MANHATTAN, Kan. Freshman forward Cartier Martin’s driving layup with 40 seconds proved to be difference, as Kansas State closed the exhibition season with a 70-68 win over Global Sports on Saturday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
With the win, Kansas State finishes the exhibition season with a 1-1 mark, while Global Sports falls to 2-6 in its eighth game of a 10-game exhibition slate. The victory also snapped a two-game losing streak against the exhibition team, as Global Sports won the previous two meetings in 2000 and 2001.
Kansas State shot 43.5 percent from the field in the contest, while outrebounding Global Sports, 36-33. After a disappoint effort in the first exhibition game against EA Sports, the Wildcats made strides in turnovers and free throws. The team managed just 10 turnovers, while forcing 13 from Global, and hit 11-of-16 shots from the charity stripe.
Senior guard Tim Ellis and junior forward Jeremiah Massey led four Wildcats in double figures with 15 points each, while Martin and freshman guard Dez Willingham chipped in 10 points apiece. Massey led both squads with nine rebounds and added a team-best two blocks.
Forward Jason Blair paced both teams with 18 points in the loss for Global Sports to go with a team-high eight rebounds. Blair managed just 4-of-10 shooting from the field, but went an impressive 10-of-11 from the free throw line.
Kansas State used a 14-6 run to start the second half, capped by a three-pointer by freshman guard Lance Harris, to take a commanding 51-39 lead with just under 15 minutes to play.
Down 11 points with 8:49 left in the contest, Global Sports went on a 12-2 run that cut the deficit to 65-64 with just under three minutes to play.
A couple of free throws by senior guard Frank Richards pulled the advantage to 67-64 before a free throw and a three-pointer by guard Jermaine Lewis gave Global Sports its first lead at 68-67. After a 30-second timeout by the visitors to set up the final K-State possession, Martin received the inbounds pass and worked his way through the lane for the winning basket with 40 seconds remaining. Blair missed a three-pointer at the buzzer for Global Sports.
Kansas State shot an impressive 53.6 percent from the field (15-of-28) in the first half, but led Global Sports by just four points at the break, 37-33. The Wildcats broke a 16-all tie with an 8-0 run that gave the team a 24-18 lead with just over seven minutes to play before halftime. However, Global Sports closed to within 29-28 with 3:13 play after a basket and free throw by Blair. Ellis paced both teams with 11 points in the first half, while Willingham added 10.
Kansas State officially opens the 2003-04 season on Friday, Nov. 21, as the Wildcats play host to Birmingham-Southern at 8:30 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum. It will be a rare men’s and women’s doubleheader on Friday, as the nationally-ranked K-State women’s basketball team plays Western Illinois beginning at 6 p.m.
