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TEXAS A&M

Vaqueros open regular season with blowout win

EDINBURG — The UTRGV Vaqueros kicked off the Matt Figger era in convincing fashion, rolling past the Texas A&M-International Dustdevils 74-59 during their regular-season opener Tuesday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. The victory marked the first regular season win for Figger, who was named the Vaqueros’ head coach March 29, assuming the position after former head coach Lew Hill died Feb. 7. Forward LaQuan Butler led the Vaqueros in scoring, dropping a game-high 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Butler and Johnson sparked the Vaqueros’ run, scoring five and four points during that span, respectively. The Vaqueros (1-0, 0-0) return to action at 8 p.m. Friday, taking on the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona.

myrgv.com

Shaine Casas leaving A&M, moving to UT

Shaine Casas has spent the past three seasons dominating the pool for Texas A&M. This season, however, Casas could be wearing burnt orange, as the former McAllen High swimmer is hitting the transfer portal and heading to the University of Texas. According to SwimSwam.com, Casas informed his teammates that he would be entering the transfer portal Monday, with sources later indicating his intent to join the Longhorns. He finished first in the 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke, making him just one of two swimmers to go three-for-three individually at the meet. Although his eligibility date is currently unclear, Casas could face off against his former team this season, as the Aggies and Longhorns are set for a dual meet Oct. 15.

myrgv.com

Casas advances to Olympic trials semis in 100 back

Former McAllen High and current Texas A&M junior swimmer Shaine Casas advanced to the second round, the semifinals, in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympics Swimming Time Trials on Monday morning in Omaha, Nebraska. Casas tied for third overall with a time of 53.08 seconds, equaling the time of three-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy. Casas and Murphy are projected by many swimming experts to capture the top two spots in both the 100- and 200-meter backstrokes and advance to the 2021 Tokyo Summer games. “I don’t care if I win or not,” Casas said about the time trials last week. Check back for more on Shaine Casas’ Olympic quest later today.

myrgv.com

Texas A&M star’s dramatic overtime bank shot sends Aggies into Sweet 16

2 Texas A&M to an 84-82 victory over seventh-seeded Iowa State on Wednesday. Ciera Johnson blocked a layup by Ashley Joens with 3 seconds left before Nixon drove into the lane and threw up the game-winner. “You’re just trying to keep the ball in front of you and she’s a really hard kid to keep in front," Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. ODDS & ENDSTexas A&M outscored Iowa State 44-18 in the paint. ... Iowa State outrebounded Texas A&M 50-38.

This Jellyfish Can Defy Death And Turn Back Time

Turritopsis dohrnii, the so-called “immortal jellyfish,” can revert to an earlier developmental stage when injured or otherwise threatened. She said that in a few days, that cyst changes into a polyp and eventually these colonies form buds and a new jellyfish. “So by studying transdifferentiation in T. dohrnii, we can better understand how transdifferentiation works in general.”She said the process of transdifferentiation is poorly understood. Researchers are analyzing jellyfish for their possible treatments in muscular diseases, genetic disorders and even memory aids. “From a scientific point of view, jellyfish are very simple invertebrates that have weird and unique life cycles and capabilities,” Miglietta said.

COVID-19 UK variant found in animals for the first time by Texas A&M researchers

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Editor’s Note: This article was published through a partnership between Texas A&M University and KSAT. Testing In TexasTexas has long led the charts in the number of SARS-CoV-2 animal infections, owing in large part to the Texas A&M COVID-19 & Pets study, in which researchers go to the homes of people recently diagnosed with COVID-19 to test their pets. People with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 should avoid contact with pets and other animals to protect them from infection and illness. AdAt this time, routine animal testing for COVID-19 is not recommended, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC). Those who have recently tested positive in the Brazos Valley, Texas, region and would like to participate in the research by having their pets tested can learn more at the COVID-19 & Pets research webpage.

No. 7 Gamecocks win SEC Tourney 67-62 over No. 16 Georgia

Aliyah Boston had 27 points and 10 rebounds to lead South Carolina, which only a week ago lost at No. South Carolina, though, righted things in a big way at the SEC Tournament. Boston then followed with a pair of foul shots and South Carolina held on for its 14th straight victory over Georgia. But when Jenna Staiti picked up her second foul at the end of the first quarter, South Carolina found Boston down low. South Carolina: It didn't take long for the Gamecocks to assert their dominance once more on the SEC.

