No. 12 Texas A&M beats Houston Christian 77-45

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Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) drives the baseline against Houston Christian guard Bryson Dawkins (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) goes to the basket past Houston Christian guard Bryson Dawkins (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Texas A&M guard Manny Obaseki (35) grabs a rebound as Houston Christian forward Peyton Rogers (15) is fouled by Texas A&M guard Hayden Hefner (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Texas A&M forward Solomon Washington (9) passes around Houston Christian guard Elijah Brooks (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Houston Christian forward Peyton Rogers (15) knocks a rebound away from Texas A&M forward Solomon Washington (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) looks to shoot past Houston Christian forward Trent Johnson (8) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Houston Christian head coach Craig Doty calls out a play to his defense against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams reacts as he watches his defense against Houston Christian during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Houston Christian guard D’Aundre Samuels (5) shoots a three point shot against Texas A&M guard CJ Wilcher (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Texas A&M forward Pharrel Payne (21) beats Houston Christian forward Porter Bazil (7) to a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Houston Christian guard Pierce Bazil (23) shoots a three point basket over Texas A&M guard CJ Wilcher (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Texas A&M forward Pharrel Payne (21) makes a layup past Houston Christian forward Peyton Rogers (15) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Houston Christian forward Trent Johnson (8) backs down Texas A&M forward Henry Coleman III (15) while trying to score during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Hayden Hefner had 19 points and fellow guard Manny Obaseki scored 13 as No. 12 Texas A&M defeated Houston Christian 77-45 on Friday.

The Aggies (10-2) built a double-digit lead with 6:50 remaining in the first half on a tip-in by Jaelyn Lee and never glanced back. They shot 47% from the field.

Houston Christian shot a season-worst 2 of 20 from the 3-point line. D’Aundre Samuels led the Huskies (4-8) with 12 points, their only player in double digits.

The Aggies played without star guard Wade Taylor IV, who missed the contest with a minor injury and is expected back soon.

Takeaways

Texas A&M: This is the kind of game that has given the Aggies fits in the past, evidenced by a 67-62 home loss to Wofford two years ago. But this team continues to take care of business.

Houston Christian: The Huskies’ seven previous games all had been decided by seven points or less. This 32-point loss should help toughen the Huskies for the heart of Southland play, which cranks up in earnest on Jan. 4 at Lamar.

Key moment

Nearly three minutes into the second half, Hefner collected a steal, dribbled the length of the court, shrugged off a defender with a fake pass and finished with a slam dunk in lifting the Aggies to an insurmountable 41-23 lead. Texas A&M had only led by 12 points two minutes earlier.

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Key stat

The larger, hustling Aggies overwhelmed the Huskies down low, in more than doubling up the visitors in rebounding at 52-25.

Up next

The Aggies will have a few days to enjoy the holidays before hosting Abilene Christian on Dec. 28. The Huskies stay on the road and visit North Texas on Sunday.

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