Kansas State University Athletics
Wednesday, December 11
Manhattan, Kan.
7 p.m.
Kansas State University
6-3,0-0Big 12
86
vs
41
Alabama State
1-8,0-0SWAC
1
2
F
Alabama St.
16
25
41
Kansas St.
52
34
86
K-State Leads from Start to Finish in 86-41 win over Alabama State
Dec 11, 2019 | Men's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State set season-highs in 11 offensive categories, including its highest assist total (29) in more than a decade, as the Wildcats led wire-to-wire in wrapping up a three-game homestand with an 86-41 win over Alabama State at Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday night.
K-State (6-3), which connected on a season-low 32.3 percent (20-of-62) in its home loss to Marquette on Saturday, jumped out to a 20-2 advantage en route to a 52-point first half and led by as many as 47 in the second half to Alabama State (1-8), which is in the midst of a 15-game road trip to start the season.
The Wildcats notched season-highs for points (86), field goals made (35), field goal percentage (62.5), 3-point field goals made (12), 3-point field goal percentage (54.5), assists (29), points in the paint (42), points off turnovers (26), bench points (34), first-half points (52) and first-half field goal percentage (71.4).
The 29 assists tied for the fourth-most in school history and were the most by a Wildcat team since dishing out 30 in a win over Gardner-Webb on Dec. 14, 2008.
All nine Wildcats who saw action had at least two made field goals on the night, as senior Xavier Sneed led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-10 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 25 minutes. Sneed scored 14 of the team's first 25 points and finished with 16 in the first half.
Freshmen Antonio Gordon and DaJuan Gordon each tallied a season-high 13 points, while juniors Cartier Diarra and Levi Stockard III each added 8 points. Diarra became the first Wildcat with a 10-assist game since Marcus Foster in 2014, as he dished out a career-best 10 assists. Antonio Gordon had the best all-around game of his career with a game-high 8 rebounds to go with 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 28 minutes.
ASU was held to a season-low 41 points on 27.3 percent (15-of-55) shooting, including 28.6 percent (6-of-21) from 3-point range, as K-State has now held 93 opponents to 60 points or less in the Weber era with the Wildcats boasting an 84-8 mark in those contests.
Junior Tobi Ewuosho had a near double-double with 9 points and 9 rebounds for the Hornets.
HOW IT HAPPENED
K-State started off quick, jumping out to 10-2 lead behind consecutive 3-pointers from senior Xavier Sneed, to force Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson to call his first timeout at the 17:07 mark.
The run continued for the Wildcats, as the lead grew to 20-2 after a 3-pointer from freshman Antonio Gordon with 14:21 to play. After the Hornets ended the 16-0 run with a 3-pointer, Sneed answered with his fourth triple of the early going followed by a jumper just inside the arc for a 25-5 advantage at the 12:45 mark.
Sneed was responsible for 14 of the team's first 25 points, while he assisted on 3 other baskets.
The onslaught continued with consecutive 3-pointers by freshman DaJuan Gordon and junior David Sloan and a jumper by junior Levi Stockard III to force yet another ASU timeout with the lead at 35-8 with 9:04 before halftime. The Hornets didn't get back-to-back baskets until they cut the deficit to 42-14 at the 4:42 mark.
The Wildcats ended the half on a 10-2 run, as they entered halftime with a 52-16 advantage. The 52 points were the most in a half since scoring 58 in the second half against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 16, 2018.
K-State connected on 71.4 percent (20-of-28) from the field, including 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from 3-point range, while ASU hit on 30.4 percent (7-of-23) of its field goals, including 20 percent (2-of-10) from long range. It was the highest field goal percentage since connecting on 76.2 percent (16-of-21) in the first half at Texas on Feb. 18, 2017.
Sneed led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-8 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, while Gordon added 8 points and a game-high 5 rebounds. All nine Wildcats had at least one field goal made in the first half.
K-State scored the first 6 points off the second half to push the lead to 58-16 then took a 65-21 advantage into the first media timeout at the 15:33 mark. The Wildcats cracked the 70-point plateau on a layup by Stockard on a pass by Sloan to extend the lead to 70-24 with 11:55 to play.
