Texas A&M University women’s basketball player Jordan Nixon delivered an emotional interview following a buzzer-beating win against Iowa State on Wednesday.
“It really just goes back to trust," Nixon said, fighting back tears. "They trust me to make these plays. They trust me to lead this team. Win, lose, or draw, every single person on that bench is behind me, and it just makes these moments that much more special."
When asked how the team found the inspiration to take the lead, Nixon, who scored a career-high 35 points, noted their morale is likely what carried them to victory.
“The spirit of the 12th man, if you’re familiar. We keep fighting. This team is so resilient. I said it two days ago, I’ll say it again, I’ve said it all season. We never say die, never say die, and I think you saw that tonight,” she added.
Emotions take over for Jordan Nixon as she reflects on a historic moment in her career. @AggieWBB#ncaaW
pic.twitter.com/XHKcEK46Va— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) March 25, 2021
Texas A&M, the No. 2 seeded team, won during overtime of the NCAA women’s tournament, ending the score at 84-82 and placing the Aggies in the Sweet 16 bracket.
AT THE BUZZER!!!
NIXON CALLS GAME!!!#ncaaW
pic.twitter.com/yduPbpN1tu— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) March 25, 2021
The win garnered mixed reactions from viewers who tuned in to the game, ultimately, most praising Nixon's impeccable precision on the court.
okay sign me up for a first class ticket on the jordan nixon hype train pic.twitter.com/12ECpvpFjQ
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) March 25, 2021
Yesssss baby girl yo team trust you! pic.twitter.com/GojoGxtrE8
— Naciska Gilmore (@ngilmore34) March 25, 2021
— Matthew Landleft (@MLandleft) March 25, 2021
She puts the fight in Fightin' Texas Aggies!
— Chris Dekaney (@Aggie93PhD) March 25, 2021
Despite an influx of praise, some fans were expectedly dissatisfied with the game's results and blamed the referees for letting Texas A&M take the reins in the nail-biting match.
And A&M gets thrown another win by the refs. Shocker.
— Joel Hartzler (@jhartzler33) March 25, 2021
Iowa state got screwed here
— SICEMBALL (@SICEMBALL) March 25, 2021
Regardless of the haters, Nixon's fans still had her back and are rooting for her.
Helluva win Jordan! Ice water in your veins. ????❤️
Lol at the haters in this thread tho. Same refs blew the call under ISU's basket in regulation that should've given the Aggies a chance to take the final shot, but yeah…you do you.
— Mr. Momo's Free Donuts (@Mr_M_Morris) March 25, 2021
Texas A&M coach Gary Blair reflected on Nixon's tenacity and compatibility as an Aggie.
"Jordan Nixon is a winner. She's so good," Blair said of the sophomore player. "I still remember two years ago when she came down on her official visit. Sometimes you just get lucky and you know the fit is perfect. When she came in she fit like perfection."
Following the historic win, Nixon shared that the game was dedicated to her deceased high school coach and former A&M alum, Dave Edwards. Edwards passed away from COVID-19 last year at age 48.
"He was one of my biggest fans," she said. "This game was for him."