Aggies reach best-ever ranking of No. 2 in women's AP Top 25

2, its highest ranking ever in The Associated Press women's college basketball poll, a day after winning its first Southeastern Conference regular-season title. 5 South Carolina on Sunday to win the conference title and then moved up a spot in the Top 25. AdBaylor, South Carolina, Maryland, UCLA and Indiana were the next five. The Aggies snapped a seven-game losing streak to South Carolina on Sunday. ___More AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

NEISD grad, former Texas A&M football player strives to make USA olympic bobsled team

And it may soon be time to add to that list, as a North East Independent School District graduate and former Texas A&M wide receiver is now striving to represent the United States in the next winter olympics on the nation’s bobsledding team. “I graduated from A&M, played football and ended up tearing my ACL my last regular season game of my senior year. “We went there to get some drivers qualified for the Olympics next year and we accomplished that goal,” Niederhofer said. “The ultimate goal is definitely to make the Winter Olympics. And definitely you know, I built some good habits,” Niederhofer said.

No. 3 A&M beats No. 5 South Carolina 65-57 for SEC title

Aaliyah Wilson scored 17 points and N’dea Jones added 16 to lead Texas A&M to a 65-57 win over fifth-ranked South Carolina to give the Aggies their first regular-season Southeastern Conference title. Texas A&M (22-1, 13-1 SEC) snapped a seven-game skid against South Carolina and finished the season 13-0 at home after playing in front of a season-high 2,700 on Sunday. The Aggies outscored South Carolina (19-4, 14-2) 19-8 in the third quarter to take a commanding lead before the Gamecocks get back in it late. AdThe Aggies added a basket after that before South Carolina got its first field goal of the second half on a layup by Lele Grissett a few seconds later. A 5-0 run by Texas A&M, with another 3 by Nixon, came next to make it 52-37 and spur South Carolina Staley to call a timeout.

NC State, Texas A&M move up in women's AP Top 25; UConn tops

North Carolina State returned to the No. 2 spot and Texas A&M climbed to third after South Carolina and Louisville — the previous second- and third-ranked teams — lost games. Coach Gary Blair's team can win the Southeastern Conference regular-season title with victories over Alabama on Thursday and South Carolina on Sunday. The Scarlet Knights play at Michigan State and Penn State this week. South Carolina, Mississippi State and Tennessee are the only teams to win the regular-season crown since the Aggies entered the conference in 2012.

The Latest: Texas A&M men's hoops has 7th postponement

It’s the seventh consecutive postponement for A&M, which hasn’t played since beating Kansas State 68-61 on Jan. 30 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The SEC has built in March 5-7 to make up games postponed because of COVID-19 protocols, but no makeup date has been determined. Kentucky’s Dec. 29 SEC game against South Carolina was also postponed. The school said Saturday that the Tar Heels will host Marquette on Wednesday, which comes after they had a fourth game postponed in Atlantic Coast Conference play. AdLast week the school added a nonconference game against Northeastern two days ahead of time after a game against No.

Energy drinks can affect heart muscles, new study from Texas A&M finds

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – A new study by Texas A&M researchers has found that some energy drinks can have adverse effects on the muscle cells of the heart. The study, published in Food and Chemical Toxicology, found that consumption of some energy drinks was linked to improper beating of the heart, cardiomyopathy, increased blood pressure and other heart conditions. They determined that theophylline, adenine and azelate were substances which can have negative effects on the heart, but said more research is warranted. “This study shows that some of the tested energy drinks may have effects on human cardiomyocytes, and these data corroborate other studies in humans,” Rusyn said in a press release from the university. “Therefore, we hope that the consumers will carefully weigh the performance-enhancing benefits of these beverages versus the emerging data that suggests that they may have real adverse effects.

