There were a few opening-act jitters for the Texas A&M men's basketball team Thursday, but once the Aggies got up to speed, the 7,350 fans at Reed Arena got a good glimpse of what the 2009-10 squad will be about.
The Aggies took the lead for good on an early Bryan Davis dunk and cruised for an 89-65 exhibition victory over the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions.
"I think everyone was a little anxious having not played in so many months," guard B.J. Holmes said. "Everyone came out with butterflies in their stomach. It took about 5 minutes to get over that, and then we started playing how we usually play."
Holmes, who came off the bench last season but started Thursday, had a solid all-around game. He hit 6 of 9 shots, including four 3-pointers, for 16 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out seven assists.
Senior guard Donald Sloan led A&M with 17 points and enjoyed his first chance of the season to play for the home fans.
"That was a really good crowd, especially with the people not really paying that much attention because it was an exhibition game," Sloan said. "Our students were with us all last year, with us when times got hard, and they haven't turned their backs on us."
All of A&M's starters reached double figures, including sophomores Dash Harris and David Loubeau who came off the bench last season. Loubeau had 12 points, while Davis and Harris each had 10.
"We need games," A&M head coach Mark Turgeon said. "People ask me what I think about my team, and I say I don't know yet. You don't know until you play other people. I do know I like coaching them in practice, and we are just going to get better. This team's fast. B.J is quicker than you think. Bryan is faster. Naji [Hibbert] is a big-time athlete. We'll overcome certain things with our speed."
The Aggies overcame the Lions' quick start as A&M-Commerce held a slight lead for most of the opening 10 minutes.
Holmes' 3s and A&M's good free-throw shooting (19 of 23) and dominance on the boards (51 rebounds to the Lions' 24) allowed Turgeon to try different combinations and play the entire bench.
One freshman, 6-foot-8 Ray Turner, didn't play because the NCAA clearinghouse has yet to grant him eligibility. Turgeon didn't say when Turner, who played at Houston Jones, will be cleared to play.
Derrick Roland, a starter last season, came off the bench and had four points in 15 minutes.
"It was just something I thought I needed to do tonight," Turgeon said of bring Roland off the bench. "[Roland] for the most part has a chance to be a starter because he guards everyday in practice. It was just something we did differently tonight."
Loubeau and Davis led the way with nine rebounds each, while Harris and Holmes topped the Aggies with seven assists each.
The Aggies had 11 players score, 11 grab at least one rebound and six have a steal.
"I was pleased for the first night," Turgeon said. "We didn't run like we wanted to. We've had breaks in practice where we are running downhill and that's going to happen when get in better shape and get the rotation right."
Kevin Hayden made three 3s and scored 12 points to lead the way for the Lions, a Division II team that has been one of the better Lone Star Conference programs over the past few seasons.
A&M opens the regular season at home Nov. 13 against Angelo State.
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