The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes before ASU used a 9-4 run to cut the deficit to 78-37 with 4:17 remaining. However, K-State responded with 6 straight points, including steal and dunk by DaJuan Gordon that gave the Wildcats their 80th point, to push the lead back to 84-37 with 1:32 left.
K-State connected on 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from the field in the second half, as eight of the nine players who registered minutes had at least one field goal made led by DaJuan Gordon's 7 points. ASU hit on just 25 percent (8-of-32) from the field and were led by Kevin Holston's 9 points.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Senior Xavier Sneed posted his second 20-point game of the season with 20 points on 8-of-10 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 25 minutes. He has now scored in double figures 7 times in 9 games this season.
Freshman Antonio Gordon had the best game of his young career with a season-high 13 points on 5-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, to go with a team-high 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
STAT(S) OF THE GAME
29 – K-State dished out a season-high 29 assists on 35 made field goals in posting season-highs in 11 offensive categories. The 29 assists tied for the fourth-most in school history and were the most by the Wildcats since tallying 30 against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 14, 2008.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"I thought the first possession on defense, it was a clinic doing all the things we practice with the hands, jumping to the ball, get in position, talking, all that stuff that kind of sets the tone. I keep telling them the ball likes movement. It doesn't want to be sticky. It doesn't want somebody to hold it. It wants a lot of people to touch it. Right away a great pass by Xavier (Sneed) for a dunk on the first one. The next possession we penetrate, kick it and we get a three. They were good. They were focused. I told them at half, the only shots we've missed is when you've held the ball or try to create. We actually missed some open ones. But we made some improvement and that's all we can emphasize and talk about. I thought we had good emotion to start the game, and that's something I've been on them about. Don't be casual at the start of games. Ball movement creates better shot selection, and obviously we had way better shot selection and shot the ball the best of the year. They're not that bad if you look at their other games. To be honest, I thought it was going to be one of the tougher teams that we played in these home games. It helps to make shots, but we guarded them. They ran their sets. We didn't let them get in transition. They are actually pretty good in transition, but we were pretty efficient on the other end."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
Player Notes
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State travels to the East Coast this weekend, as the Wildcats play Mississippi State (6-2) in the fourth annual Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The game, which raises money for victims and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attack, will tip off on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., CT. on ESPNU.
K-State (6-3), which connected on a season-low 32.3 percent (20-of-62) in its home loss to Marquette on Saturday, jumped out to a 20-2 advantage en route to a 52-point first half and led by as many as 47 in the second half to Alabama State (1-8), which is in the midst of a 15-game road trip to start the season.
The Wildcats notched season-highs for points (86), field goals made (35), field goal percentage (62.5), 3-point field goals made (12), 3-point field goal percentage (54.5), assists (29), points in the paint (42), points off turnovers (26), bench points (34), first-half points (52) and first-half field goal percentage (71.4).
The 29 assists tied for the fourth-most in school history and were the most by a Wildcat team since dishing out 30 in a win over Gardner-Webb on Dec. 14, 2008.
All nine Wildcats who saw action had at least two made field goals on the night, as senior Xavier Sneed led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-10 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 25 minutes. Sneed scored 14 of the team's first 25 points and finished with 16 in the first half.
Freshmen Antonio Gordon and DaJuan Gordon each tallied a season-high 13 points, while juniors Cartier Diarra and Levi Stockard III each added 8 points. Diarra became the first Wildcat with a 10-assist game since Marcus Foster in 2014, as he dished out a career-best 10 assists. Antonio Gordon had the best all-around game of his career with a game-high 8 rebounds to go with 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 28 minutes.
ASU was held to a season-low 41 points on 27.3 percent (15-of-55) shooting, including 28.6 percent (6-of-21) from 3-point range, as K-State has now held 93 opponents to 60 points or less in the Weber era with the Wildcats boasting an 84-8 mark in those contests.
Junior Tobi Ewuosho had a near double-double with 9 points and 9 rebounds for the Hornets.