‘Ryan will never be forgotten’: Boerne native, member of Texas A&M Corps of Cadets dies

Ryan Boles, a member of the Corps of Cadets, has died, Texas A&M University confirmed. Image: Texas A&M Corps of CadetsSAN ANTONIO – A Texas A&M University student from Boerne who was a member of the Corps of Cadets has died, according to the university. Ryan Boles, who was a freshman political science major, died on Sunday, according to the Corps of Cadets and Texas A&M Today. It is with extreme sadness I confirm the death of cadet Ryan Boles ‘24, a member of the Corps of Cadets. Boles was a member of the Squadron 8 and was also a member of the Fish Drill Team, according to the Corps of Cadets.

Column: As the end of the year approaches, let's reflect and look ahead

As a Military Embracing university, patriotism is especially meaningful to our Jaguar community. We pride ourselves on providing the best support and resources for our military students and their families. We are proud to be a university that serves our military students with the same dedication and commitment they give to our country every day. As I write this column, I reflect on last week’s university celebrations to honor its veterans here on campus. You can also reach me on Instagram@Jagprezmatson or Twitter@PrezMatsonCynthia Teniente-Matson, Ed.D, is president of Texas A&M University San Antonio.

mysanantonio.com

Storms pelt city with rain, tree branches

Julye KeebleStaff writerA stormy Memorial Day weekend brought more falling tree branches and an additional 2.47 inches of rain to Uvalde, as measured by the Texas A&M Uvalde AgriLife Research and Extension Center. Though 3.51 inches of rain have fallen this month, the aquifer reading is lower than the 876.9-foot level recorded on May 1. City of Uvalde cleanup crews worked with law enforcement officers to clear the multiple fallen tree branches and render the roads safe through the holiday weekend. John Simpson of Batesville reported 1.5 inches of rainfall with high winds and a many small tree branches down; but no major damage. J. Hardie, 4.5 miles northeast of Knippa, reported 0.43 inches of rain Sunday, 0.50 Monday and 0.58 for Tuesday.

uvaldeleadernews.com

Texas A&M San Antonio warns students, staff of email scam

Texas A&M San Antonio warns students, staff of email scamTexas A&M University-San Antonio is warning its students and staff about an email scam that could potentially cost someone to lose thousands of dollars. Texas A&M University-San Antonio is warning its students and staff about an email scam that could potentially cost someone to lose thousands of dollars. Photo: Express News File Photo Photo: Express News File Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Texas A&M San Antonio warns students, staff of email scam 1 / 1 Back to GalleryTexas A&M University-San Antonio is warning its students and staff about an email scam that could potentially cost someone to lose thousands of dollars. "Its a scam, and if you fall for it you will most likely lose thousands of dollars," the university wrote on its Facebook post, adding that the email has reached thousands of people in the Texas A&M University-San Antonio community. FBI San Antonio is asking the public to be aware of scammers as they are adapting to the current events and using online trends to make their scams seem more authentic.

mysanantonio.com

Weekend rainfall doubles YTD total

The precipitation more than doubles the year-to-date total, bringing it from 2.13 inches, measured from Jan. 1 to April 2, to 4.59 inches, which is higher than the 116-year-average of 4.30 inches. According to the National Weather Service, over the weekend areas from the Southern Plains and Midwest to the Eastern Seaboard saw scattered showers and thunderstorms flare up. Rain accumulations taken by area weather observers varied from 0.67 in the Reagan Wells area to 2.70 on South Getty Street. Jo Ann Fisher of Leakey reported 1 inch of rain all together, most of it received in a slow drizzle. In Montell, Russel Ellingers weather station recorded 0.39 inches of precipitation on Saturday.

uvaldeleadernews.com

San Antonios school districts extend campus closures two weeks, A&M S.A. out for semester

San Antonios school districts extend campus closures two weeks, A&M S.A. out for semesterJudson Superintendent Jeanette Ball talks with two elementary school children Aug. 20 on the first day of school. By mid-afternoon they were followed by the local military installation school districts: Randolph Field, Fort Sam Houston and Lackland ISDs. Also Tuesday, Texas A&M San Antonio announced it will not resume in-person classes this semester. Several charter school networks in San Antonio gave updates Tuesday about school closures. | Ashley McBride covers several school districts and the Alamo Colleges District in the San Antonio and Bexar County area.

