Sneed, Freshmen Excel as K-State Defeats Emporia State, 86-49

Friday, October 25

Manhattan, Kan.

8 p.m.

Kansas State University

0-0,0-0Big 12

Emporia State

0-0,0-0Mid-America Intercollegiate

Emporia St.

Kansas St.

Sneed, Freshmen Excel as K-State Defeats Emporia State, 86-49

Oct 25, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Stats (.pdf)Quotes (.pdf)Photo Gallery Highlights Postgame Press Conference

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Senior guard Xavier Sneed poured in a game-high 18 points, while freshmen Antonio Gordon and Montavious Murphy added 16 and 10 points, respectively, as Kansas State opened exhibition play with an 86-49 victory over Emporia State on Friday night before 8,805 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.

The 86 points were the most in a home exhibition game in nearly eight years, as the Wildcats scored nearly half their points in the paint (40) while converting 23 Hornet turnovers into 34 points. The last time the team scored this many points in an exhibition came in a 90-60 win over Fort Hays State on November 6, 2011.

K-State has now 25 consecutive exhibition games at Bramlage Coliseum dating back to 2003.

In addition to the trio in double figures, seven other Wildcats registered at least two field goals on night, as K-State connected on 45.6 percent (36-of-79) from the field, including 35.5 percent (11-of-31) from 3-point range. The 11 made 3-point field goals were the most-ever in an exhibition game, surpassing the 10 against Washburn in 2010 and Pittsburg State in 2016. The team also held a 20-2 edge in fast-break points, thanks in part to 11 steals.

In all, the 36 made field goals came on 27 assists, including a game-high 7 from junior newcomer David Sloan.

Sneed scored his game-high 18 points on 7-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range to go with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 24 minutes, while Gordon went 7-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-4 from long range, with 7 rebounds in a little over 20 minutes. Murphy collected a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds to go with his 10 points.

ESU was led by junior transfer Brenden Van Dyke, who scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting in 21 minutes.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a little erratic play to open the game, K-State settled down behind the play of seniors Xavier Sneed and Makol Mawien to rattle off 11 consecutive points to take a double-digit lead with just 14 minutes to play. Sneed and Mawien each had four points in the 11-0 run.

The Hornets would end the run with a bucket on the next possession, however, the Wildcats answered with 9 straight points to push the advantage to 23-7 with 10:52 to play in the half. During the stretch, freshman Antonio Gordon ignited the offensive attack with five points, including a 3-pointer.

A 5-0 run by ESU closed the gap to 23-12 with just under nine minutes to play, but K-State again answered with a 12-2 run, including 8 in a row from Gordon, to extend the advantage to 35-14 with 3:33 remaining. The lead stood at 23 points at the half, as the Wildcats headed into the locker room with a 42-19 advantage.

K-State connected on 43.9 percent (18-of-41), including 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from 3-point range, while holding ESU to 30 percent (6-of-20) shooting, including 28.6 percent (2-of-7) from long range. The Wildcats scored 18 points off 16 Hornet turnovers and scored 22 of their 42 points in the paint.

Nine different Wildcats scored in the opening half, including a game-high 14 points from Antonio Gordon on 6-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Sneed added 7 points, while freshman Montavious Murphy had a team-high 7 rebounds to go with 5 points.

K-State continued to push its lead in the second half, opening up a 53-26 advantage after a fast-break bucket by freshman guard DaJuan Gordon with 14:30 to play.

ESU was able to cut into the deficit with a 16-7 spurt over the next 4 minutes capped by a 3-pointer from redshirt freshman Justin Balcome to close to within 60-42 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Much like the first half, the Wildcats responded with a run of their own, scoring 14 of the next 19 points to push the lead back to 27 points at 74-47 with 5:10 left on a fast-break bucket by junior Mike McGuirl. The lead would exceed 30 in the waning minutes, as the squad finished on a 12-0 run for the 86-49 victory.

Sneed scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the second half on 4-of-5 field goals, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, while Sloan scored 6 of his 8 points and 4 of his game-high 7 assists after halftime. The Wildcats connected on 47.4 percent (18-of-38), including 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from 3-point range, in the second half.

PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Senior Xavier Sneed led all scorers with 18 points on 7-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, while a pair of freshmen – Antonio Gordon and Montavious Murphy – had double-digit scoring efforts. Murphy led all players with 11 rebounds to go with his 10 points, while Gordon's 16 points came on 7-of-10 shooting.

STAT OF THE GAME
34 – K-State scored 34 points off of 23 Emporia State turnovers, collecting 11 steals on night.

IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On how he feels about the team playing an efficient complete game…
"Well, we challenged them. I thought Xavier did a great job of leadership, our whole emphasis is learning to prepare because we have guys who haven't been, a lot of them who haven't been through this and been through a college game. And then for Mak (Mawien) and Carti (Diarra) it's different now, they want to be the guys but they've got to learn how to be the guys and it doesn't mean doing everything they just got to be good, and solid, and efficient, so I was happy. The only disappointing part was that little spurt in the second half, the start of the second half, Carti turned it over we let them beat us a couple times. We got a little stagnant and flat, but actually we put the young guys in and they got energy and started playing hard so that part of it was positive so we maintained. I know Kansas struggled the other night, Illinois State had to comeback from 12 in its game, so I guess when you look at it's a positive, but obviously a long way to go.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

K-State is now 68-20 all-time in exhibition play, including 53-9 in home exhibition games… The Wildcats are now 47-9 in exhibition games at Bramlage Coliseum with 25 consecutive wins dating back to 2003… Overall, the team has now won 8 straight in exhibition play since 2016.
The 86 points were the most in an exhibition game since the team scored 90 points against Fort Hays State on November 6, 2011… The Wildcats scored nearly half their points in the paint (40), while they scored 34 points off of 23 Hornet turnovers.
K-State's 36 made field goals came on 27 assists with just 11 turnovers.
The Wildcats held the Hornets to 49 points on 34 percent shooting (17-of-50), including 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from 3-point range, while forcing 23 turnovers.
K-State connected on 45.6 percent (36-of-79) of its field goals, including 52.1 percent (25-of-48) inside the 3-point arc… The Wildcats held a 20-2 advantage in fast break points.
The 11 made 3-point field goals were the most-ever in an exhibition game, surpassing the 10 against Washburn on November 7, 2010 and the 10 against Pittsburg State on October 28, 2016.
Senior Xavier Sneed led 3 players in double figures with a game-high 18 points on 7-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range… Freshman Montavious Murphy collected a double-double in first action as a Wildcat with a game-high 11 rebounds to go with 10 points.
K-State used a starting lineup of juniors Cartier Diarra and Mike McGuirl, senior Xavier Sneed, junior Levi Stockard III and senior Makol Mawien.
Junior James Love III and sophomore Nigel Shadd did not play due to injury.
10 of the 11 available players recorded at least two field goals.
All 11 available players saw action, as Sneed led all players with 24 minutes of action.

WHAT'S NEXT
K-State plays its second and final exhibition on Wednesday, October 30, as the Wildcats play host to Washburn at 7 p.m., CT. Tickets starts at just $5 for advanced bench and general admission with $3 tickets available for groups of 12 or more fans. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.