For observers in search of good shooting, accuracy from beyond the 3-point arc or even a semblance of proficiency in free throws, eighth-ranked Texas A&M's 64-58 victory over Northern Kentucky on Tuesday night at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas, was not a game that deserved a lot of attention.

Instead, it was a game chock full of grit and determination, with both teams battling through shooting adversity. Add in the fact the Aggies were without two of their top players and there was little wonder their win over a quality team like Northern Kentucky was anything but pretty.

Duane Wilson scored 16 points, and Tyler Davis added 14 points and 10 rebounds to pace Texas A&M.

The Aggies led just 61-58 after Northern Kentucky's Jordan Garnett sank a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left. Wilson then hit a free throw with 16 seconds to go before Texas A&M's J.J. Caldwell made two from the line with four seconds left to ice the game.

"It was a good, hard-fought win against a good team -- we found a way to win," Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. "This might have been about as good as we've played defensively this season. It's been a crazy week with the injuries and practice around the holidays. We have a deep team, and it's not the first time these guys played in a tough situation."

Savion Flagg added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Aggies (10-1). Texas A&M played for the first time this season without Admon Gilder, who is sidelined due to a knee injury.

Texas A&M outrebounded Northern Kentucky 48-39 and won despite making just 2 of 20 3-point shots. The Norse made 7 of 28 shots from beyond the arc.

"It was really just next man up and to focus on the guys that were suiting up and getting ready for us," Wilson said. "Our younger guys did a good job stepping up, especially Savion having a double-double tonight. That was huge for us.

"Overall, as a team, we stuck together. We knew Northern Kentucky was going to be a great team and give us a tough battle. I feel like we were well prepared for it."

Texas A&M led by as many as nine points in the game but gave up the advantage midway through the second half. Flagg's layup with 7:06 left pushed the Aggies back in front for good, and a layup by Davis with 3:53 remaining stretched the margin to 56-49.

Drew McDonald led the Norse (7-5) with 16 points, Garnett added 15 and Lavone Holland scored 12 for Northern Kentucky.

The Norse ended up 5 of 12 from free-throw line, a key stat in a game decided by six points.

"I thought our guys competed," Northern Kentucky coach John Brannen said. "We played extremely hard, and I thought we executed our game plan. Offensive rebounding and the inability to make open shots for us were the reasons we were unable to close. The length and athleticism that Texas A&M has just dwarfed us."

Texas A&M led 29-23 at the half behind seven points from Wilson and six each from Davis and Tonny Trocha-Morelos, but the Aggies shot just one free throw in the first half.

McDonald led the Norse with nine points at intermission. Northern Kentucky hit just 1 of 15 shots from behind the arc and shot just 32.4 percent overall in the half.

NOTES: Texas A&M faced a team that was in the 2017 NCAA Tournament for the fifth time this season. ... Northern Kentucky entered the game leading the nation in two-point field-goal percentage (.623). The Norse shot just 45.7 percent from inside the arc against the Aggies. ... Texas A&M sophomore Robert Williams and freshman Isiah Jasey each missed a second consecutive game after bumping heads in practice. According to Aggies coach Billy Kennedy, the two 6-foot-10 towers are being evaluated on a day-to-day basis. ... The meeting was the first between the schools, and it was the final of six first-time opponents this year for Northern Kentucky. The Norse went 2-4 in those games, defeating Iona and James Madison but falling to Memphis, Vermont, UMBC and Texas A&M.