mysanantonio.com

Column: Girl Scouts reflect mission of serving community

Column: Girl Scouts reflect mission of serving communityNearly 108 years ago, Juliette Gordon Low founded the very first troop of Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia. According to Girls Scouts data, in 2017 more than half (53 percent) of female entrepreneurs and business owners are Girl Scout alums. The partnership provides opportunities for college students to interact with young girl scouts. Whether the Girls Scouts of Southwest Texas or another organization, I encourage you to explore how you can support opportunities for girls. Visit girlscouts-swtx.org, and for more information about A&M-San Antonio visit tamusa.edu or call 210-784-1000.

mysanantonio.com

St. Marys Powers Up Esports Program as Arena Nears Completion

At St. Marys, the e-athletes that make the team will compete in an 864-square-foot arena in St. Marys University Center, which serves as a hub for students. St. Marys e-athletes will compete online against students from other universities and colleges in four or five different arcade-style video games. St. Marys officials plan to hire a head coach and an assistant coach by the end of February. Deliberate discussions about creating an esports program at St. Marys started about six months ago, Coleman said. The decision to include an esports arena in the innovation center was influenced by clear growth in San Antonios esports scene, Port San Antonio CEO Jim Perschbach said.

therivardreport.com

A&M reports rising home sales here

Home sales in Uvalde County are on the rise, according to data released by the Texas A&M Real Estate Center. There were 162 closed sales in 2019, up 3.2 percent from 2018. The new data also indicates that homes sales in Uvalde County have increased annually since 2015. With these upward trends, the hope is that home sales will continue to rise in 2020, said local Uvalde Board of Realtor member Kay Jungerman. Homeowners saw a slight decline in the median sales price, which settled at $162,500 in 2019, down 1.5 percent from 2018.

uvaldeleadernews.com

Former Penn State football player claims hazing teammates threatened to 'Sandusky' younger players

In this December 28, 1999 file photograph, former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky is carried off the field after a victory in the Alamo Bowl against Texas A&M. A former Penn State football player claims in a lawsuit that Nittany Lions players hazed him and other younger teammates by imitating sexual acts in the shower and invoking Jerry Sandusky's name. University police turned over results of their investigation to the local district attorney, who declined to prosecute, Penn State said in a statement. The lawsuit claims some of the older players would physically restrain younger players, taunt them and engage in mock sex acts. The plaintiff has since transferred out of Penn State and attends a different school.

cnbc.com

Spiller runs for 217 yards, 3 TDs as Aggies beat UTSA 45-14

Spiller set season highs with 217 yards rushing and three touchdowns to lead the Aggies to their third straight victory and make them bowl eligible for the 11th straight season. The Aggies (6-3) were up by 14 when a 50-yard touchdown run by Spiller made it 28-7 early in the third quarter. Narcisse put UTSA (3-5) on top in the first with a 2-yard touchdown run that made it 7-0. The Aggies tied it when Spiller ran 60 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the next possession. Cordarrian Richardson put Texas A&M on top 14-7 later in the first quarter with a 19-yard touchdown run.

Spiller runs for 217 yards, 3 TDs as Aggies beat UTSA 45-14

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - Freshman Isaiah Spiller set season highs with 217 yards rushing and three touchdowns to lead Texas A&M to a 45-14 win over UTSA on Saturday. The Aggies (6-3) were up by 14 when a 50-yard touchdown run by Spiller made it 28-7 early in the third quarter. It was his second long scoring run of the game after a 60-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Narcisse put UTSA (3-5) on top in the first with a 2-yard touchdown run that made it 7-0. The Aggies tied it when Spiller ran 60 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the next possession.

Mond accounts for 5 TDs as Aggies beat Mississippi St. 49-30

The Aggies (5-3, 3-2 SEC) led by 18 points at halftime after taking advantage of two turnovers by Mississippi State (3-5, 1-4). Kylin Hill had a 39-yard run on Mississippi State's next drive and capped it with a 4-yard touchdown run to get the Bulldogs within 42-24 early in the fourth. A 2-yard touchdown run by Cordarrian Richardson came after that to make it 49-24 with five minutes to seal the victory. Two plays later Shrader connected with Guidry on a 32-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-7. Three plays Kendrick Rogers caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mond to make it 28-7.

