The Battalion - January 30, 2025

SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2025 STUDENT MEDIA THEBATT.COM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30

OPINION Wondering what to watch?

Here are one opinion writer’s top movies of 2024 A4

@THEBATTONLINE

SPORTS With NCAA Tournament hopes fading, how will women’s basketball finish? B3

SILVER TAPS

KATIE DEANNA HUNTZINGER MATTHEW DAVID ELMER ETHAN WALKER KANTHACK

AggieCon is back in College Station As Hurricane Harry’s falls, new construction arises Residents discuss historic bar district development Student-run convention bar strip along Northgate. pedestrian safety. The city has yet

By Ayla Francis

By Dafne Martinez “As of now, we’ve not heard of to finalize any concrete plans, but returns for its 54th News Reporter News Reporter any other businesses or property the meeting marked the first step in With the closure of Hurricane owners looking to close their doors The Northgate Small Area Plan gathering public input to guide fuiteration at the MSC Harry’s, Aggies have voiced con- to sell to a high-rise development,” kickoff event brought together an ture decisions.

By Mollie Blake Life & Arts Writer Fandoms of all kinds will converge at Texas A&M on Feb. 1-2 in the Memorial Student Center for AggieCon 54, the country’s oldest student-run pop culture convention.

For over five decades, AggieCon has brought together fans of anime, tabletop games, fan art, cosplay and more to foster a sense of community among enthusiasts.

Created in 1969, AggieCon became the first student-led convention of its kind, giving rise to Cepheid Variable, a student organization championing geek culture in all its forms. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, exciting tournaments and long-standing traditions, the event has remained beloved for fans, both local and afar.

This year’s theme, “Going Rogue,” highlights a dynamic program of activities and entertainment.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet celebrated voice actors Emi Lo, Dani Chambers, Barry Yandell and Wendy Powell, all of whom will host panels and autographing sessions. Gaming enthusiasts can participate in competitive tournaments for “Magic: The Gathering” and “Super Smash Bros.” while cosplayers can showcase their creativity in a contest hosted by A&M’s Cosplay Club.

The vendor hall will be a hub for collectors and shoppers, offering an eclectic mix of merchandise, artwork and unique finds in the Dealer’s room and Artist Alley.

Additionally, the convention will feature a variety of panels and live performances covering topics such as literature, graphic arts and other aspects of fan culture.

AggieCon is not only about entertainment, it also upholds a strong tradition of giving back to the community. This year’s charity auction will benefit Scotty’s House, a local child advocacy center, allowing attendees to support a meaningful cause while enjoying the convention.

Students from any college or high school and A&M staff enjoy discounted rates with a valid ID, and children under five years old can attend for free.

AggieCon 54 is sponsored by Clockwork Games & Events and The GoodBull Fund, whose support ensures the unforgettable experience continues. For tickets, schedules and additional information, visit aggiecon.net.

cern over the future of the Northgate entertainment district.

Legacy Point, the property surrounding Harry’s along University Drive and College Avenue, faces complete redevelopment in favor of student housing, shopping and dining.

Beginning with the construction of The Stack in 2013, these changes are part of a long-standing revamp plan by LV Collective and Culpepper Realty with municipal support. The city of College Station’s director of planning and development services, Anthony Armstrong, said Harry’s will be replaced with mixed-use student living.

“It’s about seven stories of a mixed-use building,” Armstrong said. “We’ll have a little over 900 beds and then some commercial spaces on the bottom floor. There’ll probably be 12 to 18 months of construction, maybe a little longer.”

Armstrong said the city will continue development along Northgate with multiple projects. Three housing complexes are currently under construction, with four more in the permitting process.

However, with so many changes underway at once, students have expressed distress over rearrangements of their beloved entertainment district. A recent petition has gained momentum appealing to the city to intervene with redevelopment.

“I think that a big misconception, maybe, is that the city is out here trying to shut down things like Harry’s, and that’s just not accurate,” Armstrong said. “The Culpepper family — who’s owned this property for a very long time — they’re the ones who make the decisions.”

Armstrong emphasized the city’s support of Culpepper Realty’s redevelopment plans and the development’s benefit to student life.

Together, they hope to assuage concern over potentially losing the

Armstrong said.

Culpepper Realty said the plans had the students’ best interests at heart and would not exclude entertainment from student life. Some examples include a future café called Daydreamer, a wellness lounge and even a resort-style pool complete

with a jumbotron.

“The Legacy Point development is significant to us because it’s here in College Station, a place our family has called home for five generations,” a recent news release from Culpepper Realty director of investments and development John Culpepper reads.“With deep roots in this community and its development, the project is named with intention — to honor that legacy and create something meaningful for our family and the community.”

eager crowd of Aggies and community members to discuss the future of the area on Tuesday afternoon.

Hosted at College Station City Hall, the event provided a platform for residents to ask questions, voice concerns and offer feedback on potential developments in Northgate, the city’s

Anthony Armstrong ‘15, the city’s director of planning and developing services, outlined the broad scope of the discussion and clarified that this was just the beginning of a much larger conversation.

Future meetings will be taking place bi-weekly to focus on issues such as micromobility, land use, the entertainment district and housing.

“This meeting today is about Northgate as a whole — Polo Road, Texas Avenue, University Drive and even the City of Bryan,” Armstrong said. “ … The purpose of this agenda is to go through the process and narrow in on different areas of Northgate through a series of individual meetings.”

During the meeting, the City Council presented several potential plans for the area, including proposals to improve pedestrian crossings and address congestion caused by the dense infrastructure of high-rise buildings. A key focus was the possibility of adding underpass walkways and an overhead bridge to enhance pedestrian safety in high-traffic areas.

“The cost of the improvement will be the greatest challenge,” Aaron Collins ‘96 said. “If the development of these areas is executed successfully, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

While the area is widely known for its entertainment venues, it also includes Hensel Park, student apartments and Century Square — places many attendees were passionate about protecting. The addition of the potential changes would likely limit accessibility to these areas and Graphic by Pranay Dhoopar — THE BATTALION historic bar divert the resources district that away from maintaining spans approxithese areas. mately 150 acres from University “I am also worried about the Drive to the entrance of Bryan. quality of some of the older buildNorthgate is an influential part ings. What would all the construcof College Station’s culture, being tion do to them?” Sue Owens ‘94 the main source of entertainment asked. the city has to offer. As such, the Attendees emphasized the impurpose of this meeting was not to portance of conserving Northgate erase Northgate, but to find a bal- because it holds a unique signifianced solution to the challenges the cance to College Station. area faces, such as congestion and NORTHGATE ON A3

A free look into freestyle

A&M’s freestyle dance group brings fearless creativity and community to Aggieland campus

By Aayan Adnan Life & Arts Writer

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Electrical engineering junior Punish Kapoor, secretary of Freestyle Underground Street Dancers, breakdances during a weekly Freestyle Friday meet at the Polo Road Rec Center lobby on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.

Aggies are known for passionate expression — and that’s not exclusive to campus traditions and athletic events. One student organization brings that same zeal to campus through their own freestyle dancing: Texas A&M’s Freestyle Underground Street Dancing, or FUSD. “[The organization is] a place people can go to discover and learn dance in an accepting and inviting environment,” ecology and conservation biology senior and FUSD president Duncan Vick said.

