Texas Rio Grande Valley @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 4, 2014 ) Texas Rio Grande Valley 46, Texas A&M 63

No. 10 Texas A&M has enjoyed proving its critics wrong early this season. The undefeated Aggies get another chance to show how good they are when they host Texas Rio Grand Valley on Thursday.

"We keep proving everybody wrong, each and every game," Aggies guard Duane Wilson said after Sunday's 75-59 win at then-No. 10 USC. "We've got that chip on our shoulder because every game we're going to everybody thinks were not as good as advertised." The Aggies have a balanced offense but are flourishing on the defensive end. They lead the SEC in rebounds after grabbing 52 boards at USC, have two players with 10 blocks and are holding big-name opponents like West Virginia, Oklahoma State and USC well below their scoring averages. The Vaqueros, meanwhile, are allowing 85.0 points during a three-game losing streak.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY (3-5): Senior guard Nick Dixon leads the Vaqueros with 22.4 points but had his string of three 20-point performances snapped during Tuesday's 95-64 loss at SMU. Sophomore guard Xavier McDaniel chips in 12 points with a team-best 7.3 rebounds and 10 total blocks. Senior forward Mike Hoffman had a season-high 18 points off the bench at SMU while the Vaqueros hit 12-of-26 3-pointers against the Mustangs.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (6-0): Junior forward D.J. Hogg leads five Aggies in double figures with 16.8 points and has nine blocks and nine steals on the year. Junior center Tyler Davis adds 13.7 points on 61.8 percent shooting and 8.2 rebounds while Robert Williams (10.0 points on 67.9 percent shooting) leads the team with 9.0 boards. Starting guards Admon Gilder and Wilson add 12.3 and 11.7 points, respectively, while combining for 8.5 assists.

TIP-INS

1. The Aggies' 6-0 record ties the best start in coach Billy Kennedy's seven years at Texas A&M.

2. Texas A&M held West Virginia (87.9 scoring average this year), Oklahoma State (80.2) and USC (79.8) to at least 20 points below their averages.

3. Only one opponent - Penn State - has scored more than 65 points against the Aggies.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 98, Texas Rio Grande Valley 61