as once Mgbako gets his conditioning, his talent should begin to shine.
“He pulled himself out,” McMillan said. “He felt [Mgbako’s foot injury] was hurting him just a little bit. He was probably so amped up to play. Our trainer thinks he’s good. He wanted to give it a go tonight to see if he could. I’m sure he’ll be back next game.”
When it comes to approaching full strength, it was one step forward and one step back for A&M, as guard Pop Isaacs — who was present in street clothes — did not play on Friday night.
Through five games, Isaacs is averaging 8.6 points, though McMillan indicated he’ll return to the lineup in the future.
“Team deal,” the head coach said of Isaacs. “He’ll be back. He’s working through some things right now.”
However, in terms of names, numbers and production, Friday was a noticeable step in the right direction.
A&M will need many more like it.