HOW IT HAPPENED
K-State started off quick, jumping out to 10-2 lead behind consecutive 3-pointers from senior Xavier Sneed, to force Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson to call his first timeout at the 17:07 mark.
The run continued for the Wildcats, as the lead grew to 20-2 after a 3-pointer from freshman Antonio Gordon with 14:21 to play. After the Hornets ended the 16-0 run with a 3-pointer, Sneed answered with his fourth triple of the early going followed by a jumper just inside the arc for a 25-5 advantage at the 12:45 mark.
Sneed was responsible for 14 of the team's first 25 points, while he assisted on 3 other baskets.
The onslaught continued with consecutive 3-pointers by freshman DaJuan Gordon and junior David Sloan and a jumper by junior Levi Stockard III to force yet another ASU timeout with the lead at 35-8 with 9:04 before halftime. The Hornets didn't get back-to-back baskets until they cut the deficit to 42-14 at the 4:42 mark.
The Wildcats ended the half on a 10-2 run, as they entered halftime with a 52-16 advantage. The 52 points were the most in a half since scoring 58 in the second half against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 16, 2018.
K-State connected on 71.4 percent (20-of-28) from the field, including 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from 3-point range, while ASU hit on 30.4 percent (7-of-23) of its field goals, including 20 percent (2-of-10) from long range. It was the highest field goal percentage since connecting on 76.2 percent (16-of-21) in the first half at Texas on Feb. 18, 2017.
Sneed led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-8 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, while Gordon added 8 points and a game-high 5 rebounds. All nine Wildcats had at least one field goal made in the first half.
K-State scored the first 6 points off the second half to push the lead to 58-16 then took a 65-21 advantage into the first media timeout at the 15:33 mark. The Wildcats cracked the 70-point plateau on a layup by Stockard on a pass by Sloan to extend the lead to 70-24 with 11:55 to play.
The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes before ASU used a 9-4 run to cut the deficit to 78-37 with 4:17 remaining. However, K-State responded with 6 straight points, including steal and dunk by DaJuan Gordon that gave the Wildcats their 80th point, to push the lead back to 84-37 with 1:32 left.
K-State connected on 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from the field in the second half, as eight of the nine players who registered minutes had at least one field goal made led by DaJuan Gordon's 7 points. ASU hit on just 25 percent (8-of-32) from the field and were led by Kevin Holston's 9 points.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Senior Xavier Sneed posted his second 20-point game of the season with 20 points on 8-of-10 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 25 minutes. He has now scored in double figures 7 times in 9 games this season.
Freshman Antonio Gordon had the best game of his young career with a season-high 13 points on 5-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, to go with a team-high 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
STAT(S) OF THE GAME
29 – K-State dished out a season-high 29 assists on 35 made field goals in posting season-highs in 11 offensive categories. The 29 assists tied for the fourth-most in school history and were the most by the Wildcats since tallying 30 against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 14, 2008.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"I thought the first possession on defense, it was a clinic doing all the things we practice with the hands, jumping to the ball, get in position, talking, all that stuff that kind of sets the tone. I keep telling them the ball likes movement. It doesn't want to be sticky. It doesn't want somebody to hold it. It wants a lot of people to touch it. Right away a great pass by Xavier (Sneed) for a dunk on the first one. The next possession we penetrate, kick it and we get a three. They were good. They were focused. I told them at half, the only shots we've missed is when you've held the ball or try to create. We actually missed some open ones. But we made some improvement and that's all we can emphasize and talk about. I thought we had good emotion to start the game, and that's something I've been on them about. Don't be casual at the start of games. Ball movement creates better shot selection, and obviously we had way better shot selection and shot the ball the best of the year. They're not that bad if you look at their other games. To be honest, I thought it was going to be one of the tougher teams that we played in these home games. It helps to make shots, but we guarded them. They ran their sets. We didn't let them get in transition. They are actually pretty good in transition, but we were pretty efficient on the other end."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State is now 110-7 in non-conference play at home dating back to 2006-07 with wins in 97 of its last 102 non-conference home games.
- Head coach Bruce Weber is now 156-92 at K-State, 469-247 overall.
