SE: K-State MBB Looks to Continue Being Aggressive in Trip West vs. Washington State on Wednesday

By Corbin McGuire

Regardless of what was asked, Dean Wade, Xavier Sneed and Makol Mawien used one common word when answering questions after Saturday's 89-71 win over SE Missouri State: Aggressive.

After an off-shooting performance against Tulsa, K-State (9-2) converted 62.5 percent from the floor against SE Missouri State.

The difference?

"Everyone was being ultra aggressive," junior forward Dean Wade said, as K-State prepares to face Washington State (7-3) at Spokane Arena on Wednesday at 10 p.m. (CT), which will be aired nationally on ESPN2.

The final stat on Saturday sheet backed up Wade's assessment, as the Wildcats scored a season-high 44 points in the paint. The last time K-State scored more points in the paint for a game was against Iowa State on February 28, 2015, when the Wildcats tallied 46 in a home win.

K-State also collected eight of their first 10 points against SE Missouri State in the paint, with a Wade jumper just outside the lane being the lone exception. Included in this early attack was a pair of dunks — of an eventual season-high seven for the game — capped by a highlight-worthy alley oop to Sneed from Kamau Stokes.

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— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) December 18, 2017

Was this pent-up frustration from sitting on a loss for a week or something else?

"I just feel like we came out and played aggressive really," Sneed, a sophomore, said. "Hopefully we can do that all year long."

"Same," added Wade, who contributed 19 points in 19 minutes against SE Missouri State.

When asked about Sneed's play lately, which included a career-high 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting and seven rebounds on Saturday, Wade went right back to that same word.

"I just like that he's being confident and being aggressive," Wade said of Sneed, whose performance against Tulsa (15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block) made him the first Wildcat in recorded history to lead his team in five different categories in a game. "If the shots don't fall, he's still being aggressive with everything.

"I think that goes for everyone on the team and I hope it rolls over into Big 12 play."

Additionally on Saturday, Mawien broke double-figures scoring for the first time since the Wildcats' season-opener against American. The 6-foot-9 sophomore scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbed four rebounds that included two of the Wildcats' 10 offensive boards.

To no surprise, every answer Mawien voiced at Saturday's presser included the word aggressive at least once.

With Mawien shooting an eye-grabbing 77.5 percent (31-of-40) from the floor this season, K-State head coach Bruce Weber said the Wildcats' attack must include him touching the ball more consistently.

"Whether it's zone, man, whatever, we have to get the ball in the paint, whether it's with the dribble or the pass. If you get it inside, in the paint, get it side to side, usually good things happen," said Weber, whose team recorded 25 assists against SE Missouri State, the most by a K-State team since dishing out 25 at Baylor on February 15, 2014. "We have to throw it to him a little bit more."

While K-State's battle against Washington State will not completely close out its non-conference schedule — it hosts Georgia on January 27, as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge — it will be its last before Big 12 play begins.

The Cougars started the season 6-0, which included wins over Saint Mary's and San Diego State, but they have dropped three of four since. Still, K-State looks to head into Big 12 play, which starts at Iowa State on December 29, with some momentum.

"It's a big game for us. We can't worry about the future, can't worry about the past," Weber said. "We have to worry about today, which right now is Washington State."

Led by a one-two scoring punch in 6-foot-7 junior Robert Franks (18.3 PPG) and sophomore guard Malachi Flynn (15.4 PPG), Washington State ranks fifth nationally in 3-point field goals made per game (11.7). Plus, the Cougars will have the advantage of playing in front of a home crowd, something K-State was able to overcome in its road win at Vanderbilt earlier this season.

"We just have to be ready to play and play at a high level," Weber said. "Every road game is going to be tough. Obviously our league is good and you have to be ready to play, so every experience is going to be valuable. All I care about is that we keep getting better."

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: K-State MBB Looks to Continue Being Aggressive in Trip West vs. Washington State on Wednesday

Players Mentioned

Makol Mawien

Xavier Sneed

Kamau Stokes

Dean Wade

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