Texas A&M's inability to finish has in all likelihood led to the end of its NCAA Tournament run.
After a 20-year absence, the Aggie men had been a part of arguably the most exciting few weeks in college athletics for three straight seasons.
If they are to make it four, A&M (17-8, 3-7 Big 12) will have to finish out the remainder of its schedule in complete contrast to how its played down the stretch of their last few games.
The Aggies, with a little good fortune, could have gone 3-0 over the past two weeks against Oklahoma, Kansas State and Baylor. A 2-1 mark and they would have had a little house money left, and a 1-2 record would have kept them in the conversation.
Instead, A&M came home Saturday from Waco 0-3.
Those three losses have put the Aggies at 3-7 in the Big 12. With the front-heavy schedule, many expected the Aggies to be in the middle of the pack at this time.
The problem is not many figured the Aggies to lose at home to Kansas State, or to be in ninth place with four road and two home games remaining -- including Texas on Monday at Reed Arena -- in which they will be underdogs.
All of the above magnifies what has taken place in the final minutes of the past three games. A&M is not getting stops and is rarely making shots when the game is on the line in the final moments.
Against Baylor, a 72-68 loss, the Bears made their final two shots from the field while A&M was 1 of 3. In the loss to Kansas State, the Wildcats made their final two shots from the floor while A&M went 1 of 4, all 3-point attempts.
In those two games, the Aggies trailed for a majority of the 40 minutes and had to battle to have the opportunity to win it at the end. That can take its toll, but teams that want to go to the Big Dance need to find a way to do more than just get back in the game.
At No. 2 Oklahoma the Aggies went stone cold in the final 6 minutes, 25 seconds, missing all nine shots from the floor while OU converted on its final two attempts and four of it last five to come from nine down and win 77-71.
Josh Carter had perhaps two of his best all-around games of the season in the past week, leading the team with 20 and 14 points. He made all six of his free throws and also averaged six rebounds and four assists per game over that stretch.
The only thing missing from those lines is the big basket at the end.
Carter had a good look with 2:24 to go against Baylor that would have pulled A&M to within one. He took the shot from just in front of the Aggie bench, which stood as one when he launched it. They were back in their seats nearly as quickly as the ball caromed off the rim.
Carter also missed two 3s after A&M closed the gap to one against KSU. Jacob Pullen and Fred Brown swished their long-range shots, albeit with better looks at the basket than the Aggie senior had.
All this is not news to Carter.
"We just have to learn how to finish games," Carter said after the Baylor loss. "The last couple of games have come down to the wire and we just haven't found a way to finish them out."
Offensive rebounding and Carter's three consecutive 3s had the-now 25-1 Sooners on the ropes in Norman. Donald Sloan, someone who wants the ball at the end, was off on his final five attempts and Carter's last three shots missed the target.
Sloan and Carter did settle for jumpers at times but were also victimized by Juan Pattillo blocks when they drove hard to the basket.
There have been other telling moments that have kept the Aggies out of the win column.
Against KSU, the Aggies led six times in the second half only to have the Wildcats go back up (five times) or tie the game on their very next possession.
In the Baylor game, the Bears two best big men combined to play only 6 minutes in the first half, yet the Aggies could not take advantage and trailed by 12 points at halftime.
The Aggies left Waco distraught, but they let those that would listen know the Tournament is still their goal.
It's still conceivable. But with no room for error, the Tournament effectively begins against Texas on Monday.
Richard Croome's e-mail address is richard.croome@theeagle.com.
TEXAS A&M BASKETBALL
Saturday's Game: Texas A&M (17-8, 3-7) vs. Texas (17-7, 6-4), 8 p.m., at Reed Arena.
Radio/TV: WTAW, 1620 AM/ESPN, Ch. 27
TEXAS A&M (17-8, 3-7)
NAMEPOS.HTCL.PPGRPG
Donald SloanG6-3jr.11.4*3.1
Derrick RolandG6-4jr.5.72.7
Josh CarterF6-7sr.13.34.2
Bryan DavisF6-9jr.10.66.2
Chinemelu ElonuC6-10jr.9.87.4
TEXAS (17-7, 6-4)
A.J. AbramsG5-11sr.17.32.2
Justin MasonG6-2jr.6.9*4.8
Damion JamesF6-7jr.15.58.9
Gary JohnsonF6-6soph.11.25.9
Dogus Balbay G6-0fr.2.32.5
*assists per game