Shorthanded Aggie men travel to skidding K-State

Texas A&M has caught the regard of their fans and the opposition with how they've performed with two key starters and their sixth man in dress clothes watching from the bench.

A&M has picked up the intensity after the Kansas game, when senior point guard Dash Harris' arch injury sidelined him alongside Khris Middleton and Kourtney Roberson.

The result of everyone picking it up to make up for the losses has been a convincing win over Oklahoma State, which was coming off an upset of then No. 2 Missouri, and a jump shot shy of upending No. 6 Baylor.

"Really credit coach [Billy] Kennedy and A&M. I know they have some injuries and for them to come out and fight and play as well as they have done is a credit to their staff their players," said Baylor coach Scott Drew, who was thrilled to be leaving College Station with a 63-60 victory. "Our two games against A&M have been two of our worst outputs offensively and that's a direct reflection of Kennedy and the great defense he instills and how he gets his guys to play on the defensive end."

With the Big 12 season at the midway point, A&M is second in the conference in scoring defense (64.8) and shooting percentage defense (41.8). The Aggies lowered both those marks in the last two games, giving up 61 and 63 points while allowing opponents to shoot 37.9 and 39.7 percent.

The defense caught the attention of Baylor's Quincy Acy, who has played eight games against the Aggies.

"Lot of props [to A&M]. I mean, those are two of their better players," Acy said. "They showed heart. Trying to come in and defend their home court says a lot about them and their coach."

A&M's challenge becomes more daunting on Saturday with the undermanned Aggies heading to Kansas State, where A&M hasn't won in nine trips.

Add to that, the Aggies are the only Big 12 team without a true road win, going 0-4. Three of those losses, though, have been to teams ranked in the top 5 at the time they played.

Kansas State (15-6, 4-5) was ranked as high as No. 22 earlier in the Big 12 season, but has lost two in a row, one to Oklahoma at home.

"I try to tell our guys you have to put the [Baylor loss] behind us and prepare for tomorrow," Kennedy said. "You keep doing the right things off and on the court, good things are going to happen. We're going into a tough place to win in Manhattan, Kan., on Saturday, so it doesn't get any easier and we have to be ready."

Harris, who was expected to be the first player to return to the Aggies at the beginning of the week, was on crutches at Wednesday's game.

Daniel Alexander got his first start on Wednesday, but much of that decision could have been because the 6-8 forward was more suited to go up against Baylor's front line, which averages 6-9.

Kansas State has started three guards of late, which means 6-4 Jordan Green could start instead of Alexander. Both will see plenty of minutes.