FUSD is an enthusiastic group of breakers, hip-hoppers and freestylers that host free weekly dance classes and vibrant dance-off sessions. They’re the mysterious group

of dancers that pop up at Sbisa Dining Hall and the first floor of the Polo Road Rec Center every Friday with a wild, free-to-join dance ring.

FUSD also does frequent performances like the Taiwanese American Student Association Night market events and represents A&M at intercollegiate dance competitions.

Though the thought of dancing in front of crowds and pushing freestyle creativity to its limit may intimidate many, public health junior and FUSD vice president Albert Yu said he enjoys performing at public events such as the TASA Night market.

“We had prepared hard for the performance,” Yu said. “ … Being able to go onstage and see our friends cheering and supporting us was a feeling I will never forget.”

Josh Yan ‘24 said he enjoyed the opportunity to compete in contests like the Intercollegiate Freestyle Battle.

“We prepared for this battle for months in advance,” Yan said. “ …

And when the battle came, I think we were able to make a name for ourselves and represented to the

fullest on the floor against the other schools.”

Yan said the experience was particularly special because FUSD was the only student-run group competing.

Other collegiate teams — such as the University of Houston, Texas State and Texas Tech — all had mentors and coaches attending. Yan said the ardent demeanor of FUSD is what led them to outshine their competitors.

“It was a proud moment for me seeing our hard work come to fruition,” Yan said. “Not just what we put in for the battle but all the hours over the years that led up to this point.”

Evidently, FUSD has no trouble maintaining the fearless and hardworking disposition for which Aggies are known.

In addition to getting to throwdown with elite performances, the organization also brings its members plenty of camaraderie. “[It was the highlight of my week] whenever I got a chance to go to practice and continue to grow with everybody,” Yan said.

FREESTYLE ON A3

TRADITIONS

The Battalion | 01.30.25

SILVER TAPS

A2

Ceremony: Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 10:30 p.m. at Academic Plaza.

Warning: There will be gun sounds at the ceremony. Please remember to remain quiet upon arrival.

March 6, 1998 – September 30, 2024

Katie Deanna Huntzinger

A

vibrant Aggie with an ardent passion for animals

From Arizona to College Station,Katie Deanna Huntzinger’s love for animals and those around her spanned far and wide. An aspiring veterinarian, her interest in serving and giving back began as a child. After her mother signed her up for trail riding lessons one summer, her passion only grew.

“She just automatically fell in love with that,” her father, Mark Huntzinger, said. “It was about the second weekend of the summer camp, the owner of this ranch pulled me aside. She said, ‘Mark, I think you’ve got problems because I only have to tell Katie something once or show her something once, like, how to saddle a horse, how to do a cinch, and I never had to show her again.’ You know, and she just took to it like a duck to water.”

Katie immersed herself in the veterinarian life soon after. She worked hard, volunteered and was

an undergraduate researcher and veterinary care student volunteer for the Wild Horse Inmate Program for several years before eventually graduating magna cum laude from the University of Arizona with a veterinary science degree and minor in biochemistry.

She headed east for her doctorate and knew she wanted to be an Aggie after visiting College Station.

In her third year at A&M, Katie was studying veterinary medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

With her family back in Arizona, their road trips together between College Station and Tucson were relished.

“We just had such a wonderful time,” Mark said. “We could talk for four or five hours straight, or we could go four or five hours straight without saying a word. It’s just being with her. Because we had such a tight bond.”

A voracious reader and loving dog mom to a mini Australian Shepherd, Cheyenne, Katie was humorous, caring and compassionate. She enjoyed family time and music ranging from the classic rock introduced to her by her parents to her own everyday tunes. She also loved fast cars, speedboats and horsepower — on and off land.

“She loved spending time on the water, going on vacations with us because she’s our only daughter,” Mark said. “We got a late start. I was 45, and her mom was 42 when she was born. So she was a miracle to begin with.”

Although she was the first Aggie in her family, Mark said they all became Aggies the day she was accepted. They’ve had an A&M flag flying in the yard since day one, and he said it’s never coming down.

Katie’s parents will soon be creating a scholarship in her name

through the veterinary medicine college with a focus on mental health and suicide awareness.

“People need to know, especially you college students,” Mark said. “Suicide is such a painful, permanent solution to a very temporary problem. If you

need help, get help.”

Mark says there’s always help out there and to please reach out if you need it. For the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 998.

“She had achieved so much and touched so many lives,” Mark said.

May 9, 2000 – December 22, 2024

Matthew David Elmer

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n Aggie who loved his family, friends to the moon and back

Matthew David Elmer was raised in Pleasanton, Texas, where he was active in tennis, drumline and soccer throughout his time in high school before graduating as the valedictorian of his class.

At Texas A&M, he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in aerospace engineering and a minor in computer science as a Brown Foundation scholar. Matthew was a second-year master’s student in the Prometheus lab, which focuses

on spacecraft navigation.

Matthew’s mother, Laura Elmer, said he was determined to achieve his dreams and always interested in learning how things worked.

“He was adventurous,” Laura said. “He had so many interests growing up … he was in so many different activities and so, so successful. He was a young man who was always kind and who would always help his friends out.”

Matthew was involved in

research with manned spaceflight and helped develop the software necessary for landing astronauts on the moon. He worked with CACI in Houston for two summers and interned at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

“He was always determined from the time he was young, launching rockets with his brothers and his dad, that that’s what he wanted to do,” Laura said.

Matthew was devoted to his family and friends and exemplified all Aggie Core Values, his mother said. His generosity and compassion were evident through his volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics and Miracle League baseball.

He individually designed and 3-D printed letters of the alphabet and numbers for his younger brother who has a cortical visual impairment, or CVI, to use on a lightbox as no appropriate ones were commercially available.

“His teachers respected him, he had respect for other people,” Laura said. “Certainly there’s selfless service.”

Matthew’s older sister, Sarah Elmer, MD ‘19, ‘23, saw a side of Matthew that flourished outside of academics. He loved cooking,

hot sauce and working on his car, which she said led to moments of awe from their extended family.

“He was literally one of the smartest people I’ve ever met,” Sarah said. “That kid loved to learn … one of his favorite things to do outside of school was cars. … One Thanksgiving, after a little while, people were like, ‘Where’s Matthew?’ And they peeked their heads outside and he’s, hood open, on his car doing some maintenance.”

Matthew interned with Odyssey Space Research and was interested in supporting the Artemis program within NASA. As an aerospace engineer, Matthew contributed to the software used today in the Artemis II and Artemis III projects.

“His yearning for knowledge and commitment to doing things right — and for the right reasons — was inspirational and infectious,” Gary Turner, Ph.D., with Odyssey Space Research, wrote about Matthew. “His presence made everyone around him a better engineer. Matt is the only intern to have hacked NASA’s Flight Sciences Lab (inadvertently). No damage was done, but it demonstrated that his coding abilities were truly

exceptional.”

Matthew’s dedication to his work allowed him to achieve a legacy in space exploration at Odyssey Space Research.

