Pepperdine @ Texas A&M preview

Texas A&M already has a trophy from the Progressive Legends Classic but will close out the tournament when it hosts Pepperdine on Friday. The 19th-ranked Aggies beat Oklahoma State and Penn State in New York to win the championship round, but Friday's game is part of the regional action.

The Aggies have shown off their depth during their early-season surge and have five players averaging double figures. "We're deep. We're talented. We can make special plays," Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said Tuesday. "We have a deep team. We have alot of guys. We have a lot of weapons." Sophomore Robert Williams has recorded double-doubles in both of his games and graduate transfer Duane Wilson has been manning the point until freshman guard JJ Caldwell returns from a five-game suspension. Freshman guard Colbey Ross has taken on a big role for the Waves, recording back-to-back 20-point games.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT PEPPERDINE (2-3): Ross leads the Waves with 14.8 points and 5.2 assists per outing after leading Tuesday's comeback against Oral Roberts with 21 points. Sophomore forward Kameron Edwards adds 14.2 points and freshman Trae Berhow -- the only Pepperdine to score in double figures in each game -- chips in 12.2 and team-high 6.8 rebounds. The Waves don't have a lot of size -- 6-9 senior Matthew Atewe is their biggest regular -- but they are plus-8.8 in rebounding and have outscored opponents by 40 points in the paint.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (4-0): D.J. Hogg leads the Aggies with 17 points and is one of four starters shooting better than 50 percent from the field. Admon Gilder (15.0 points), Tyler Davis (14.0 points) and Wilson (10.5 points) also average double figures for an squad averaging 85.5 points. Williams was named the tournament MVP after recording 32 points, 21 rebounds, four steals and three blocks off the bench in his first two games.

TIP-INS

1. The teams played two common foes through the Progressive Legends Classic. The Aggies beat UC Santa Barbara and Oklahoma State by a combined 36 points while the Waves lost to both by a combined 39 points.

2. Wilson, who averaged 2.1 assists in three years at Marquette, has 18 assists, 11 turnovers and four steals in four starts.

3. Pepperdine hasn't beaten a ranked opponent on the road since November 2001 against UCLA.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 92, Pepperdine 68