Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nevada - The Scarlet Knights were unable to cash in all their chips in Las Vegas, securing sixth place at the inaugural Players Era Festival.
 
Rutgers suffered a tough 81-77 loss to No. 20 Texas A&M Saturday afternoon, winning just one out of three tournament games but going the distance with two of the best in the nation.
 
Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey continued their historic freshman seasons, finishing with 18 and 24 points respectively. The five-star duo scored or assisted the first 10 of Rutgers' 12 first-half baskets.
 
Foul trouble (16 personals) and controlling the ball made the difference through the first 20 minutes - the Aggies went 20-for-25 at the line and scored 16 points off 11 Rutgers turnovers. A&M took a 40-34 lead into the break.
 
It was a tale of two halves for the Scarlet Knights, storming out of the gates on a 13-0 run while building a nine-point lead. Bailey and senior captain Jeremiah Williams combined for a perfect 9-for-9 to begin the second.
 
Williams continues to emerge as the go-to third option for the Scarlet Knights - he shined as the second highest scorer with 20 shooting 7-for-8 from the field. He averaged 13.3 PPG in Las Vegas and was Rutgers' scoring-leader last season.


 
Freshman Lathan Sommerville added eight points and four rebounds but fouled out in 13 minutes.
 
The Scarlet Knights held a 77-76 lead with 3:10 remaining but did not score the rest of the game and finished with one make in their final seven shot attempts.
 
Rutgers won the rebounding battle 42-35 (23-14 in the second half) and Bailey's 10 boards marked his second career double-double. RU defense held the Aggies to 13 percent three-point shooting, though 29 personal fouls saw A&M finish 31-for-42 from the charity stripe.
 
Saturday's meeting was the first in history between these two universities and included seven ties and 10 lead changes.
 
Rutgers has seven days of rest before tipping off the first Big Ten match of the season against Ohio State on Dec. 7 at noon - their fifth consecutive road game.