“I remember the whiteboards filled with diagrams and equations as Matt and I hammered out the details of the foundational architecture of the new system over the first 2-3 weeks of his internship,” Turner wrote. “As the initial author of so much foundational code, his name will remain attached to tools that will, in all likelihood, still be in use long after we have landed the next generation on the surface of the moon.”

His sister, Katie Franklin ‘14, gave Matthew’s eulogy at his celebration of life service.

“When you’re born a dreamer, with high hopes and even higher expectations for yourself, it can be really difficult to see in yourself what is clear to everyone around you,” Franklin said. “After situations like this, people always ask the family,‘What do you need?’ or ‘What can I do to help?’ My answer to that: love your people.

And when you see the good in someone, speak it. When you see good in someone, speak it, because people need to hear those words.”

June 12, 2003 – October 31, 2024

W

Ethan Walker Kanthack

itty humor with a heart of gold

At 21 years old, Ethan Walker Kanthack passed away from a rare cancer known as Synovial Sarcoma.

However, the ending of his story does not define him. Ethan was known by all as a humorous individual that brought laughter and joy into every room he entered. Born in Katy, Texas, Ethan was raised by Jason and Kristen Kanthack and grew up with his two sisters, Ava and Kara Kanthack.

“You know, he could cook and clean and do laundry at a young age,” Kristen said. “He loves sports.

You know, he’s your typical Aggie.

Yeah, but he was very, very funny.

I mean, he would crack me up all day long.”

An Aggie through and through, Ethan encapsulated every core value. With the rare ability to balance humor and love, he was able to spread joy to others while not taking life too seriously. This bliss was absolutely infectious to everyone lucky enough to be in his presence.

“He had the perfect smile and the perfect sense of humor to match it,” Ethan’s sister, Kara, said.

“My favorite memories with him was just talking to him. Sitting at

the dinner table or going on a car ride to get ice cream. The conversations we would have just made my entire day so much better even if it was just a short 30-second conversation. No matter how unfunny the joke was to you, if you saw him laughing you would laugh, too.”

Ethan’s other sister, Ava, is moved by this same happiness that exuded from him.

Even though she reported to oftentimes be the butt of the joke, she admitted that no one could help but laugh whenever Ethan did.

“I remember that every time we were together he would make me laugh so hard I would cry and my face would turn red,” Ava said. “That’s what makes Ethan so special. He could make fun of you directly to your face, and you couldn’t help but laugh hysterically.”

When Ethan wasn’t busy making people laugh, he was probably playing video games or sports with his family and friends.

In fact, some of his father, Jason’s, favorite memories revolve around the simple tossing and catching of a ball in the backyard. “[My] favorite memories are

him sleeping on my chest as a baby while mom was at work,” Jason said. “He would sleep for hours on me. And all the times we played baseball, football and volleyball in the backyard. Lastly, when we cried together towards the end of his life and he told me I was a good dad. “ When asked to describe Ethan in three words — which she said was challenging to do for a person as colorful as him — Kristen used the words funny, loving and perfect.

The qualities of all three of the words are proven through a sentimental story that perfectly represents who Ethan was.

“His sister, Ava, who’s here right now, she’s valedictorian for senior year,” Kristen said. “He would make fun of her daily about how much she worked, how much she was studying ... and he would just be so mean to her, saying, ‘You know, all you need is a 90.’ And ‘you know, it doesn’t matter that much’. About a month before he passed, we found out, you know, he wasn’t going to survive. We were in the hospital and I woke up because I could hear him crying, and I went to him, and he said he just wants to be there for Ava’s graduation because she worked so hard, he wants to see her give

a speech. So even though he was mean and joking with her, deep down, he loved her so much.”

Ethan’s concern for his sister shows just how selfless and loving he was. Despite all of the jokes and jabs, everyone Ethan knows can categorize him as a loving son, brother and friend.

Through his responsibility, compassion and humor, despite

harsh circumstances, Ethan remained a bright light until the very end.

“He had the smile that would light up a room,” Kara said. “No matter how sad you’re feeling that day or how angry you are. He would find a way to make you smile, and seeing him smile back would make you smile just a little bit bigger.”

The Battalion | 01.30.25

FREESTYLE CONTINUED “We were able to bond over post-practice food runs, experienced the wider dance community by attending trips to events all over the state and show our own growth via performances and battles.”

Vick personally enjoys the bonding power of FUSD’s communal food runs after their weekly practices.

“Sitting down with a burger or taco, nursing our bruises and sore muscles while we chat about whatever’s been going on in our lives is an atmosphere I’ve never felt more connected and belonging in,” Vick said.

FUSD not only instills a strong sense of community in its members, but also provides them with an unbreakable sense of confidence, electrical engineering junior Puneesh Kapoor said.

“I think just going and practicing in public and doing things that people would normally consider a little odd, weird or different, and just willing to be able to do it over and over again and perform [is good],” Kapoor said. “It makes you feel like, ‘Oh, if I can do this, really, other

“

stuff does not matter.’”

Yu emphasized the impact the communal aspect has had on him personally.

“Being able to meet new people and make new friends helped boost my confidence a lot,” Yu said. “ …

When you freestyle, there really is no messing up or making mistakes.”

Beyond the limelight of their talented presence and tight-knit circle, FUSD emphasizes their focus on being a catalyst for newcomers to fall in love with freestyle. Although they have weekly dance-offs and frequent public performances, the group maintains a no-audition policy, and anyone is free to join and learn with them.

“I know freestyle dance can be intimidating, but just be willing to open your mind and try something new,” Yan said. “ … You’ll be able to do things you never imagined before and meet some amazing people along the way.”

Vick said freestyle is open to anyone, no matter the circumstances.

“There are literally breakers with no legs,” Vick said. “ … Wherever you are when you start, we’ll make sure you improve.”

CAMPUS

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I know freestyle dance can be intimidating, but just be willing to open your mind and try something new.

Albert Yu FUSD Vice President

“

Above: Electrical engineering junior Punish Kapoor, the secretary of Freestyle Underground Street Dancers, leans off a wall as a janitor passes by during a weekly Freestyle Underground Street Dancers “Freestyle Friday” meet. Below: Ecology & conservation biology senior Duncan Vick, the president of Freestyle Underground Street Dancers, connects his phone to a bluetooth speaker during a weekly “Freestyle Friday” meet.

Photos by Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

NORTHGATE CONTINUED “It’s an attraction in a city that doesn’t have many attractions,” Owens said.

Both Collins and Owens agreed, businesses that have been established for decades like Dixie Chicken bring the old folks and the new folks together.

To better understand community concerns, the city council organized an interactive activity in which attendees marked the parts of Northgate they liked, disliked and felt should be changed or improved.

The overwhelming sentiment among participants was a desire to keep the area’s unique character intact.

Owens emphasized the importance of Northgate’s identity.

“College Station is a city without a downtown,” Owens said. “The

“

The purpose of this agenda is to go through the process and narrow in on different areas of Northgate through a series of individual meetings.

Anthony Armstrong College Station Director of Planning and Developing Services

“

Samuel Falade — THE BATTALION

Northgate area is what gives it that atmosphere.”

