Kansas State University Athletics
Kansas State University
Michigan
Kansas State knocks off Michigan at Paradise Jam, 82-71
Nov 25, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Nov 25, 2002
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands - Pervis Pasco scored 14 points to lead a balanced Kansas State score sheet that had five players finish in double figures, as the Wildcats defeated Michigan, 82-71, in their final game at the Paradise Jam.
Frank Richards finished with 13 points, including a 9-for-10 effort from the free throw line, and Matt Siebrandt snapped an early-season slump with 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting for K-State (1-2), which connected on 59 percent from the field for the game.
"We found some ways to get the ball in the basket and we rebounded the ball well," said Kansas State head coach Jim Wooldridge. "We were active and alive on the floor and it proved to be the difference in the game. It was a much-needed win for us. I told the kids after the game that I was really proud of the way they came out and started the game. I thought they played extremely hard again."
Tim Ellis and Jarrett Hart also scored in double digits for the Cats, chipping in 11 points each, while Janerio Spurlock added nine as the K-State bench outscored the Michigan reserves, 23-7.
"I think we had a better flow tonight," Hart said. "We were much crisper in our passing and in our offensive sets. Coach (Wooldridge) emphasized that today in our meetings and I think we came out and did that. We also picked up our intensity and played with more consistency."
Daniel Horton and LaVell Blanchard each scored 17 points for Michigan (0-3), the only team to go home winless from the tournament.
A three-point play by Pasco capped 7-0 Kansas State run midway through the first half as the Wildcats jumped out to a 21-12 lead with 8:25 remaining in the period. The Wildcats then scored 14 of the period's final 18 points as six different players combined to give K-State a 41-23 lead at the break.
Michigan battled back to cut Kansas State's advantage to nine points on five different occasions during the second half but never really threatened as K-State's defense, which held the Wolverines to just 39 percent shooting on the game, stiffened and the Wildcats sank 7 of 9 from the free throw line over the final two minutes.
"This is the third game in three days and both teams were a little fatigued," Wooldridge said. "Michigan is an awfully talented team and we knew that they were going to be able to make some plays and hit some shots. But we were able to finish the game off at the free throw line. We got some lay-ups out of our press offense that proved to be just enough at a critical time when they were making their run that kept our spirits up and our confidence up."
Kansas State will face its second straight Big Ten opponent when the Wildcats return to action on Saturday, Nov. 30, versus Northwestern at Bramlage Coliseum. The team returns to Manhattan late Thursday night.
