Game Preview // K-State Returns Home to Host Iowa State Saturday

GAME #27
KANSAS STATE (18-8, 7-6 Big 12) vs. IOWA STATE (13-12, 4-9 Big 12)
Saturday, February 17, 2018 >> 12 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) >> Manhattan, Kan.

TELEVISION
ESPNU // WatchESPN // ESPN3

Doug Sherman (play-by-play)
Bryndon Manzer (analyst)
Todd Jones (producer)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network

Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
Stan Weber (analyst)

Listen Online: TuneIn.com [free] // www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]
Satellite Radio: Sirius 132 // XM 199 // Internet 953

LIVE STATS
kstatesports.com
kstate.statbroadcast.com [media only]

TICKETS
www.kstatesports.com/tickets
(800) 221.CATS [2287]
Single Game: $25 (bench & GA)/$50 (chairback)
Wildcat 4 Pack: $75 (4 GA tickets)
Groups (12+): $15

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee '78)
Overall: 431-231/20^th season
At K-State: 118-76/6^th season
vs. Iowa State: 4-8 (3-2 at home)

Iowa State: Steve Prohm (Alabama '97)
Career Record: 164-64/7^th season
Record at ISU: 60-35/3^rd season
vs. Kansas State: 4-1 (2-0 on the road)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (18-8, 7-6 Big 12)
G: #2 Cartier Diarra
G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.
G: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #32 Dean Wade
F: #14 Makol Mawien

Iowa State (13-12, 4-8 Big 12)
G: #5 Lindell Wigginton
G: #4 Donovan Jackson
G: #2 Cameron Lard
F: #23 Zoran Talley, Jr.
F: #33 Solomon Young

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: K-State leads 138-87
In Manhattan: K-State leads 80-27
In Ames: K-State leads 51-50
Big 12 era: Iowa State leads 24-21
Active Streak: K-State, 1
Weber vs. Iowa State: 4-8 (3-2 at home)
Prohm vs. K-State: 4-1 (2-0 on the road)
Weber vs. Prohm: 1-4 (0-2 at home)

OPENING TIP

Kansas State (18-8, 7-6 Big 12) begins a two-game homestand on Saturday, as the Wildcats play host to Iowa State (13-12, 4-9 Big 12) at 12 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. K-State has won two of its last three games, including an 82-72 win at Oklahoma State on Wednesday night to complete the season series, while Iowa State has dropped three of its last four games after a home 83-77 loss to No. 13/13 Kansas on Tuesday. Saturday's game will air on ESPNU and the WatchESPN?app with Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst) on the call.
K-State will finish the regular season with three of its last five games at home beginning on Saturday against Iowa State. The Wildcats hosts Texas (15-11, 5-8 Big 12) on Wednesday before back-to-back road games at No. 23/23 Oklahoma (16-9, 6-7 Big 12) and TCU (17-9, 5-8 Big 12) on Feb. 24 and 27 before the home finale against Baylor (16-10, 6-7 Big 12) on March 3. The team is 11-3 at Bramlage Coliseum this season, but has lost consecutive home games to No. 7/7 Kansas (56-70) and No. 7/7 Texas Tech (47-66) with the last home win coming against Georgia on Jan. 27.
K-State and Iowa State will meet for the second time this season after the Wildcats opened Big 12 play with a 91-75 win at Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 29, in which, junior Dean Wade (34), Kamau Stokes (23) and Barry Brown, Jr. (21) combined for 78 of the team's 91 points on 62.8 percent shooting (27-of-43), including 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from 3-point range. It marked just the second time in school history that the Wildcats had a 30-point scorer and two 20-point scorers in the same game and the first time since 1975. Overall, the schools will be meeting for the 226th time in their respective histories, including the 46th time in the Big 12 era, with K-State owning a 138-87 advantage. The Wildcats have won 80 of 107 games played in Manhattan, however, the Cyclones have won the last two meetings at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State used a complete team effort, which included four players in double figures with a game-high 25 points from junior Barry Brown, Jr., to complete the season sweep of Oklahoma State with an 82-72 victory on Wednesday night. The Wildcats connected on 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field, including 50 percent or better in each half, to post consecutive wins at Gallagher-Iba Arena for the first time since the 1987 and 1988 seasons. The team, which had averaged just 55.4 points on 36.8 percent shooting in the last five games, topped the 80-point barrier for the 11th time this season, but the first time since scoring 90 at Baylor on Jan. 22, while they shot 50 percent or better for the 13th time. The squad improved to 7-5 away from home with its six true road wins tying Kansas for the most of any Big 12 school.
As illustrated in Wednesday's win at Oklahoma State, balanced scoring has been a huge key to K-State's success under head coach Bruce Weber, as the Wildcats are 51-18 (.739) when four or more players score in double figures, including 10-2 (.833) this season. The team is 6-0 when sophomore Makol Mawien registers double digits, while they are 7-2 when Diarra scores 10 or more points.