However, not all feedback was positive.

Some attendees expressed concerns about the quality of the buildings and the lack of space.

Nevertheless, residents of Brazos County expressed their connection to the area’s history. Bob Brick, a College Station resident of 49 years and former city council member, said, “It is important for both old Aggies to return and new Aggies to experience it.”

In his final remarks, Armstrong acknowledged Northgate’s importance from the City’s perspective and emphasized the need for thoughtful planning.

Armstrong said that as the city grows, we have to figure out how we should manage that growth, capitalize on it and ensure it’s handled in the best way possible.

Above: Attendees point at the map of Northgate area during a breakout session in which residents discuss the future of the area at a City Council meeting. Below: College Station residents talk about plans at The College Station Northgate Small Area Plan Public meeting at City Hall.

Jacquelyn Burns — ­ THE BATTALION

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OPINION

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The Battalion | 01.30.25

Best films 2024: Must-sees of cinema

From strippers to war photojournalism, here are some of my faves

By Joshua Abraham Opinion Writer 2024 was a great year for film.

In total, I watched 57 films from this past year; about 108 hours in total. 108 hours that I could’ve probably used studying, but that’s OK. When you watch this many films, it becomes instinctive to see what you like and don’t like.

You then start to rank them, trying to make sense of your feelings towards the movies. Then you go onto Letterboxd and make a list of all these movies and obsess about it for the entire year — if this hasn’t happened to you, it will.

But, now that 2024 is behind us, I’d like to share my favorite films of the past year, and maybe give you some recommendations for your next great watch.

Honorable mentions Not every movie can be the best, but here are some I really liked that just barely missed my list.

“Do Not Expect Too Much From The End Of the World” dir.

Radu Jude “Sometimes I Think About Dying” dir. Rachel Lambert “The Wild Robot” dir. Chris Sanders “Didi” dir. Sean Wang “Nosferatu” dir. Robert Eggers

cause this was a non-stop attack on the viewer. Deeply rooted in Indian history, the film really aims to share with its audience the religious persecution that many Indians have to go through. Patel shows why he’s the one to tell this story through incredibly entertaining fight scenes and mythological storytelling.

8. “A Different Man” dir. Aaron Schimberg Just from the plotline, you can tell this is going to be an absurd film. But, what you don't expect it to be is a character exploration of how broken a man can get when someone who looks like him is doing better and can’t seem to keep up.

Sebastian Stan goes haywire in this film and it’s one you must check out if you’re looking f o r

something offbeat.

7. “I Saw the TV Glow” dir.

Jane Schoenbrun I’m not the target audience for this film. A story about the sadness of the transgender experience is definitely not up my alley. But, what stuck with me was the call to action and what happens if we intrinsically reject that call. Incredible visual style and flair from a visionary director like Schoenbrun.

6. “The Substance” dir.

Coralie Fargeat My favorite horror film of the year. Disgusting, thought-provoking and depressing. Fargeat is a body horror master and she has opened up a new genre for more people to enjoy. Try it at your own discretion.

5. “Sing Sing” dir. Greg Kwedar A beautiful exploration of the human condition and the artistic process. This ensemble of formerly-incarcerated individuals who went through the program that the film depicts is led by a generationally talented Colman Domingo, who is truly a feast for the audience to see. Dripping in empathy and promise for the future of prison reform, it’s a great conver sation

starter for what can be good in our society.

4. “Dune: Part 2” dir. Denis Villeneuve In a year with some pretty good blockbusters like “Deadpool and Wolverine” and “Inside Out 2”, “Dune: Part 2” clears every single one. Villeneuve keeps expanding his scale and I want more of it.

Timothée Chalamet is incredible as Paul Atreides, and I can’t wait for the final part of this trilogy.

3. “Challengers” dir. Luca Guadagnino Tennis threesome anyone? Absolutely electric thanks to the three main actors, this film bounces us between past and present to tell a story of power dynamics and power serves. What an incredible ride that Guadagnino has once again created.

2. “Anora” dir. Sean Baker A stripper, a Russian nepo-baby and a wedding ring. What could go wrong? Anora was one of my favorite movie-going experiences this year, with the audience laughing and then silently contemplating by the end. Baker doesn’t shy away from making the audience think, and his character study of such a relatable person as Anora is easily watchable for many to see.

1. “The Brutalist” dir. Brady Corbet A 3-hour and 35-minute film with a 15-minute intermission is definitely not for the average movie-goer — but this film is essential. The immigrant story is a painful one, something I’ve had to endure and can relate to. Especially in a time in America where the immigrant story is in danger, a film like this is even more needed than ever.

Even though these films might not be for everyone, I ask you to explore. 2024 was a great movie year, and I’m excited to see what 2025 has to give us.

Just don’t give us another "Joker" fiasco.

10. “Civil War” dir. Alex Garland While many groaned about this being military propaganda, I think the opposite. People have clearly forgotten that the message of this film is about war photojournalism, not political division, and why Texas and California are on the same team. Garland is a master at creating suspense, and his use of it in telling the story of a war-torn America is exceptional.

Joshua Abraham is a kinesiology junior and opinion writer for The Battalion.

9. “Monkey Man” dir. Dev Patel The hottest man in the world doing hot things; sign me up! Patel being in the director’s chair needs to happen more often, beIllustration by Chi-Chi Zhang — THE BATTALION

Graduation doesn't have to be scary

Why don't you take the risk on post-grad life?

By Maddie McMurrough Opinion Columnist

We have made it to the beginning of the end, 2025 graduates.

Spring semester has arrived, which means we are five months away from departing Texas A&M forever. Our four years will be summed up in a one-hour ceremony. Hundreds of hours spent studying will result in a neatly-rolled diploma. While most college experiences are coming to an end, the millions of tiny moments spent laughing, crying and loving with your fellow Aggies will continue on into billions and trillions of big moments.

Just because our time as students may be coming to an end doesn’t mean our lives as alumni are going to be any less fulfilling and joyous. Graduation doesn’t mean goodbye, and it most definitely doesn’t have to be scary.

On the first day of senior year, I was filled with immense dread — about my future, about leaving college and saying goodbye to my friends. It felt like I was facing a firing squad called adulthood.

In all of my dramatics, I imagined terrifying scenarios where the world exploded after walking the graduation stage and slipped slowly into oblivion. So if you’re haunted by your post-grad worries and shaken by the uncertainty awaiting you this May, don’t fret. I’ve been there.

You might have noticed that I am using past tense words when describing my thoughts about graduation: “been,” “imagined,” “haunted” and “shaken.”

“Maddie, are you actually telling us that you are no longer fearful for your future — but actually excited?”

Yes. Yes I am.

For those who are still imagining world-exploding scenarios, I’m going to tell you how I changed my perspective from “I’m going to throw up” to “I can’t wait to grow up.” We have five months left to change our perspectives and prepare ourselves for the excitement our post-grad lives will bring us. So, lock in.

The first step — and this one may be difficult for some — is to remind yourself that College Station is not the end-all be-all.

The world is so much bigger than college and even more expansive than Texas. Yes, I promise, you will not fall off the edge of the world if you step foot outside of your comfort zone.

