When people think of March Madness, they often envision sharpshooters, the players who can change the trajectory of entire teams’ seasons with their 3-pointers.
While the NCAA Tournament has had its share of exciting long-range shots—like graduate guard Wade Taylor IV’s buzzer-beater 3-pointer to conclude the first half—during the 4-seed Texas A&M men’s basketball team’s 80-71 victory over 13-seed Yale in the NCAA Tournament’s first round in Denver, a different kind of hero emerged.
Junior forward Pharrel Payne excelled, leading all scorers with a personal best of 25 points and contributing 10 rebounds for a double-double, as the Aggies dominated inside and pressured the Bulldogs throughout the game.
“I’m proud to say he’s my big man,” Taylor said. “… It’s a testament to everything he’s done this season. He’s been consistent, and we’re really excited to have him on our team.”
Payne delivered several highlight-reel moments, including multiple dunks reminiscent of NBA Jam, notably one spectacular alley-oop from Taylor in the first half that electrified the traveling 12th Man.
“I remember watching him in an auxiliary gym at eight o’clock in the morning on a non-sponsored team,” remarked coach Buzz Williams. “I love his spirit. I’ve never been around a player as extroverted as he is, yet so genuine in how he views life.”
Feeling like the Underdog
Despite their higher seed, A&M approached the game against the 13-seed Bulldogs with an underdog mentality.
This perception wasn’t unfounded; following Yale’s upset of 4-seed Auburn in the previous year’s tournament, they had become a popular choice for an upset among both college basketball enthusiasts and casual viewers.
As Yale narrowed the A&M lead to just six points with less than nine minutes remaining, the crowd grew louder, transforming Ball Arena into an intimidating venue for the Aggies.
Carter’s Key Contributions
At this critical juncture, senior G Jace Carter stepped up. The former UIC standout sank a 3-pointer that quieted the crowd, and after a block by senior F Andersson Garcia on the other end, Carter secured an offensive rebound and promptly scored, thwarting Yale’s best chance for a comeback.
“Opportunities always arise,” said Carter. “That’s what I’ve been telling myself, and my teammates have encouraged me to stay ready… I’m glad I could contribute.”
This moment was especially rewarding for Carter, who has experienced an inconsistent season, averaging fewer than four points per game.
Rebounding Battle
Although A&M came into the match as the nation’s leading offensive rebounding team, the first half did little to showcase this; they narrowly led Yale 16-15 in total rebounds, with both teams tied in offensive boards—an early cause for concern.
Yet, the second half saw a turnaround as A&M finished with a 37-29 rebounding advantage, significantly aided by the fouling out of senior G Bez Mbeng, a three-time Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year.
“I guess some of the balls just went their way,” said Mbeng. “They out-hustled us at times. Credit goes to them.”
Next, the Aggies will focus on their upcoming second-round game against 5-seed Michigan, aiming to reach their first Sweet 16 since 2018 on Saturday.