NOTES ON IOWA STATE

Iowa State enters Saturday's game with a 13-12 overall record and 4-9 mark in Big 12 play after dropping an 83-77 decision at home to No. 13/13 Kansas on Tuesday night. The Cyclones connected on 49.2 percent from the field, including 54.2 percent in the first half, but the Jayhawks scored 21 points off of 12 turnovers and held the always-potent 3-point attack to 18.8 percent (3-of-16) shooting. Five players scored in double figures led by redshirt freshman Cameron Lard, who had a double-double with a game-high 19 points and 11 rebounds. Transfer Zoran Talley, Jr., and junior Nick Weiler-Babb added 15 and 14 points, respectively. ISU has lost three of its last four outings, but did knock off No. 17/18 Oklahoma, 88-80, last Saturday.
The Cyclones are averaging 73.8 points per game on 44 percent shooting, including 35.9 percent from 3-point range, with 37.5 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 5.1 steals and 4.3 blocks per game, while allowing opponents to average 74.3 points on 43.8 percent shooting, including 34.3 percent from long range. They are averaging 7.5 3-point field goals per game and have three players with 20 or more 3-pointers led by senior Dononvan Jackson's 80 treys. The team is shooting 71.6 percent from the line.
Freshman guard Lindell Wigginton paces four players in double figures for the Cyclones with a team-best 16.2 points per game on 40.3 percent shooting, including 42 percent from 3-point range, to go with 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 32.6 minutes per game. Jackson is second in scoring at 15.0 points per game and ranks second in the Big 12 with 3.2 3-point field goals per game, while he leads the league in free throw percentage (91.5). Lard also averages double figures at 13.2 points per game on 64.3 percent shooting to go with a team-best 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Weiler-Babb is fourth in scoring at 11.7 points per game on 44.9 percent shooting, while he is first in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7)?and third in assists (6.9 apg.).
Iowa State is led by third-year head coach Steve Prohm, who has a 60-35 record in his tenure. Overall, he has a 164-64 mark in his seventh season as a head coach, which includes a stint at Murray State (2011-15). He has advanced to the NCAA?Tournament three times, including twice at ISU.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be 226th meeting between K-State and Iowa State on the hardwood with the Wildcats holding a 138-87 advantage in a series that dates all the way to 1909. The 138 wins are the most against one opponent in school history, while the 225 meetings are the third-most, trailing only Kansas (288) and Missouri (236). However, Iowa State owns a 24-21 lead since the inception of the Big 12 in 1997, including wins in seven of the last 11 meetings. The Wildcats' 91-75 victory on Dec. 29 snapped a four-game losing streak in the series, which was the longest since the Cyclones also won four in a row from 2000-01, while it halted a six-game skid at Hilton Coliseum and was the first in Ames since an 86-85 victory on Feb. 5, 2011.
Iowa State has swept the season series each of the last two years with consecutive wins at Bramlage Coliseum for the first time ever and the first time in Manhattan since the 1944 and 1945 seasons. Although K-State owns an 80-27 all-time advantage at home, the team has not beaten ISU?at home since a last-second 70-69 victory on Feb. 28, 2015. The Wildcats are looking to sweep the season series for the first time since 2011.
Head coach Bruce Weber is 4-8 all-time against Iowa State, including a 3-2 mark at Bramlage Coliseum.

