Texas A&M freshmen hoopsters Dash Harris and David Loubeau were happy to get home for a little Christmas break. Now they are ready to enjoy the remainder of the college basketball season.

And by enjoy, the two mean to keep improving as they have over the opening third of their first season of college ball.

"I went home [Los Angeles] for three or four days. It was great to see my family and be around them for the holiday," Harris said. "I'm definitely refreshed, rejuvenated. It's been a big transition when you are a freshman ... everything can get better, a whole lot better."

The two highly touted freshmen haven't put any committee that selects an All-American freshmen team on alert with their play in the first 11 games, but they have shown why A&M coach Mark Turgeon was so high on them and why he figured on the two playing key roles immediately for the Aggies.

"I think Dash is even better defensively than I thought he was going to be. He is such a good defender for us he's going to be a key for us throughout the Big 12," Turgeon said. "Lately, Loubeau has really helped us. We knew Loubeau was a good scorer and his scoring is just going to get better as the season goes on when he feels more comfortable."

Turgeon is also pleased with the rebounding numbers (49) the 6-foot-9 Loubeau has put up in his limited minutes (165).

Loubeau was also happy to have a few days off back in Miami, where he starred for Westlake Prep.

"It was good to go home, good to see my mom for a little while," said Loubeau. "The way I've played so far, I say is good, but to me there is more to come and it's just going to get better and better."

For Loubeau that means improving on defense so he can be on the floor more to show off his offensive skills. Loubeau, who once scored 55 points in a high school game, is shooting 54 percent from the field while averaging 6.2 points per game for the 10-1 Aggies.

"I've been told all my life that defense is just that or just this and I'd blow it off a lot of times. Now, it really caught up with me," Loubeau said. "I realize if my defense isn't on I can't shine at the offensive end."

Turgeon said even though Loubeau's defensive grades had gone up and down, he had been improving consistently as the break approached.

Harris has had to hang his hat on his defense. The 6-1 point guard has struggled offensively, but his leadership skills and his ability to play man-to-man defense keep him in the rotation while Turgeon waits on the offense he's sure will come, "hopefully this year."

Time is a crucial commodity for the freshmen, who have had to make the adjustment of playing nearly the entire game in high school to going in and out for short stretches at A&M. Loubeau averages 15 minutes a game and Harris 11.5.

Less playing time can lead to pressing when on the court, but Turgeon believes the two have handled the adjustment fairly well.

"Loubeau usually shoots it when he catches it whether he's getting 5 minutes or 40 minutes. Actually, he's been a better passer, but he's always trying to score the ball, he's a natural scorer," Turgeon said. "I do think Dash is trying to condense too much into his minutes ... but he's getting better about it."

Harris, who spells junior Donald Sloan, has struggled with his shooting (3 for 21). He averages 1.5 assists per game.

"My urgency is just to get better and just to do what coach wants me to do, get adjusted to his system," Harris said of trying to impress during the time he does get on the floor. "I'm starting to find my role on the team. Our team is getting a lot better at getting up and down the floor and I think that is what coach wants me to do."

With four juniors and a senior starting, minutes are at a premium. The two freshmen roommates and Turgeon are hoping the next four games, starting with Sam Houston State (5-5) on Sunday night at Reed Arena, will lead to a defined role and more confidence once Big 12 play begins Jan. 10 at Oklahoma State.

"Any type of experience we can get them between now and then would be huge," Turgeon said. "We're counting on both of them not only in the next four games but once we get to league."

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NOTES -- The Aggies practiced on Christmas Day to get ready for Sam Houston State and the remainder of their schedule. "It's tough, a tough gig. I didn't want to do it," Turgeon said. "Obviously it was just a short one and we did it late at night so the guys could have some of the day at home with their families. They had a good break [four days]. Hopefully we'll be in good enough shape when we tip off [Sunday] night. ... Sunday's game will be the 81st between A&M and SHSU, but the first at Reed Arena. ... Sam Houston coach Bob Marlin is the second winningest coach in Southland Conference history with 187 victories in 11 seasons.

Texas A&M Basketball

Sunday's game: Sam Houston State (5-5) at Texas A&M (10-1), 7 p.m.

TV/Radio: FSN, Ch. 25/WTAW, 1620 AM

Tickets: All levels are half-price

TEXAS A&M (10-1)

NAMEPOS.HTCL.PPGRPG

Donald SloanG6-3jr.12.4*3.8

Derrick RolandG6-4jr.5.02.1

Josh CarterF6-7sr.14.84.2

Bryan DavisF6-9jr.10.86.9

Chinemelu ElonuC6-10jr.8.06.3

SAM HOUSTON (5-5)

Corey AllmondG6-1jr.14.5*3.0

Ashton MitchellG5-11jr.12.6*7.8

DeLuis RamirezG6-4sr.11.07.2

Preston BrownF6-6jr.9.15.3

Barkley FalknerC6-8sr.6.05.9