Let’s take a trip to Las Vegas real quick.

Gambling. For some, sitting at the penny slots is all they feel comfortable doing. Betting on an algorithm, hoping to see triple sevens. For others, they are more comfortable betting on their poker face and praying for pocket aces. And for another group, Vegas is too scary in general so they opt to stay at home where they are safe, sound and comfortable.

No risk — and no reward.

Now, I’m not telling you to go to Vegas and blow all your graduation money. What I am telling you is to take a risk and bet on your own abilities. Do you think you can spin the roulette wheel and land on the number that gets you the job? Do you think you have the winning hand and spirit to achieve success? Can you roll those dice and know that even if they come up snake eyes, you can still find a way to win? Can you bluff until the pot is yours?

I hope by now, this far into your degree and life, that you said yes to all of those questions.

Because the greatest lesson I learned is the most important risk

Illustration by Luniqua Louis — THE BATTALION

I can ever take is on myself. With this big risk, this leap of faith that when I jump I’ll fly, my rewards will be endless.

Now that we have established what there is to gain from gambling on yourself, the second step is to remember that you will have to be active in your life and accept that things will change. But change doesn’t mean bad.

I mentioned before, while visiting our metaphorical casino, that you can’t win without exiting your comfort zone. So, nothing about this transition is going to be easy — or comfortable.

You can no longer be passive in your life. Turn cruise control off and grab the wheel.

That feeling in your stomach that’s screaming “graduation is the end” is not pleasant, I understand. But have you ever felt that exact gut feeling when riding a rollercoaster, kissing someone you like for the first time or realizing you won the poker hand?

That’s because fear and excitement feel the exact same.

This is where you start reprogramming your brain. Think “I’m not scared, maybe I’m just excited.” However, not only will you have to be active in shifting your thought processes, but also in creating the future you want.

What I mean is, friends don’t fall out of trees in the real world — and neither do opportunities.

You’ll have to go out of your way to do the things college did for you.

You’ll have to work harder to maintain your college friendships and relationships. You’ll have to work harder to keep up at your job. You’ll have to face discomfort and uncertainty. You'll have to rely on yourself. But how exciting is that? You get to choose the direction of your life and the relationships you fill it with.

In summation, I have changed.

I realized there is so much more waiting for me after I cross the graduation stage than anything College Station has to offer now.

Not because College Station is bad, but because College Station

is comfortable. I’ve managed to buy the trip to Vegas, spin the slots and now I have everything I need to make my way over to the high-roller tables. A&M has done everything it could to prepare me to bet it all on myself.

Are you going to come join me?

Graduation doesn’t have to be scary, and all the changes don’t have to be bad. This is just the beginning of your rewarding life as an Aggie alum. Be brave and bet it all on yourself, become active in your thoughts and life and face that uncertainty with your pocket aces or the best poker face you can muster. I can guarantee post-grad life will turn out a royal flush.

Maddie McMurrough is an agricultural communications and journalism senior and opinion columnist for The Battalion.

CAMPUS

The Battalion | 01.30.25

A5

GALLERY: Northgate Banana Bar Crawl

Last Saturday, hundreds of students dressed up in banana costumes and gathered across several bars at Northgate for the Banana Bar Crawl

By Armani Jones Staff Photographer

Top left: Bar crawlers dance at Baumhaus. Top right: A bar crawler sings at Baumhaus. Middle left: Bar crawlers dance at Baumhaus. Middle: A bar crawler orders drinks at Chimy’s. Middle right: Bar crawlers pose for a picture at The Spot. Bottom left: Bar crawlers stand in line to get into The Spot. Bottom: Bar crawlers stand in line to get into The Spot.

ARE YOU A

BLINN COLLEGE TRANSFER? In agreement with Section 61.833 of the Texas Education Code, you may be eligible to earn your associate degree.

You may be eligible to earn your associate degree through reverse transfer if you: • Have earned at least 15 credit hours at Blinn • Have earned at least 60 total credit hours • Meet current degree requirements Next steps: 1. Send your official Texas A&M University transcript with TSI information included 2. Email grad@blinn.edu or call 979-743-5280 to check your eligibility 3. Complete the Reverse Transfer Application at www.blinn.edu/graduation/reversetransfer.html

ENTERTAINMENT

A6

Battalion Crossword ACROSS 1 Pub order 4 Artist Bonheur 8 Seasoned sailor 12 Via 13 Bypass 14 Cheers up 16 Thick skin 18 Before boat or split 19 Wok, e.g.

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43 Marcel Marceau, for one 44 Cricket club 45 Manitoba native 46 Fizzy drink 47 Actress Moore of “Ghost” 48 Swift 50 Pine product 51 Amazement 54 Mature 55 Stock holder 56 Peril 58 Paint applicator 63 Common fractions 64 Abound 65 Pay dirt 66 Junk email 67 Barks 68 Explosive initials DOWN 1 Pertinent 2 Linda __, Supergirl’s alias 3 Work unit 4 Former empire 5 Harbinger 6 Go astray 7 Approval word 8 Bright star 9 Order request 10 Siberian river 11 Old autocrat

The Battalion | 01.30.25

14 Genesis brother 15 Slaughter 17 Stratford-__-Avon 21 Bounder 23 Fathered 24 Sour 25 Roomer 27 Burn balm 29 Roadside sign 30 Columbus Day month (abbr.)

32 Investigates 33 Deli offering 35 Medical exploration 37 E pluribus unum, e.g.

39 Route for Ben-Hur 40 Assist 41 Thurman of “Pulp Fiction” 43 Monica Vitti film, “__ Blaise” 46 Nurse a drink 47 Declare untrue 49 Bakery items 50 Paper lots 51 Quantities (abbr.)

52 Blubber 53 Sicilian resort 55 Kind of school or cook 57 Book dispenser letters 59 Certain shooter ammo 60 Acquired 61 Vase 62 Safety device

Squirrel Thoughts Dance Word Search

Illustration by Chi-Chi Zhang — THE BATTALION

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1. MONSTER MASH 2. TAP 3. TANGO 4. ICKEY SHUFFLE 5. SALSA 6. BALLROOM 7. WHIP 8. NAE NAE 9. DOUGIE 10. ELECTRIC SLIDE

11. BALLET 12. JITTERBUG 13. TWO STEP 14. HOEDOWN 15. WALTZ 16. BREAKDANCE 17. CHA-CHA 18. MACARENA 19. BACHATA 20. DISCO

SPORTS

THURSDAY, JAN. 30 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2025 STUDENT MEDIA

Doomer Sooner: A&M sweeps Oklahoma ger 7.7% thanks to only one made ing role, he too did not disappoint A&M dominates the shot out of 13 attempts. with another double-digit perNevertheless, the Aggies took a formance. boards 47-16 en route to 31-30 lead into the locker room A double-double was cooked a fifth conference win behind unlikely score leaders up animal style for a lingering

By Noah Ruiz Sports Writer

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION

Above: Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) shoots a layup during Texas A&M’s game against Oklahoma. Below: Texas A&M forward Pharrel Payne (21) jumps for a shot during Texas A&M’s game against Oklahoma.

