Balanced Texas A&M Uses Hot 2nd Half to Beat Providence in 2018 NCAA Tournament

Admon Gilder scored 18 points and Robert Williams and Tyler Davis both posted double-doubles as the Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Providence Friars 73-69 in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on Friday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rodney Bullock had 22 points for the Friars, and Alpha Diallo added 21 points and seven boards.

The key to the game was the Aggies' dominance on the glass. Of note, Williams (13 points, 14 rebounds) and Davis (14 points, 15 rebounds) grabbed more boards than the entire Providence team combined (29-26).

Williams also produced what is the candidate for the No. 1 dunk of the tournament, as he punctuated the Aggies' victory with a powerful windmill slam:

Dan Wolken of USA Today also noted that Williams was even considering going through his legs on that dunk but decided against it:

A late second-half Texas A&M run proved to be the turning point in the Aggies' victory. After Providence guard Kyron Cartwright scored to tie the game at 50 with 9:07 remaining, Texas A&M went on a 15-4 run to give itself a 65-54 advantage at the 2:06 mark. Gilder, Davis and Williams scored all of the Aggies' points during that span.

Providence wouldn't go away without a fight, however, and a Diallo layup cut the lead to six. However, Texas A&M did enough down the stretch to maintain its lead.

Both teams struggled in the beginning. Texas A&M did not score until six minutes and 33 seconds into the game, as the Aggies went 0-of-10 from the field and committed four turnovers during that stretch.

Providence didn't fare much better, though, scoring just six points in that stretch. A quick 9-3 Aggies run tied the game.

The Aggies led 28-27 at the break thanks in part to nine points from Gilder, who head coach Billy Kennedy praised in his postgame press conference per TexAgs.com:

For Providence, Diallo nearly had a double-double in the first half, posting nine points and seven rebounds.

Texas A&M will face the winner of North Carolina vs. Lipscomb in the second round on Sunday. Providence finished its season with a 21-14 record.