The Texas A&M Aggies will play against the Saint Mary’s Gaels in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. This first-round game in the South Region will take place at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK. The game is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 7:35 PM ET and will be broadcast on truT.
Texas A&M finished the regular season with a 21-11 overall record and an 11-8 record in the Southeastern Conference. Recently, they lost to Oklahoma by 20 points but had wins against LSU and Kentucky. In the 2025 postseason, they won against Yale but lost to Michigan in the second round.
Saint Mary’s Gaels hold an AP rank of #22 and ended their regular season with a 27-5 overall record, going 13-3 in the West Coast Conference. They recently lost to Santa Clara but had a win against Gonzaga. Last year, they won against Vanderbilt in the first round but fell to Alabama in the second round of the tournament.
Saint Mary’s Preview
Saint Mary’s Gaels are ranked #22 in the AP rankings. They play in the West Coast Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they won against Vanderbilt in the first round but lost to Alabama in the second round. Their overall record for the 2026 regular season is 27-5, with a conference record of 13-3.
In recent games, the Gaels had a close loss to Santa Clara with a score of 71-76. Paulius Murauskas scored 26 points in that game. They also had a win against Gonzaga, scoring 70-59. Mikey Lewis was a standout player with 31 points in that game. Another win came against Santa Clara earlier, with a score of 86-67.
The Gaels have some strong stats this season. They average 78.2 points per game and have a field goal percentage of 46.2%. Their three-point percentage is 38.9%, ranking them 26th. They also excel in free throw percentage at 80.5%, ranking 21st. Their rebounds per game are 40.2, placing them 26th.
Key players include Paulius Murauskas, who averages 18.8 points per game, and Joshua Dent, who averages 13 points per game. Mikey Lewis contributes 14.2 points per game. Andrew McKeever leads in rebounds with 9.2 per game. The team has a strong straight-up record of 28-5 but struggles against the spread with a 14-18-1 record.
Texas A&M Preview
The Texas A&M Aggies play in the Southeastern Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they advanced to the second round. They won against Yale with a score of 80-71. However, they lost to Michigan with a score of 91-79.
In the 2026 regular season, the Aggies had an overall record of 21-11. Their conference record was 11-8. They scored an average of 87.7 points per game, ranking 11th in the nation. They attempted 64.5 field goals per game, placing them 33rd.
In recent games, the Aggies had mixed results. They lost to Oklahoma with a score of 83-63. They won against LSU with a score of 94-91. They also won against Kentucky with a score of 96-85.
Rashaun Agee is a key player for the Aggies. He averages 14.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Pop Isaacs contributes with 10.1 points per game. Rylan Griffen adds 11.6 points per game. These players help the team perform well in games.
Statistical Breakdown for Saint Mary’s vs Texas A&M
The game between Saint Mary’s Gaels and Texas A&M Aggies will be shaped by several key stats. The Gaels have a strong defense, allowing fewer points per game. They also excel in free throw shooting, which could be important in close games. The Aggies, on the other hand, score more points per game and have a high number of assists, indicating good ball movement. Rebounding will also be crucial, with both teams having solid numbers in that area.
- Saint Mary’s Points Per Game: 78.2
- Texas A&M Points Per Game: 87.7
- Saint Mary’s Field Goal Percentage: 46.2%
- Texas A&M Field Goal Percentage: 45.8%
- Saint Mary’s Free Throw Percentage: 80.5%
- Texas A&M Free Throw Percentage: 73.7%
- Saint Mary’s Rebounds Per Game: 40.2
- Texas A&M Rebounds Per Game: 37.7
- Saint Mary’s Assists Per Game: 15.5
- Texas A&M Assists Per Game: 18.1
Betting Insights
As Texas A&M Aggies prepare to play against Saint Mary’s Gaels, bettors have several trends to consider. Texas A&M shows strength when favored, while Saint Mary’s has a solid overall record. Both teams have different patterns in covering the spread and hitting over/under totals. Here are the top betting insights for this game:
- Texas A&M is 7-4 ATS as an underdog, showing a 63.6% success rate.
- Saint Mary’s struggles ATS in their last 10 games, with a 3-7 record (30.0%).
- Texas A&M has a 76.2% SU record as a favorite, going 16-5.
- Saint Mary’s has a strong SU record of 28-5 overall, achieving 84.8% wins.
- Saint Mary’s O/U record is 2-8 in their last 10 games, hitting the under 80.0% of the time.
Free Betting Prediction for Saint Mary’s vs Texas A&M
Saint Mary’s Gaels have a strong overall record and a solid defense. Their ability to shoot free throws well could be a key factor. Paulius Murauskas and Mikey Lewis are important players who can score points. The Gaels’ recent win against Gonzaga shows they can compete with tough teams. Texas A&M Aggies have a high-scoring offense. They average more points per game than the Gaels. Rashaun Agee and Pop Isaacs are key players who help the team score. The Aggies have been successful as underdogs, which could give them confidence in this game. The game might be close, with both teams having strengths. Saint Mary’s has a better defense and free throw shooting, while Texas A&M scores more points. Given Saint Mary’s strong record and home advantage, they might edge out a win.
- Our Free Prediction: Saint Mary’s -3.5