In a deadlocked slugfest of conference competition, Texas A&M men’s basketball gave Oklahoma a Texas-style welcome into the Southeastern Conference with a sweep of the series, thanks to a 75-68 victory.

“A&M is great at what they are great at,” OU coach Porter Moser said. “They don’t take nights off.

They are physical and their physicality was so real … our guys kept on battling but we have a small margin of error and that margin was too big on the glass.”

Foul trouble loomed over OU sooner than it would’ve probably hoped, as A&M found itself in the bonus in the first six minutes of play. Both of the old Big 12 rivals muddled the paint as neither team seemed to break through a wall of bodies at the rim. However, graduate forward Henry Coleman III was able to drop in another bucket, bringing his team within two.

What was surprising was the earlier efficiency of the Aggie free-throw shooting, starting 16 for 20 in the first half. Once junior guard Zhuric Phelps finished dealing two more such shots, senior F Andersson Garcia popped in a loose ball into the basket and quickly evened the score 14-14.

The Sooners would not go away quietly, however, bringing the score back to a stalemate at 22 thanks to Aggie foul issues. A total of 22 fouls were called between both teams, the byproduct of a physical and aggressive play style from either end of the court.

While the A&M free throw percentage was an uncharacteristically high 80% at the half, the 3-point percentage was nothing short of abysmal, sitting at a mea-

Garcia and Coleman, who scored nine and eight points, respectively.

The junior F Pharrel Payne train ran down the Wellborn track again, as the Minnesota native dominated once more as both a rebounder and a reliable target to get the ball to the rim. In the absence of junior F Solomon Washington, it was ever more crucial that Payne play his best game in a starting role.

The one-man wrecking crew of Moore made sure to keep Oklahoma in the fight with his contribution of 20 points. In the blink of an eye, the score was 45-44 and A&M was in danger of losing its longtime lead. Seemingly like always, graduate G CJ Wilcher had something to say about the dire situation, continuing his tear of fast and all-too-necessary 3-point shooting with an apt strike to lasso some Texas-sized momentum.

Rebounding remained the one season-long constant for coach Buzz Williams’ crew with Tuesday night being no exception, effectively outreboundi n g Oklahoma 47 to just 19. Additionally, all five Aggie starters reached at least 10 points.

A late-season breakout has been brewing for senior G Manny Obaseki, boiling over yet again in a powerful display of toughness en route to the basket in all four of his layups. In his start-

Payne in Oklahoma’s side. The giant from Cotton Grove was the third A&M player to reach double-digit points and second on the team in rebounding with 11 boards.

The Sooners had the second-in-command role filled on the court by graduate G Brycen Goodine, the terror of Jan. 8’s contest, with his point total sitting at 19 as his squad threatened to sway the 63-61 deficit in their favor. He soon became the commander-in-chief with 24 points, but not until watching as his team remained six points short of the lead with only 17.9 seconds to play.

Almost unbelievably, A&M’s free throw shooting proved to be a saving grace rather than a cert a i n doom, finishing 29 for 35 and a shockingly impressive 82.9% mark on the night.

“We’ve prepared for this all year, we shoot 100 free throws every day, and we are blessed that everything came into fruition today,” Coleman said. “We found a couple of margins where we have excelled and look to continue this into the future.”

There was a little more breathing room for the Fightin’ Farmers this goround, though, as forced fouls by the Sooners only delayed their inevitable defeat; when the buzzer sounded the night belonged to folks in College Station, 75-68.

Former NCAA standout shines in Australia faced a near-impossible task, young career as he marched on to Upset win highlights matching up with the current the third round of the Australian world No. 5, former Australian Open.

Grand Slam run for Open finalist, world No. 1 and “In the end, I am just glad to slam winner Daniil Medve- get a win,” Tien said in a postformer college tennis grand dev. In his first major tournament, match television interview. seemed highly unlikely that the The miraculous run didn’t end star turned pro phenom it19-year-old could take down an there. In the third round, he faced

By Roman Arteaga Senior Sports Writer

During the 2022-2023 collegiate tennis season, University of Southern California freshman Learner Tien took the Pac-12 by storm with his left-hand brilliance and silky drop-shots. A former Roland-Garros Junior Champion and an Australian Open Juniors Runner-up, Tien was a midseason addition to the Trojans and instantly made his mark, going 3-0 in singles and 6-3 in doubles with an honorable mention in the AllPac-12 by the end of his shortened season.

This type of season is not normal for a freshman. Leading his team in singles win percentage while also not dropping a set in finished matches in the NCAA Tournament is unheard of. It was clear that this was just the start for Tien.

Just a few years later, he’d go on to shock the tennis world.

After an impressive year of success, Tien took his talents to the pro level with the Association of Tennis Professionals, or ATP, Tour.

Breaking into the top 500 in November 2023 and the top 200 in August 2024, the teenager prepared to qualify for his first main draw of a grand slam at the 2025 Australian Open.

In the qualifying tournament, Tien blazed through his opponents, defeating Gregoire Barrere (No. 143), Juan Pablo Ficovich (No. 190) and Jozef Kovalik (No. 129) to qualify for the tournament.

Tien matched up against No. 94 Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the first round of the Australian Open and dropped the first and fourth before taking the following sets 4-6, 7-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to advance to the second round.

It was that round that Tien

experienced and consensus topfive player in Medvedev. But in an unlikely turn of events, it was Tien who fired forehand winners, struck backhands down the line and hit perfect volleys to take the first set 6-3.

As the match continued, Tien’s confidence and momentum grew, carrying him to take a two sets to love lead over Medvedev who was left shaken and asking his coaches for help. Being an experienced veteran, Medvedev knew how to overcome adversity, winning the next two sets and taking the match to a deciding fifth set. Up to this point, Tien had never played a five-set match while Medvedev played in a five-set match in this tournament’s final just one year earlier. All odds favored Medvedev, but Tien stayed with it, going toeto-toe with him leading up to a deciding set tiebreak.

Both split the first six points before Medvedev took a mini-break — win a point off your opponent’s serve in a tiebreak — for a 6-4 lead. Tien got the mini-break back with a sweet drop-shot and evened the tiebreak at six. After taking another mini-break off Medvedev and holding serve, Tien found himself with a 9-7 lead and just one point away from victory.

The crowd chanted “LEARNER TIEN … LEARNER TIEN!” as he stepped up to the baseline to serve. A 148 kph serve flew down the middle, forcing Medvedev to shank the shot out of bounds — and just like that, the 19 year old out of USC defeated one of the best tennis players in the world in his first-ever grand slam appearance.

Tien looked at his team with disbelief and joy. Medvedev showed sportsmanship, congratulating Tien and wishing him luck moving forward. The win marked the biggest victory of his

off against Corentin Moutet, an established top-100 player and a man who has made the third round in multiple slams. However, Tien’s confidence was sky-high as he quickly took charge of the match, winning a first-set tiebreak on his way to a straight-sets victory in just under three hours.

Tien became the youngest male to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open since Rafael Nadal in 2005 with the win.