- K-State is now 2-0 all-time against Alabama State, including 2-0 at home… This was the first meeting between the schools since 1991.
- K-State is now 11-1 against teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, all coming at home.
- The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of juniors Cartier Diarra and Mike McGuirl, senior Xavier Sneed, freshman Antonio Gordon and senior Makol Mawien… This was the sixth time using this lineup.
- Sneed has now played in 116 career games, including 83 starts (44 consecutive)… Mawien has played and started in every game in his career, which now stretches to 81… Diarra has now played in 73 games, including 41 starts (12 consecutive)… McGuirl has now played in 56 career games, including 12 starts… This was the sixth career start for Gordon.
- Freshman DaJuan Gordon, juniors David Sloan and Levi Stockard III were the first players off the bench.
- Freshman Montavious Murphy did not play for the seventh consecutive game after sustaining an injury against Monmouth on Nov. 13… Junior James Love III and sophomore Nigel Shadd have missed all 9 games this season due to injuries.
- K-State posted season-highs in 11 offensive categories, including points (86), field goals made (35), field goal percentage (62.5), 3-point field goals made (12), 3-point field goal percentage (54.5), assists (29), points in the paint (42), points off turnovers (26), bench points (34), first-half points (52) and first-half field goal percentage (71.4).
- The 86 points were the most in a game since scoring 95 against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 16, 2018.
- The 71.4 field goal percentage (20-of-28) in the first half was the best in a half since hitting on 76.2 percent (16-of-21) at Texas on Feb. 18, 2017.
- The 29 assists tied for the fourth-most in a game in school history and were the most since posting 30 against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 14, 2008… The assists total was a high of the Bruce Weber era.
- Alabama State was held to a season-low 41 points on 27.3 percent shooting (15-of-55), including 28.6 percent (6-of-21) from 3-point range… K-State has now held 93 opponents to 60 points or less in the Weber era with the Wildcats boasting an 85-8 mark in those contests, including 24 of their last 40 opponents… The 41 points were the fewest since allowing 41 to Kennesaw State on Nov. 9, 2018.
- The 42 points in the paint were the most since scoring 50 against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 16, 2018.
- K-State scored 26 points off of 16 Alabama State turnovers… The Wildcats have now scored 20 or more points off turnovers in 6 of 9 games.
- The team led for all 40 minutes of the game.
Player Notes
- Senior Xavier Sneed scored a game-high 20 points, including 16 in the first half of play, on 8-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range… It marked his sixth career 20-point game, including his second this season… He has now led the team in scoring in 21 career games, including in 6 of 9 this season… He has double figure points in 60 career games, including 7 of 9 this season.
- Sneed nailed five-straight field goals in the first seven minutes of the game.
- Freshmen Antonio Gordon and DaJuan Gordon each notched a career-high 13 points on the night on a combined 10-of-15 shooting from the field.
- Antonio Gordon played perhaps his best all-around game of the season with 13 points on 5-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, to go with a game-high 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 28 minutes… It marked his first career double-digit scoring game.
- DaJuan Gordon scored his season-high 13 points on 5-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
- Junior Cartier Diarra became the first Wildcat with a 10-assist game since Marcus Foster had 10 at Baylor on Feb. 15, 2014… He now has 63 assists in 9 games and has led the Wildcats in assists in all 9 games… He also added 8 points on 3-of-5 shooting to go with 6 rebounds in 29 minutes.
- Junior Mike McGuirl dished out a career-high 6 assists to go with 5 points in 25 minutes.
- Junior David Sloan played a season-high 22 minutes, posting 7 points on 3-of-5 field goals to go with 4 assists and 3 rebounds.
- Senior Pierson McAtee scored a career-high 6 points on 3-of-4 field goals and recorded a season-high 12 minutes off the bench.
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State travels to the East Coast this weekend, as the Wildcats play Mississippi State (6-2) in the fourth annual Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The game, which raises money for victims and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attack, will tip off on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., CT. on ESPNU.
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Team Stats
ALST
KState
FG%
.273
.625
3FG%
.286
.545
FT%
.500
.667
RB
25
37
TO
16
13
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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