Fumble recovery, late TD helps Texas A&M beat Ole Miss 24-17

Trailing 14-10 midway in the third quarter, Jhamon Ausbon and Justin Madubuike sacked Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, jarring the ball free. Johnson scooped up the loose ball and raced untouched past the Ole Miss sideline to build a 17-14 lead. Braden Mann kept Ole Miss in poor field position with five punts for a 52.2 yard average, with a final fourth quarter kick of 55 yards that rolled out at the Ole Miss 1-yard line. Ole Miss: Close losses aren't unexpected with young, untested teams, but the Rebels have been on the short end against Memphis, California and Texas A&M. Ole Miss travels to Auburn on Nov. 2.

MONDAY HUDDLE: Was Texas Tech cheated out of win at Baylor?

Clay Johnston #4 of the Baylor Bears is chased by Cameron Cantrell #18 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Baylor-Texas Tech classic ends in controversyWhile Texas and Texas A&M had the more decorated matchups (Texas played Oklahoma in Dallas, A&M played Alabama in College Station), Baylor and Texas Tech played the best game within state borders Saturday. The Red Raiders thought for sure it was a fumble, and the ball was recovered by Texas Tech defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings. That would have allowed Texas Tech to play for a game-winning field goal in the first overtime when it got its possession. On Sunday, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt said the Big 12 conference admitted that officials got the call wrong and it should have been a fumble.

Tagovailoa, No. 1 Tide roll past No. 24 Texas A&M 47-28

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Alabama is back on top and Tua Tagovailoa and the Tide look to stay there for a while. 1 Alabama's offense kept rolling along behind his powerful left arm with a 47-28 victory over No. Tagovailoa threw his first interception of the season but his first touchdown of the game made him Alabama's career passing touchdowns leader, passing A.J. He shrugged off the school record to focus on the importance of getting a win in Alabama's first game as No. Alabama's scoring drives started on average at the Texas A&M 48.

MONDAY HUDDLE: Epic finish shows this could be special season for SMU

The Mustangs ultimately won the game in the third overtime on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Shane Buechele to James Proche. For the second time this year, Texas A&M will face a team ranked No. Another Texas team enters rankingsMake it four Texas schools that are now ranked in the AP poll now that 6-0 Baylor has also become a ranked team. The Texans erupted for 592 yards of total offense and 53 points in a 53-32 win. Oklahoma has been better defensively so far this year than Texas, but the Sooners havent faced the caliber of offense Texas will throw at them.

Mond, Davis connect twice for No. 23 Texas A&M to beat Arkansas 31-27

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Quartney Davis caught two of the three touchdowns thrown by Kellen Mond, including the go-ahead score for No. 23 Texas A&M, and the Aggies held on to beat Arkansas 31-27 on Saturday. They have lost eight in a row against Texas A&M since the Aggies left the Big 12. Arkansas: Hicks, who lost the starting job to Starkel after two games, helped lead the Razorbacks to the A&M 19 in the final minute. Arkansas: The Razorbacks play Oct. 12 at Kentucky after an open date.

MONDAY HUDDLE: Did Texans save their season with win?

Gardner Minshew #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is tackled by Benardrick McKinney #55 of the Houston Texans and Brennan Scarlett #57. Was this a season-saving win for Texans? Appetizer before main course for Texas, Texas A&MBoth Texas and Texas A&M did what they were expected to do, which was earn lopsided wins in final nonconference tuneups. Tough losses against Pac-12 for Houston, Texas TechBoth Houston and Texas Tech forayed into the Pac-12 in their Week 3 matchups, and both came out with disappointing losses. Alan Bowman went 30-of-55 passing for 307 yards in defeat for Texas Tech, which has a bye before facing Oklahoma on Sept. 28.

Spiller helps No. 16 Texas A&M to 62-3 rout of Lamar

16 Texas A&M to a 62-3 rout of Lamar on Saturday night. Spiller shined in the first game since Jashaun Corbin sustained a season-ending hamstring injury last week at Clemson, running for touchdowns of 1 and 34 yards. Ausbon dropped a would-be touchdown on third-and-5 on the next drive and the Aggies added a 31-yard field goal to lead 13-0 entering the second quarter. Lamar put together a nice drive after that but came away empty when Bobby Brown blocked a 22-yard field goal attempt early in the second quarter. Spiller had a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Mond added a score on a 12-yard run later in the period to leave A&M up 27-0 at halftime.