“These past couple of weeks have been great for me, to know that at this level I can have success,” Tien said in his post-match press conference after defeating Moutet. “I haven’t played too many tour events or matches, so to have the run that I did, it’s a huge boost for my confidence.”

In the fourth round, he took on Lorenzo Sonego, a man who has a career-high ranking of No. 21 in the world and is currently ranked just outside the top 50. In this match, Tien struggled a bit more with getting to his spots, firing winners and struggled to get his serve going. In the end, Sonego got the better of the young American in four sets. But the loss just served as the beginning of Tien’s career.

“It’s really tough to put into words,”Tien said about his Australian Open run after his loss against Sonego. “I came here without having any expectations just to come here and play my first Australian Open. I didn’t have a specific goal or result I wanted to leave here with or anything like this, so to have a run like this is surreal. A run that I will probably remember for the rest of my career.”

The former Trojan has a promising future and will continue to grow as a person and player. Look out for him, as he will be a household name in the tennis world very soon.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Ruiz / Daily Trojan file photo

USC freshman Learner Tien vs. Oregon on Friday, April 14, 2023.

SPORTS

The Battalion | 01.30.25

B2

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Pharrel Payne Men’s basketball, junior forward The 6-foot-9 center-forward hybrid played a clean stat sheet against Oklahoma on Tuesday, grabbing 11 boards and 10 points off of a complete 100% shooting night from the floor. Payne’s double-double performance was his first as an Aggie and his sixth overall.

Around the SEC: Feb. 1

By Justin Chen Senior Sports Writer

Connor May — THE BATTALION

Luke Casper Men’s tennis, senior Casper teamed up with junior Togan Tokac to upset the No. 10 UCLA duo, putting A&M on the front foot at the ITA Kickoff Weekend. The Santa Cruz, California native came back in singles play with a tightly-contested, 6-4, 6-3, win to put the Aggies within one point of a crucial victory.

Hannah Harrison — THE BATTALION

Shemar Stewart Football, junior defensive lineman Stewart shined in the opening day of the Reese’s Senior Bowl practices with multiple dominant wins in 1-on-1’s. The NFL-hopeful popped on the second day with a quick win on the edge for a strip sack in team drills, a positive sign for his chances of being a first-round draft pick in April.

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Taliyah Parker Women’s basketball, freshman guard The freshman out of Grand Prairie has been on the upswing in her firstcollegiate season. In the last matchup against LSU, the former top-10 in-state recruit out of high school totalled 13 points on 33% shooting from behind the arc.

A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR THIS WEEK’S GAMES

No. 1 Auburn at No. 23 Ole Miss

No. 20 Missouri at No. 14 Mississippi State

The Sandy and John Black Pavilion — Oxford, Mississippi 1:00 p.m. CST on ESPN

Humphrey Coliseum — Starkville, Mississippi 12:00 p.m. CST on SEC Network The classic “cat-and-dog” fight the country with four players avbrews in Mississippi between No. eraging double-digit scoring, the 22 Missouri and No. 14 Mississippi Tigers have a real shot of securing State. The two sit at identical 16-4 another ranked win. records and both have improved draHowever, the matchup is an opmatically since last season. However portunity for the struggling Bulldogs the two programs’ paths have di- to get out of the pound and back on verged since conference play began. track. Though they have three losses For the Tigers, coach Dennis in the conference, it’s hard to blame Gates has turned around the nar- Mississippi State when daunted by rative surrounding the team. From the likes of No. 1 Auburn, No. 8 Tenan 18-game losing streak to end the nessee and No. 12 Kentucky. Before 2023-24 season — including a win- facing a deceivingly unthreatening less conference record — Missouri — but still dangerous — Missouri has surged back into the AP Poll, team, they’ll have to endure No. 4 its first appearance since the 2022- Alabama just days before.

23 season, and boasted its best start With a short turnaround on the to conference play yet. On the back schedule, a Tigers upset win is in the heels of a top-25 scoring offense in making.

Hot meets cold.

Just two weeks ago, coach Chris Beard had his Rebels in high spirits with a four-game winning streak, capped off with a win over No. 4 Alabama. Since then, No. 23 Ole Miss has come crashing down, losing three straight to formerly-ranked teams Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Missouri.

Though the Rebels proved capable of going shot-for-shot with the aforementioned teams, fouls have been the tale of the tape.

In all three games, they’ve shot fewer free throws than the other squads — including just four to A&M’s nine before giving up 39 attempts to Missouri.

In the yang of it, No. 1 Auburn cannot relate in any way. The Tigers have just rattled off win after win, with a lone blemish to star-studded No. 2 Duke — which boasts top NBA recruit, freshman G/forward Cooper Flagg.

Auburn’s success on both ends is summed up by one player: graduate F Johni Broome. He’s heralded himself as a stat sheet stuffer, averaging a double-double and leading the team in points, rebounds and blocks. His 2.8 blocks per game single-handedly help the Tigers rank as the best shot-blocking team in the nation.

With such a hot streak going, an onslaught may be in store — unfortunately for the Rebels.

Prediction: Auburn 94, Ole Miss 78

Prediction: Missouri 85,Tennessee 80

No. 5 Florida at No. 8 Tennessee

Georgia at No. 4 Alabama

Food City Center — Knoxville, Tennessee 11:00 a.m. CST on ESPN

Coleman Coliseum — Tuscaloosa, Alabama 3:00 p.m. CST on ESPN2

What better way to open up the second month of 2025 than with a top-10 matchup between the traveling No. 5 Gators and the homestead No. 6 Volunteers?

Last time these two goliaths matched up, Florida chomped up the Orange and White in convincing fashion with a 73-43 beatdown — in front of a rabid home crowd.

Then-No. 1 Tennessee shot a horrid 21.4% from the field and only had two players crack double-digit scoring.

Since then, the Volunteers’ confi-

dence has wavered, dropping a game against sneaky-underrated Vanderbilt before losing against a dominant No. 1 Auburn.

However, the swampy Orange and Blue have been on a three-game winning streak since a one-point loss to Missouri, led by the backcourt of senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. and graduate G Alijah Martin.

Though the first game was a blowout for the Volunteers, expect them to extend their perfect homecourt record and redeem the loss to tie the season series back up.

Just months ago, these two football powerhouses put on a show, with the Crimson Tide ultimately coming out on top in a heavyweight bout. Though the stakes aren’t as high and records are more lopsided than in football, No. 4 Alabama has all the cards to secure a win for the school in basketball against Georgia.

As usual in the coach Nate Oats era, the Tide boasts the best scoring offense in the country, and though graduate G Mark Sears headlines as the top scorer, at least two other players can shine on any given

night. With the luxury of having so many offensive weapons, a lone loss to then-No. 21 Ole Miss disrupted what would’ve been an 11-game winning streak, but with the Bulldogs on the schedule next, a new one is bound to happen.

Unfortunately for Georgia, conference play has been unkind to it, and a four-game losing streak sums it up best: a continued failure to crack the 70-point mark, including a 30-point beatdown by No. 5 Florida.

Top Tide meets bottom ‘Dawgs for a sure Alabama blowout win.