LAST MEETING: K-STATE 91, IOWA STATE 75 (DEC. 29, 2017)

Junior forward Dean Wade tallied a career-high 34 points, and he led a trio of scorers to score 20 or more points, as K-State earned its first win at Hilton Coliseum since 2011 with a decisive 91-75 win over Iowa State in the teams' last meeting on Dec. 29, 2017. Wade became the Wildcats' first 30-point scorer since 2014, as he joined fellow juniors Kamau Stokes and Barry Brown, who scored 23 and 21 points, respectively, with 20-point games, and accounted for 78 of the team's 91 points. With the victory, K-State snapped a four-game losing streak to Iowa State and earned its first win at Hilton Coliseum since an 86-85 win over Feb. 5, 2011. The win was also the first in a Big 12 opener on the road since 2008, halting a four-game losing streak.
It marked just the second time that the Wildcats had a 30-point scorer and two 20-point scorers since Chuckie Williams (34), Daryl Winston (23) and Mike Evans (20) accomplished the feat in a 108-93 victory at Iowa State on Jan. 29, 1975. It was also the most combined points for three players since Michael Beasley (44), Bill Walker (31) and Clent Stewart (5) combined for 80 points in a loss at Baylor on Feb. 23, 2008.
K-State scored a season-best 91 points on 55.2 percent shooting (32-of-58), including 50 percent (13-of-26) from 3-point range. It was the most points in a Big 12 opener since scoring 97 at home against Nebraska on Jan. 8, 2000, while it was the most in a Big 12 opener on the road since scoring 92 at Colorado on Jan. 21, 1987. The 91 points were the most in a Big 12 road game overall since scoring 96 at Oklahoma State on Jan. 18, 2017. The 13 3-point field goals tied for the ninth-most makes and the most in a Big 12 game since hitting 14 at Iowa State on Feb. 5, 2011.

HISTORY AT BRAMLAGE COLISEUM

K-State has posted a 363-116 (.758) all-time record at Bramlage Coliseum since its opening during the 1988-89 season. The 363 victories are the second-most at a home venue for the Wildcats, trailing the 378 wins at Ahearn Field House (1950-88).
K-State has collected a 162-36 (.818) record at home over the past 12 seasons, including a 69-31 (.690) mark in Big 12 play. The 162 wins rank fourth among Big 12 schools in that span, while the 69 league victories at home are only surpassed by Kansas and Texas. In all, the school has earned double-digit wins in 25 of its 30 seasons in the arena, including a current streak of 17 straight seasons.
Head coach Bruce Weber has a 78-20 (.796) record at Bramlage Coliseum since taking over at K-State with the 20 losses (17 in Big 12 play) coming by 140 points or 7.0 points per game. Among the 78 victories are 14 over ranked teams, including five against teams ranked in the Top 10 (No. 6 Oklahoma State and No. 7 Kansas in 2014, No. 8 Kansas in 2015, No. 1 Oklahoma in 2016, No. 7 West Virginia in 2017 and No. 4 Oklahoma in 2018).

LAST TIME OUT: K-STATE 82, OKLAHOMA STATE 72

K-State used a complete team effort, which included four players in double figures with a game-high 25 points from junior guard Barry Brown, Jr., to defeat Oklahoma State, 82-72, in front of 7,017 fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Wednesday night. The Wildcats broke open a tightly-contested game with a 19-4 run to end the first half and were never threatened the rest of the way in maintaining a double-digit lead for the entire second half.
K-State connected on 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field, including 50 percent or better in each half, to post consecutive wins in Stillwater for the first time since the 1987 and 1988 seasons. Wednesday night's showing was the 13th time this season that the team has shot 50 percent or better from the field in a contest, as they improved to 7-5 away from home and 4-3 against Big 12 competition on the road this season.
Brown, who collected his 13th career 20-point game and ninth this season, went 6-of-12 from the field and 12-of-14 from the free throw line, while sophomore Xavier Sneed (13) and juniors Dean Wade (12) and Kamau Stokes (11) all reached double-digits in scoring. Freshman forward Levi Stockard Ill put in valuable minutes, scoring a season-high 8 points on 3-of-4 from the field, with 5 rebounds with a career-high 23 minutes.

BENCH PROVES VITAL

The K-State bench proved to be important in the 82-72 win over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night, as reserves accounted for 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, with junior Kamau Stokes accounting for 11 points on 4-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-4 from long range, freshman Levi?Stockard III posting a season-high 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting and junior Amaad Wainright adding 5 points on 2-of-2 field goals, including a 3-pointer. It marked the most bench points in Big 12 play and the most since scoring 30 against USC?Upstate (12/5/17).
K-State has struggled this season getting production from its bench, as opponents have posted a 457-309 advantage in bench scoring, including a 246-108 mark since the start of Big 12 play. However, the Wildcats are 7-1 this season when it holds the advantage in bench points.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

