Kansas State University Athletics
Kansas State University
Fort Hays State
Freshmen Lead K-State Past Tigers
Nov 06, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 6, 2011
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State kicked off its 2011-12 season by blasting in-state foe Fort Hays State in an exhibition game Sunday afternoon 90-60 in Bramlage Coliseum. K-State used a balanced offensive attack and tough defense to cage the visiting Tigers for the win.
Freshmen Thomas Gipson and Angel Rodriguez paced the Wildcats all throughout the game as Rodriguez connected on three shots from beyond the arc in the opening half and Gipson muscled his way to 10 second-half points. A San Juan, P.R., native, Rodriguez began his campaign at K-State by finishing the contest with 15 points to go along with five assists. Gipson posted 14 points and six rebounds in his debut as a Wildcat. Starters Martavious Irving and Will Spradling finished with 12 points apiece and Jordan Henriquez led the Wildcats with 10 rebounds, which included five on the offense end, to go along with 11 points. Overall, K-State had 13 players tally points against the Tigers.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-7 lead early in the game before going on a 17-4 run midway through the first half. K-State held Fort Hays State without a bucket for nearly four minutes and in that time, the Tigers shot a meager 2-of-9 from the floor. K-State also forced FHSU into 11 first half turnovers. At the break, K-State led Fort Hays State 46-20.
The second half was all K-State as the Wildcats broke the game wide open, leading by as many 36 in the closing minutes. The highlight of the final half came from Henriquez as he finished off a fast break with an alley-oop slam from Rodriguez. With the game in hand, K-State had the opportunity to get almost every player on the roster in the game as 14 Wildcats saw action on the day.
Kansas State will be back in action on Friday as the Wildcats take on Charleston Southern. Tip-off from Bramlage Coliseum is set for 7 p.m., and can be seen on Fox Sports Kansas City.