Prediction:Tennessee, 75, Florida 67

Prediction: Alabama 104, Georgia 72

No. 24 Vanderbilt at Oklahoma

Arkansas at No. 12 Kentucky

Lloyd Noble Center — Norman, Oklahoma 2:30 p.m. CST on SEC Network

Rupp Arena — Lexington, Kentucky 8:00 p.m. CST on ESPN

In the span of a week, Vanderbilt goes on, providing buckets off the has checked No. 8 Tennessee and No. bench.

12 Kentucky off its upset to-do list, Though it’s been a rough couple and it now has a chance to add the of weeks for the Sooners, Oklahoma Sooners to its hit list. can count on one consistent presJunior G Jason Edward has shown ence: senior G Jalon Moore. Averagup with 18 points against the Wild- ing 18 points per game, he’s been an cats and Volunteers. Though he has efficient bucket-getter who is flirtsoaked up the spotlight massively ing with a 50-40-90 season. with his consistent play, an underThough the Commodores have rated scorer has played a hand in court-stormed and collected heavy the upset wins: sophomore F Jaylen fines, the Sooners will put a hard Carey. stop on the upset party on the back He’s hit his groove as the season of Moore.

Prediction: Auburn 94, Ole Miss 78

For the final game of the conferBut it still will be enough to get ence slate, coach John Calipari goes over the hump of a struggling Raback to his old stomping grounds at zorbacks squad that dropped their Rupp Arena, and, though reception first five games in conference, with might be warm, his new Arkansas just a lone win over another strugRazorbacks might be leaving with gling team in Georgia. The 6-foot-8 a loss. junior F Adou Thiero has provided The No. 12 Wildcats have proved length and 16 pointer per game, but themselves successful without the the surrounding cast has weighed legendary coach on the season, but, the Pennsylvania native down. in recent weeks, they’ve shown vulWith Arkansas struggling on both nerability with back-to-back losses sides of the ball, Kentucky will set its against No. 4 Alabama and Vander- eyes on its former coach for a getbilt, playing below the pace of both. back-on-track win.

Prediction: Kentucky 105, Arkansas 84

SPORTS

The Battalion | 01.30.25

B3

A&M hits midseason checkpoint

Texas A&M guard Solè Williams (15) dribbles the ball up the court during Texas A&M’s game against Kentucky at Reed Arena on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.

Texas A&M guard Taliyah Parker (21) and Texas A&M forward Lauren Ware (32) guard Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore (3) during Texas A&M’s game against Kentucky at Reed Arena on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.

Left: Texas A&M guard Solè Williams (15) dribbles the ball up the court as Kentucky guard Saniah Tyler (2) guards her during Texas A&M’s game against Kentucky at Reed Arena on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. Middle: Texas A&M guard Sahara Jones (24) draws a foul while driving in during Texas A&M’s game against Kentucky at Reed Arena on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.

Right: Tentucky guard Georgia Amoore (3) takes the ball down the court against Texas A&aM guard Aicha Coulibaly (5) during Texas A&M’s game against Kentucky at Reed Arena on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.

settled.

As the NCAA TournaGraduate G Sahara Jones shone ment draws closer, A&M in both these games with 16 points leading A&M into its first real challooks to finish strong lenge of the season, a road bout with then-No. 15 West Virginia. without Coulibaly The Aggies never obtained the

By Olivia Sims Sports Writer

Texas A&M’s women’s basketball is midway through the season, and there are some accomplishments to look back on — as well as a few things the team can do to maximize success, especially with star senior guard Aicha Coulibaly now out for the remainder of the season due to injury and a matchup against top-five Texas on the horizon.

The Maroon and White had a rocky start to the season after a home-opener loss against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi where they shot 27.3% from the field and 12% from beyond the arc. After the devastating loss in front of its home crowd, the Aggies went on to win their next two games against UTSA and Western Michigan as they got

lead against the Mountaineers, and a brutal beatdown in the third quarter put this game away for West Virginia. Coming out of halftime, A&M was only down 33-29 until the Mountaineers outscored it 27-7 in the third. Even after a 21-point performance from Coulibaly, the Fightin’ Farmers were never able to come back as they recorded their first road loss of the season.

Aggies had a powerhouse of a conference schedule with four ranked teams in a row to begin SEC play. In their first four conference games, the Aggies went 1-3 after losing to then-No. 15 Tennessee, No. 2 South Carolina and No. 10 Oklahoma. A&M also faced No. 25 Ole Miss at home in Reed Arena, where sophomore G Solé Williams had a season-high 18-point game, ultimately leading the Aggies to a 60-58 win in front of their home

crowd.

A&M has turned it on lately, though, with a stellar performance against No. 11 Kentucky in its last home action. A couple of standout performances from Coulibaly and Jones lead the Aggies to the Wildcat upset.

Coulibaly led the team with 21 points and seven rebounds, but the 12th Man shouldn’t look past Jones’ 10 rebounds — three offensive and seven defensive — that ultimately allowed the Aggies to gain much-needed extra possessions.

The Maroon and White currently sit with a 10-9 record and a 3-4 mark in the SEC. The Aggies have a mixed conference schedule coming up with their next game against Arkansas on the road, as they hope to get their first road win this season. The Fightin’ Farmers have won four of the last five matchups against the Razorbacks.

With only one remaining ranked team on their schedule, A&M has an opportunity to add more wins to their record. The Aggies need to continue to perform on defense if they want to pull off more wins.

Photos by Sarthak Dalal — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M guard Janae Kent (20) shoots from mid-range during Texas A&M’s game against Kentucky at Reed Arena on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.

In their win against Kentucky, the Aggies had 38 total rebounds, with 32 of them being defensive, as well as 6 blocks and 4 steals.

Looking ahead, A&M’s last remaining ranked matchup is against its rival, No. 5 Texas, who they take on at home in Reed Arena on Sunday. The 12th Man will play a vital part in this game, with Reed’s atmosphere always affecting the players and helping them BTHO Texas. With A&M’s leading scorer and veteran player Coulibaly out for the season with a knee injury, someone else will have to step up to the plate.

The Aggies have a huge challenge this weekend against the Longhorns, who are 20-2 in the season and currently on a fourgame win streak.

The Maroon and White’s defense should watch out for sophomore forward Madison Booker, who’s averaging 16.1 points per game, as well as senior F Taylor Jones, who leads the team in rebounds and field goal percentage, 65.2%. For the Aggies to be successful in this matchup, they will need to rebound

lights out and hold possession of the ball as much as possible.

The Aggies have been great at defending the backboard, led by Sahara Jones who averages seven rebounds a game and had a season high of 13 earlier this season against Western Michigan.

Another valuable Aggie to look for is senior F Lauren Ware, who is currently averaging 6.9 rebounds per game as well as 1.9 blocks.

Ware is such an asset to this A&M defense with 94 defensive rebounds on the season, looking to beat her total of 154 rebounds from last season.

The matchup between Ware and Jones should be extremely entertaining and vital for a home win.

The Aggies have nine games remaining in the regular season, which all hold weight as the NCAA Tournament approaches.

In order to punch its ticket, A&M needs to play tough for the next four weeks and prove that it’s a force to be reckoned with.

The Maroon and White head to Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m.

SENIOR

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