K-State has been solid taking care of the basketball this season, averaging a Big 12-low 11.2 turnovers per game. The average ranks 30th nationally, while the 292 total turnovers places 27th in the nation. In contrast, the Wildcats have also forced their opponents into 14.7 turnovers per game, which ranks fourth in the league. The team ranks 21st nationally and third in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+3.4).
K-State has posted 12 turnovers or less in 19 of 26 games, including single-digit turnovers on eight occasions (UC Irvine, George Washington, Oral Roberts, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State (twice), Georgia and Kansas). Despite turning it over a season-high 18 times vs. 7/7 Texas Tech (2/10), the Wildcats have still registered 12 games of 10 turnovers or less in last 25 games. The team is averaging just 12.4 turnovers per game in Big 12 play.
K-State is averaging 14.5 assists per game on 25.7 made field goals per game, which ranks seventh in the Big 12. However, when comparing it to the low turnover average, the team ranks 47th nationally and fourth in the league in assist turnover ratio at 1.29. They have dished out 20 or more assists four times, including a season-best 25 against SE?Missouri State (12/16) and 22 against American (11/10) and Northern Arizona (11/20).

OVERALL THE OFFENSE HAS BEEN SOLID

K-State is averaging 73.3 points on 47.1 percent shooting, including 35.8 percent from 3-point range, to go with a solid 75.1 percent clip from the free throw line through 26 games. The Wildcats' offensive numbers are slightly less since the start of Big 12 play with the team averaging 71.5 points on 46.6 percent shooting, including 37.7 percent from 3-point range, and 75.2 percent from the free throw line in Big 12 play. Although the team ranks 10th in scoring offense in league play, they are second in both field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.
The Wildcats have scored 80 or more points 11 times, including three 90-point efforts against Arizona State (11/23), Iowa State (12/29) and Baylor (1/22), while five of the 11 80-point games have come since the start of Big 12 play. It is the most 90-point (three) and 80-point games (11) in the first 26 games since the 2009-10 season, which saw the team post 15 80-point and five 90-point games.
K-State has connected on better than 50 percent from the field in 13 games, including a season-best 62.5 percent (35-of-56) vs. SE?Missouri State (12/16), while seven have come in Big 12 play. The team has hit on 50 percent or better in both halves in 10 games (American, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, USC?Upstate, SE Missouri State, Iowa State, TCU, Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma State). The Wildcats tied a season-high for both field goals made (35) and attempted (62) vs. Oklahoma (1/16), while they registered season-highs for assists (25), points in the paint (44) and dunks (7) vs. SE?Missouri State. It was the most assists since dishing out 25 at Baylor on Feb. 15, 2014, while it was the most points in the paint since 46 vs. Iowa State on Feb. 28, 2015.

OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES OF LATE AT HOME

K-State has struggled offensively at home of late, averaging just 53 points on 33.1 percent shooting (52-of-157), including 20.7 percent (12-of-58) from 3-point range, in posting a 1-2 record against Georgia (56), No. 7/7 Kansas (56) and No. 7/7 Texas Tech (47). It marked the first time since Jan. 27 to Feb. 14, 2015 (West Virginia, Texas and Oklahoma) that the team has not eclipsed 60 points in three consecutive home games. During this three-game stretch, only one player (Dean Wade/17.7 ppg.) is averaging in double figures and only three are shooting 40 percent or better from the field.
In comparison, K-State averaged 79.4 points on 49.1 percent shooting, including 40.9 percent from 3-point range, in posting a 10-1 record in its first 11 games at Bramlage Coliseum this season. In these games, four Wildcats are scoring in double figures (Dean Wade/16.0 ppg., Barry Brown, Jr./15.5 ppg., Xavier Sneed/12.1 ppg. and Kamau Stokes/11.8 ppg.) and eight are shooting 40 percent or better with five at 50 percent or higher.
Prior to scoring 82 at Oklahoma State on Wednesday, the Wildcats had been in a slump offensively in the previous five games, averaging just 55.4 points on 36.8 percent shooting, including 26.7 percent from 3-point range. It was the fewest points in a five-game stretch since scoring 273 points from Dec. 28, 2014-Jan. 10, 2015 (Texas Southern, Georgia, Oklahoma State, TCU and Oklahoma).

