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Freshman guard TJ Starks (left) and junior forward DJ Hogg (right) combined for 33 points in the victory over Kentucky. Photos by Kevin Chou — THE BATTALION

FOURTH STRAIGHT SEC WIN

A&M defeats No. 24 Kentucky at Reed Arena in front of sold out crowd By Ryan MacDonald @Ryan_MacDonald2

With 13,263 fans in attendance for the sold out game, Texas A&M men’s basketball defeated No. 24 Kentucky 85-74 for the Aggies fourth straight win. The crowd included former A&M quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel, seated courtside, and A&M head football coach Jimbo Fisher. Prior to the game, head coach Billy Kennedy said a deciding factor would be the matchup down low between Kentucky big men PJ Washington and Kevin Knox and Aggie big

men Robert Williams and Tyler Davis. Kentucky’s duo outscored A&M’s 13-8 in the first half. Kentucky sat in zone defense for the majority of the half, which made it difficult for the Aggie pair to find their stride in the crowded paint. The zone defense gave the Aggies space on the perimeter to shoot 14 three-point shots in the first half, though only two were successful. A&M junior forward DJ Hogg was the only Aggie to make a three-pointer in the half, netting both of them. Hogg also picked up the duo’s slack on the defensive end, grabbing six rebounds in the half. The first half was a back-and-forth affair and saw eight lead changes. The Wildcats led the Aggies 30-26 at the end of the first half. A&M started the second half on a 26-6 run

thanks in part to four three-pointers — two from Admon Gilder, one from DJ Hogg and one from TJ Starks. After netting just 14 percent (2-of-14) of their three-point shots in the first half, the Aggies caught fire from behind the arc throughout the second half. A&M finished the half netting 78 percent (7-of-9) from downtown. The Aggies also found success via the dunk off of alley-oops, throwing down seven in the game. “What they did to us in the second half [was bad],” Kentucky head coach John Calipari said. “You can’t let them have lob-dunk, lob-dunk, you just don’t do it. You foul or do something, you’re not going to give them that.” After losing their four-point halftime lead in the first minute of the half, the Wildcats never

regained their lead in the game. It seemed like everything went the Aggies’ way from there on, as shown in their two three-pointers that hit the backboard and swooshed the net. “The bank was open, as we say,” Kennedy said. “We made two of them, which is very rare. It was just our night, we made shots and banked shots in, really in the second half.” The sold out Reed Arena crowd was electric throughout the game and Williams said it fueled the Aggies’ second half run. “I think it was the first time that we had been in a packed, crowded gym for us,” Williams said. “Seeing the crowd go crazy like when DJ hit a three was my first time seeing that. It was the ultimate confidence boost. The crowd really helped us push through.” BASKETBALL ON PG. 3

SCIENCE

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Anthony Pangonas — THE BATTALION

Professor Tim Logan has studied how rain development is effected by aerosols.

A&M professor studies effects of aerosols Study looks at both the positive and negative effects on clouds By Anthony Pangonas @apangonas Cloud formation and the amount of rain that can be brought by these clouds can be negatively affected due to the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere, which can include wildfire smoke, sea salt and air pollutants. A new study of these effects was worked on by a team of researchers including Tim Logan, instructional assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M, and Xiquan Dong, a professor of hydrology and atmospheric science at the University of Arizona. Dong said in the preface to the research paper that the interaction between aerosol content and the climate in a particular region is one of the biggest uncertainties when it comes to predicting climate change. “The treatment of aerosols, clouds, radiation and precipitation in climate models has always AEROSOL ON PG. 2

Business honors junior Taylor Welch will work alongside the current MSC president until taking over the office on April 23.

Next in line for a legacy of leadership Taylor Welch named 69th MSC President, takes office April 23 By Luke Henkhaus @luke_henkhaus As 69th president of the Memorial Student Center, business honors junior Taylor Welch is poised to carry on a long history of service to Texas A&M’s campus and community. Welch currently serves as chair of the L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness, one of the 19 committees within the MSC she will oversee as president. Through these committees, the MSC’s programming includes conferences, entertainment and major service events benefiting current and former students as well as the greater Bryan-College Station area. As president, Welch will also coordinate with university administration, community members, former students and other student leaders to maintain the MSC’s role as an Aggie institution. With previous involvement in MSC Fish, MSC Business Associates and the MSC Wiley Lecture Series, Welch said her experience within the MSC has given her the confidence to make the most of her time as president.

“I think being a part of the MSC has taught me a lot about service,” Welch said. “That’s something that’s really important to me, and so while it’s looked different in each of those roles, I think I’ve learned a lot about how you can make an impact on your community and I think the MSC does an incredible job of doing that through programming.” Before taking office on April 23, Welch will work closely with psychology senior and current MSC President Annie Carnegie, gaining a practical perspective on the president’s role while learning the finer points of coordination within the MSC and across campus. Carnegie said she is excited to have Welch by her side through some of the MSC’s largest signature programs of the year. “Taylor is incredibly intelligent, passionate and motivated,” Carnegie said. “She is somebody who looks at a situation and can understand what’s going on, what some of the external factors affecting the situation are, who to bring in to help really evaluate what’s happening. She does a great job of bringing different individuals together to work through problems. I think that is going to make her tremendously successful in the coming year.” One highlight of Carnegie’s time in of-

fice so far was the opportunity to interview the MSC’s third president, Lamar McNew, Class of ‘53. Carnegie said speaking with him was a keen reminder of the legacy all MSC presidents are entrusted with upholding. “There have been so many incredible people who have come before us and in that moment, speaking with him, with someone who really paved the way for what I would be doing in the coming year, I was able to have this snapshot of what it’s like to enter into that legacy and to hopefully leave something to it as well,” Carnegie said. Reflecting on her own term as president, Carnegie said her year has been defined by the talent and dedication of the team she works with, including the executive vice presidents, vice presidents and the chairs of each MSC committee. “Everything that that group of individuals has done has been really impactful and really good for our campus,” Carnegie said. “I’m so proud of them and it’s been a true honor and privilege to get to work with them throughout the year.” The next step for Welch will be selecting her own executive vice presidents of diversity, programs and business, while looking MSC ON PG. 3