SPOKANE, Wash. — It’s all about defense with Texas A&M and Purdue, and the Aggies won the first half of a slug fest 32-25. Both teams are shooting below 35 percent at the break. Some thoughts. Rebounding was seen by both coaches as a key to the game, in large part because the Aggies are a lot better at it. That held true in the first half, with Purdue getting outrebounded 23-18. While neither team is shooting well from the field, A&M is hot from 3-point range. It’s 5 for 10 from behind the arc, compared to 3 for 9 for Purdue. Naji Hibbert and Donald Sloan both have hit a pair of treys. Stat of the half, which Purdue coach Matt Painter might grumble about: The Boilermakers have yet to shoot a free throw. Texas A&M is 9 of 14 from the line. Purdue has been whistled for 12 fouls, A&M six. Sloan, who leads the Aggies with 18 points per game, scored just 10 in Texas A&M’s 69-53 win over Utah State, which ranked fourth on the team. He has eight points and two assists at the break. Purdue’s E’Twaun Moore leads all scorers with 11 points, just one fewer than he had in the first round win over Siena. Chris Kramer and JaJuan Johnson both have two fouls for Purdue. They’re not in trouble, but it’s worth watching because both are critical presences for the Boilermakers.

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Halftime: Texas A&M 32, Purdue 25