SUCCESS BEYOND THE ARC

K-State has been successful from 3-point range, averaging 7.6 treys per game on 35.8 percent shooting (197-of-550). Sophomore Xavier Sneed is one of six players with double-digit 3-point field goals, as he leads all players with 48 treys on 35.8 percent shooting (48-of-134) this season. Junior Kamau Stokes is second on the team with 36 treys on 40 percent shooting (36-of-90), while Dean Wade (32), Barry Brown, Jr. (31), Cartier Diarra (24), Amaad Wainright (11) and Brian Patrick (10) all have 10 or more 3-point makes. Wade (Iowa State) and Sneed (West Virginia) both connected on a career-high 6 treys recently, while Brown had a career-best 4 against Arizona State (11/23) and Diarra had 4 vs. American (11/10).

DEFENSIVE PROWESS

K-State has been solid on the defensive end to start the season, allowing 67.7 points while holding its opposition to 42.6 percent shooting, including 32.7 percent from 3-point range. The team ranks among the Top 75 in turnover margin (21st), steals per game (22nd) and scoring defense (62nd), while they are second in the Big 12 in scoring defense, third in turnover margin and steals and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage defense.
K-State has held all but four opponents (Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State, Baylor and West Virginia) to below its scoring average and has held its opponents to an average of 11 points below its season scoring average. The nation's top-ranked scoring team -- Oklahoma (93.6 ppg.) -- was held to a season-low 69 points on 41.9 percent shooting, including 28 percent from 3-point range, and were forced into a season-worst 20 turnovers. TCU, who ranked fifth in scoring offense at 88.6 points per game on 50.8 percent shooting, were held to 68 points on 42.9 percent shooting.
K-State has scored 20 or more points off of turnovers in 10 games, which includes 38 vs. Northern Arizona (11/20) and 36 vs. USC?Upstate (12/16). The Wildcats opened the year with four consecutive games of 20 or more points off of turnovers, which included the 38-point effort vs. NAU on a school-record-tying 19 steals. The team has done it four times in Big 12 play, including 25 vs. West Virginia (1/1) and 22 at Texas (2/7).
K-State has put up some impressive defensive numbers under Weber, leading the Big 12 in scoring defense twice in his tenure (60.4 ppg., in 2012-13 and 65.4 ppg., in 2013-14). Since his arrival in 2012-13, the Wildcats are allowing opponents just 64.7 points per game (12,560 points). K-State has a 97-27 (.782) record when holding a foe to 69 points or less since 2012-13 and a 21-49 (.300) mark when allowing an opponent to score 70 or more.

TRIPLE SCORING THREAT

Even with Kamau Stokes slowed by injury, K-State still has a trio of scoring threats in juniors Dean Wade (16.1 ppg.) and Barry Brown, Jr. (16.0 ppg.) and sophomore Xavier Sneed (11.2 ppg.). They rank seventh, eighth and 28th in scoring in the Big 12, as the three are averaging 43.3 points per game on 47 percent shooting, including 36 percent from long range, and 77.9 percent from the free throw line. Without Stokes, the trio averaged 48.6 points per game on 45.7 percent shooting, including 35.4 percent from long range, and 81.8 percent from the free throw line.
The trio of Brown, Wade and Sneed have all scored in double figures in 14 career games, including 10 this season. The three have combined for 50 or more points on four occasions, including 51 vs. No. 6/5 West Virginia (1/1) on 50 percent shooting, 59 vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) on 55.2 percent shooting, 58 vs. No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16) on 57.5 percent shooting and 50 at Oklahoma State (2/14) on 50 percent shooting. They also combined for 48 points against No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13) on 46.2 percent shooting. They have combined for 57 double-digit scoring games, including Wade's team-high 22 such games, while the three have 20 20-point games among them, including nine by Brown and eight by Wade.
Wade is averaging 18.5 points on 53.6 percent shooting (89-of-166), including 47.9 percent (23-of-48) from 3-point range, and 78 percent (39-of-50) from the free throw line, through the first 13 games of Big 12 play. His scoring average ranks fourth in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma's Trae Young (30.4 ppg.), Texas Tech's Keenan Evans (19.8 ppg.) and Kansas' Devonte' Graham (19.0 ppg.), while he is also third in 3-point field goal percentage, sixth in field goal percentage and 10th in rebounding. He has scored 20 or more points in five of the last nine games, including 22 points vs. No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13), 21 vs. No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16), 20 vs. No. 24/25 TCU (1/20), 24 vs. Baylor (1/22), 20 vs. Georgia (1/27) and 20 vs. 7/7 Kansas (1/29), while he has led in scoring in six of the last eight games. He was the first Wildcat with six consecutive 20-point games since Michael Beasley in 2007-08.
Brown is not far behind Wade, averaging 18.1 points on 45.8 percent shooting (76-of-166), including 34 percent (17-of-50) from 3-point range, through the first 13 league games. After his 34-point effort at Baylor (1/22), he is the first Wildcat with multiple 30-point games since Rodney McGruder (three) in 2011-12, while he has six 20-point games in league play. His career-best 38 points vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) were the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen also scored 38 vs. Wisconsin on March 19, 2011 and the most in a home game since Pullen's 38 vs. Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011.
Wade (18.5 ppg.) and Brown (18.1 ppg.) have combined to score 475 points on 49.7 percent shooting in the first 13 Big 12 games, which is the most since Michael Beasley (28.3 ppg.) and Bill Walker (17.1 ppg.) combined for 590 points in the first 13 league games in 2008.
Sneed is starting to heat back up with nine double-figure scoring games in the last 13 outings and has registered double-digit points 16 times this season, including three 20-point games (Vanderbilt, SE Missouri State and West Virginia). He is the 3-point leader with 48, which includes a career-best 6-of-9 effort vs. West Virginia (1/1). He collected his first career double-double vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

