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NCAA Basketball: Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State rise in latest top 25 power rankings

Auburn Tigers guard Miles Kelly (13) takes a jump shot as Auburn Tigers take on Purdue Boilermakers at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. Auburn Tigers lead Purdue Boilermakers 41-26 at halftime.
Auburn Tigers guard Miles Kelly (13) takes a jump shot as Auburn Tigers take on Purdue Boilermakers at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. Auburn Tigers lead Purdue Boilermakers 41-26 at halftime. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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13. Texas A&M (10-2)

The story hasn’t changed too much for a Texas A&M team that has the talent to win big games, and we’ve seen it in recent wins over Creighton, Purdue, and Texas Tech. These Aggies dropped a couple games earlier in the season but at full strength can hang with anyone in the nation. Last weekend’s win against the Boilermakers in Indianapolis is proof of that and they kept that train rolling this week.

Comparatively, this week didn’t really test the Aggies, as they got a 77-45 home win over Houston Christian on Friday night. A team that has struggled with outside shooting hit enough shots to take care of business. Hayden Hefner actually led the charge with 19 points while Manny Obaseki added 13 points in a game played without star Wade Taylor IV.

A nagging groin injury kept Taylor out of Friday’s win but it shouldn’t derail Texas A&M’s long-term plans this season. The Aggies have significant talent and have proven that they can win important games, even away from home, though we’ll have to see if that inconsistent shooting bites them in SEC play. For now they’ll take it easy during a Christmas break before seeing Abilene Christian next Saturday for one last nonconference matchup.