http://www.chron.com/sports/aggies/article/Texas-A-M-dealing-with-spate-of-suspensions-12448998.php
Texas A&M beats Buffalo while dealing with spate of suspensions
Updated 11:09 pm, Thursday, December 21, 2017
Texas A&M guard Duane Wilson (13) is pressured as he tries to drive between Buffalo guards Wes Clark (10) and CJ Massinburg (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M guard Duane Wilson (13) is pressured as he tries to drive between Buffalo guards Wes Clark (10) and CJ Massinburg (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21,
... moreTexas A&M guard Savion Flagg (5) dunks as Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M guard Savion Flagg (5) dunks as Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP
... moreTexas A&M center Tyler Davis (34) and Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) go for a loose rebound as Buffalo forward Nick Perkins (33) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M center Tyler Davis (34) and Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) go for a loose rebound as Buffalo forward Nick Perkins (33) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday,
... moreTexas A&M guard Duane Wilson (13) and Buffalo guard Wes Clark (10) battle for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M guard Duane Wilson (13) and Buffalo guard Wes Clark (10) battle for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP
... moreBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) shoots between Texas A&M forward Robert Williams (44) and guard Duane Wilson (13) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) shoots between Texas A&M forward Robert Williams (44) and guard Duane Wilson (13) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College
... moreTexas A&M center Tonny Trocha-Morelos (10) knocks away the shot attempt by Buffalo guard Jayvon Graves (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M center Tonny Trocha-Morelos (10) knocks away the shot attempt by Buffalo guard Jayvon Graves (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College
... moreTexas A&M center Tyler Davis (34) tries to drive between Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) and forward Ikenna Smart (34) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M center Tyler Davis (34) tries to drive between Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) and forward Ikenna Smart (34) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in
... moreBuffalo forward Montell McRae (1) loses the ball on a shot attempt as Texas A&M forward Robert Williams (44) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessBuffalo forward Montell McRae (1) loses the ball on a shot attempt as Texas A&M forward Robert Williams (44) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in
... moreBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) loses the ball as he falls over Texas A&M guard Duane Wilson (13) as A&M center Tonny Trocha-Morelos (10) reaches for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) loses the ball as he falls over Texas A&M guard Duane Wilson (13) as A&M center Tonny Trocha-Morelos (10) reaches for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college
... moreTexas A&M center Tyler Davis (34) dunks over Buffalo guard Davonta Jordan (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M center Tyler Davis (34) dunks over Buffalo guard Davonta Jordan (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael
... moreTexas A&M guard Savion Flagg (5) catches a pass over Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M guard Savion Flagg (5) catches a pass over Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP
... moreTexas A&M guard Savion Flagg (5) looks to drive around Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M guard Savion Flagg (5) looks to drive around Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP
... moreBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) drives into Texas A&M guard Jay Jay Chandler (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) drives into Texas A&M guard Jay Jay Chandler (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael
... moreTexas A&M guard Jay Jay Chandler (0) knocks the ball away from Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) as Texas A&M guard Savion Flagg (5) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M guard Jay Jay Chandler (0) knocks the ball away from Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) as Texas A&M guard Savion Flagg (5) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game
... moreBuffalo forward Ikenna Smart (34) and Texas A&M forward Robert Williams (44) chase a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessBuffalo forward Ikenna Smart (34) and Texas A&M forward Robert Williams (44) chase a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas.
... moreTexas A&M guard Jay Jay Chandler (0) dives for a loose ball against Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessTexas A&M guard Jay Jay Chandler (0) dives for a loose ball against Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station,
... moreBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) drives around Texas A&M center Tyler Davis (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) drives around Texas A&M center Tyler Davis (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael
... moreBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) knocks a rebound away from Texas A&M center Tonny Trocha-Morelos (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
lessBuffalo guard Wes Clark (10) knocks a rebound away from Texas A&M center Tonny Trocha-Morelos (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in College Station,
... moreCOLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M's troubling string of suspensions will carry into Southeastern Conference play.
A&M announced on Thursday night, prior to the No. 8 Aggies' 89-73 home win against Buffalo, that guard D.J. Hogg will be suspended for three games for a violation of university policy. In addition, guards J.J. Caldwell and T.J. Starks missed the Buffalo game because of violations of team rules.
A&M coach Billy Kennedy began his postgame press conference by apologizing to A&M fans for the suspensions and adding that he intends to uphold the values of the school. He declined to address specifics.
Hogg and Caldwell had already been previously suspended to start this season (including Hogg only in an exhibition). The thin Aggies also are missing starting guard Admon Gilder with an injured knee at least through early in SEC play.
League action starts on Dec. 30 as A&M (11-1) plays at Alabama, and Hogg is scheduled to miss that game along with the conference home opener against Florida on Jan. 2, along with Thursday's win over Buffalo.
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Meanwhile, A&M forward Robert Williams returned to action on Thursday night after missing two games because of a concussion. Williams, the reigning SEC defensive player of the year, was suspended the first two games of the season because of an undisclosed violation of team policy.
The downside for the Aggies is missing a handful of players they'll be counting on to compete for an SEC championship and perhaps making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The upside is valuable playing time for the likes of Savion Flagg and Jay Jay Chandler.
No question, however, the negatives outweigh the positives for what's been a troubling nonconference stretch for A&M, capped by the three suspensions on Thursday.
"We'll handle it in the locker room," A&M center and team leader Tyler Davis said. "They are our teammates and they are our brothers, but they'll hear from us for sure."
As for Thursday night's game before a sparse crowd four days before Christmas, the Aggies did what they needed to do for the victory.
"I knew they suspended the three guys but they still have some players out there on the floor," Buffalo coach Nate Oats said. "It's so hard to score at the rim on them. When you can't score at the rim, you pretty much have to make a bunch of 3-pointers, and your legs get tired at the end of the game."
The Aggies led 60-58 with 6:36 remaining when Duane Wilson hit a layup, Williams followed with a block on the other end, and Tonny Trocha-Morelos was fouled on an ensuing A&M fast break. Trocha-Morelos made the layup and resulting free throw, and within the span of less than a minute the Aggies led 65-58.
The Aggies got a scare a couple of minutes later when Williams missed a dunk on a fast break and landed awkwardly. He limped off the court with 4:24 remaining and didn't return. Kennedy said afterward that Williams was OK, that perhaps only his pride was hurt in missing a wide-open dunk.
A&M held on for a 64-58 victory over Northern Kentucky on Tuesday night in Reed Arena. On Thursday, Wilson led all scorers with 23 points, as Buffalo made a point to pack the lane defensively and dare A&M's guards to score.
"I felt like a lot of the time they were sticking with Tyler and Rob, so it was easy to make layups and get to the paint," Wilson said.