STOKES RETURNS BUT SLOWLY

Junior guard Kamau Stokes returned the lineup against No. 15/11 West Virginia (2/3), posting 2 points on 0-of-3 shooting, including 0-of-3 from 3-point range, and a 2-of-2 effort from the free throw line to go with a team-best 4 assists and 1 turnover in 10 minutes of action. It marked his first action since going down with a foot injury at No. 18/18 Texas Tech (1/6), which required him to miss seven games.
Stokes is being brought back slowly but seems to be returning to form after Wednesday's performance at Oklahoma State, in which, he scored 11 points on 4-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, to go with 3 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal in 25 minutes. It marked his most minutes since playing 38 vs. West Virginia (1/1), while it was his first double-digit scoring game since his 23-point effort at Iowa State (12/29/17). In 19 games this season with 15 starts, he is averaging 11.5 points on 41.8 percent shooting with 4.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 27.4 minutes per game.
Stokes, who has seen action in 75 career games with 70 starts, played in all 35 games a season ago, averaging 11.7 points on 35.6 percent shooting, including 36.4 percent from 3-point range, to go with 4.1 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 33.3 minutes per game. He led the Wildcats a season ago in five categories (3-point field goals made and attempts, assists, starts and minutes) and was second in seven others (scoring, double-digit scoring games, field goals attempts, free throws made and attempts, free throw percentage and steals).

DIARRA FILLING IN NICELY

Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra has played well since having to take over for Kamau Stokes, who was injured against Texas Tech (1/6) and missed seven games before returning to play 10 minutes at West Virginia (2/3). With Diarra running point, K-State has averaged 69.7 points on 46.0 percent shooting (266-of-578), including 35.4 percent (74-of-209) from 3-point range, with an average of 13.1 assists and 11.3 turnovers per game.
Diarra, who was averaging 3.9 points on 44.2 percent shooting in the 14 games prior to the Texas Tech game, has averaged 10.9 points on 53.7 percent shooting (44-of-82), including 42.9 percent (15-of-35) from 3-point range, and 87.5 percent (28-of-32) from the free throw line in 30.6 minutes per game in the last 12 games. Since earning his first start against Oklahoma State (1/10), he is averaging 10.9 points on 53.2 percent shooting (41-of-77), including 40.6 percent (13-of-32) from long range, and 89.3 percent (25-of-28) from the free throw line.
Diarra has tallied double-digit points in seven of the last 12 games (had two before joining lineup), which includes 17 points vs. Oklahoma State (1/10), a season-best 18 points at No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13) and 16 points vs. No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16). He ranks second in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage in league-only (48.5) games and has knocked down at least two 3-pointers in five games, including three vs. the Jayhawks (1/13).

IMPRESSIVE SCORING FEAT, PART 1

In the Big 12 opener at Iowa State, Dean Wade (34), Kamau Stokes (23) and Barry Brown, Jr. (21) combined for 78 of the team's 91 points on 62.8 percent shooting (27-of-43), including 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from 3-point range. It marked just the second time that the Wildcats had a 30-point scorer and two 20-point scorers in the same game since Chuckie Williams (34), Daryl Winston (23) and Mike Evans (20) accomplished the feat in a 108-93 victory at Iowa State on Jan. 29, 1975. It was also the most combined points for three players in a game since Michael Beasley (44), Bill Walker (31) and Clent Stewart (5) combined for 80 points in a loss a Baylor on Feb. 23, 2008. In addition, it was the first time K-State had three 20-point scorers (Jacob Pullen, Denis Clemente and Curtis Kelly) since the 2010 NCAA West Regional Semifinal against Xavier on March 25, 2010.
Wade became the first 30-point scorer since Marcus Foster also scored 34 vs. Texas on Feb. 8, 2014, while it was the most points by in a Big 12 road game since Clemente scored 44 at Texas on Jan. 31, 2009 and most in a Big 12 opener since Beasley had 32 at Oklahoma on Jan. 12, 2008.

IMPRESSIVE SCORING FEAT, PART 2

Barry Brown, Jr., enjoyed a special night with a career-high 38 points in the Wildcats' 86-82 win over Oklahoma State on Jan. 10. The 38-point scoring output by Brown was the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen also scored 38 points against Wisconsin in the NCAA?Tournament on March 19, 2011, while it was most in a Big 12 home game since Pullen's 38 against top-ranked Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011. Brown, who scored 20 or more points in the fourth time in a five-game stretch, connected on 12-of-17 from the field to go with an 11-of-16 effort from the free throw line. He scored 26 of his 38 points after halftime on 8-of-10 field goals and 9-of-13 free throw line. He also added 6 steals, which were the most by a Wildcat in a Big 12 game.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

K-State enjoyed quite the memorable night on defensive end against Northern?Arizona (11/20), as the Wildcats tied the school record with 19 steals while forcing 31 total turnovers and enjoying a 38-15 edge in points off turnovers in the convincing 80-58 win. The 19 steals tied the school mark set against Tulane on Jan. 10, 1976 at Ahearn Field House. The 31 turnovers tied for the fifth most and were the most since also forcing 31 against Kentucky on Nov. 28, 2008. The 38 points off of turnovers were the fourth-most and the most since totaling 39 against Washington State on Dec. 5, 2009.
In all, five different Wildcats had at least two steals, including a career-best 6 by Barry?Brown, Jr., and 5 by Dean?Wade. The 6 steals by Brown tied nine other players for the eighth-most steals in a game. He now has 150 in his career, which ranks third on the all-time list. Kamau Stokes also had 3 steals, while sophomore Xavier Sneed and redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra had 2 each.

ONE OF THE YOUNGEST TEAMS

K-State is one of 15 schools nationally (Auburn, American, Bowling Green, UC Irvine, The Citadel, Holy Cross, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Marquette, Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Toledo and Wofford) to have one or fewer seniors on its roster in 2017-18, while the Wildcats' nine freshmen (true and redshirt) and sophomores ranks nine nationally and are only surpassed by the 12 at Auburn and Kentucky, 11 by UC Irvine, 10 each by American, The Citadel, Tennessee, Toledo and Wofford.

K-STATE WELCOMES SHAUN WILLIAMS

Head coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of Shaun Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) on the first day of the National Signing Period on Nov. 8.
A 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard, Williams led Hazelwood Central in 12 categories en route to helping the Hawks to a 17-11 record and a trip to the Class 5, District 3 Championship Game. He averaged a team-best 18.6 points on 47.4 percent shooting (155-of-237), including 35.2 percent (38-of-108) from 3-point range, to go with 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He connected on a team-best 83.8 percent (98-of-117) from the free throw line. He was a First Team Class 5 All-State selection by the Missouri Basketball?Coaches Association as a junior.

UP NEXT: TEXAS (15-11, 5-8 Big 12)

K-State continues Big 12 play on Wednesday, as the Wildcats play host to Texas (15-11, 5-8 Big 12) at 8 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum on ESPNU.

Game Preview // K-State Returns Home to Host Iowa State Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Barry Brown, Jr.

Cartier Diarra

Makol Mawien

Brian Patrick

Xavier Sneed

Kamau Stokes

Dean Wade

Amaad Wainright

Kansas State University Athletics

Game Preview // K-State Returns Home to Host Iowa State Saturday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Barry Brown, Jr.

Cartier Diarra

Makol Mawien

Brian Patrick

Xavier Sneed

Kamau Stokes

Dean Wade

Amaad Wainright

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