Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, December 7
Manhattan, Kan.
8 p.m.
Kansas State University
5-3,0-0Big 12
65
vs
73
Marquette
7-2,0-0Big East
1
2
F
Marquette
39
34
73
Kansas St.
26
39
65
Marquette Fends off K-State’s Second-Half Rally, 73-65
Dec 07, 2019 | Men's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Down by as many as 14 points early in the second half, Kansas State closed to within one point of Marquette with 12:55 to play, but could not complete the comeback, as the Golden Eagles posted a 73-65 win before 10,073 fans at Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday night.
With the loss, the Wildcats (5-3) see their winning streak against non-conference opponents at Bramlage Coliseum end at 33 games. The last non-conference loss at Bramlage Coliseum came against Georgia on Dec. 31, 2014.
The Golden Eagles (7-2), led by the nation's top scorer in Markus Howard, did most of their damage beyond the arc, knocking down 12 of 22 attempts on 54.5 percent shooting. Six different players had at least one triple on the night, including 3 each by Howard, junior Jamal Cain and sophomore Greg Elliott.
Marquette connected on 42.4 percent (25-of-59) for the game, but just 35.1 percent (13-of-37) from inside the arc.
Howard, who was averaging 26 points per game, led all scorers with 19 points on 6-of-16 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, while Cain added 17 points and a game-high 9 rebounds off the bench. Cain, who was averaging 4.5 points per game, hit on 6-of-9 shots, including 3-of-4 from long range. Senior Sacar Anim scored 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting, while Elliott had 9 points off the bench.
Trailing 42-28 just 90 seconds into the second half, the Wildcats used a 16-3 run to close to within 45-44 on a jumper by junior Levi Stockard III at the 12:55 mark. However, the Golden Eagles responded with a 7-0 run, including a 3-pointer by Howard, to quickly push the lead back to 52-44 with 10 minutes to play.
Although K-State got to within 52-49 behind a 3-pointer from junior Mike McGuirl and a pair of free throws by senior Xavier Sneed, Marquette again answered with 7 straight points to push the lead to 10 points with 7:03 to play. The Wildcats never got closer than 6 points the rest of the way.
K-State struggled on the offensive end, hitting on a season-low 32.3 percent (20-of-62), including 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from 3-point range, and made just 18 of 30 free throw attempts (60 percent). The Wildcat defense turned the Golden Eagles over 18 times, but managed to score just 14 points off those miscues.
Junior Cartier Diarra was among 4 Wildcats in double figures with 14 points to go with team-highs in rebounds (8) and assists (5) in 33 minutes, while senior Makol Mawien and Sneed chipped 11 points each and freshman DaJuan Gordon added 10 points. Freshman Antonio Gordon grabbed a season-high 8 rebounds to go with 3 steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior Makol Mawien got the scoring going early with K-State's first 5 points, including his second triple of the season to open the game. A 3-pointer by senior Markus Howard gave Marquette the lead at 6-5, igniting an 11-2 run that gave the Golden Eagles a 14-7 advantage at the 12:15 mark.
After a pair of free throws by senior Xavier Sneed closed the gap to 14-10, Marquette got hot from beyond the arc, as sophomore Greg Elliott canned back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead to 22-13 and force head coach Bruce Weber to call a timeout at 8:01 mark. A bucket by senior Sacar Anim gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead at 26-16 with 5:25 before halftime.
With K-State struggling from the field and Sneed and Mike McGuirl on the bench with 2 fouls, a long jumper by Mawien started a 9-4 spurt that cut the deficit to 30-25 with 2:57 to play. However, the Wildcats couldn't take advantage of their opportunities from the free throw line, as the Golden Eagles ended the half on 9-1 run to take their biggest lead into halftime at 39-26.
Marquette connected on 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from the field, including 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from 3-point range, in the first half and made 4 of 5 free throw attempts. K-State hit on just 26.5 percent (9-of-34) from the field, including 27.3 percent (3-of-11) from long range, and missed 7 of 12 free throw attempts.
Howard and Anim led the way with 10 points each for the Golden Eagles in the first half, while two others (Elliott and Jamal Cain) added 6 points each. Mawien and Diarra guided the Wildcats with 7 points each.
The two teams traded baskets to start the second half, including a 3-pointer by Marquette to increase the lead to 42-28, however, K-State responded with a 9-0 run to close the gap to 42-37 on a Diarra 3-pointer and force head coach Steve Wojciechowski to call a timeout at the 15:53 mark.
After a ninth 3-pointer by the Golden Eagles ended the run, the Wildcats again responded with a run, this time a 7-0 spurt, to close the gap to 45-44 on a jumper by junior Levi Stockard III with 12:55 remaining.
But that would be the closest it would get, as Marquette scored 7 in a row, including a third 3-pointer from Howard, to push the lead back to 52-44 with 10:18 to play.
The Wildcats would close to within 52-49 after a McGuirl 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from Sneed, but the Golden Eagles responded with another 7-0 run to push the lead into double digits at 59-49 with 7:03 remaining.
K-State closed to within 67-61 on a 3-point play by freshman DaJuan Gordon and free throw by Mawien with 2:22 to play, but junior Koby McEwen knocked down a 3-pointer on the next possession for Marquette to end any hopes of a comeback.
Both teams connected on 39.3 percent (11-of-28) in the second half, as Cain led all scorers with 11 of his 17 points after halftime on 4-of-5 field goals, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range, to go with 5 rebounds. Gordon scored all 10 of his points in the second half on 4-of-6 shooting to lead the Wildcats.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Junior Cartier Diarra led the Wildcats in points (14), rebounds (8) and assists (5) for the first time in his career. He has now led the team in assists in 8 consecutive games to start the season.
Freshman Antonio Gordon totaled season-best for rebounds (8) and steals (3) in 31 minutes.
STAT(S) OF THE GAME
16-3 – Down 14 points just 90 seconds into the second half, K-State used a 16-3 run to close to within 45-44 with 12:55 to play, but the Wildcats could get no closer.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
""The problem was we shouldn't have been down 13 at halftime. Now you have to fight back and use all that energy. They made a couple plays and we didn't, and now it's back to a seven point game and we are fighting our butts off. They made a lot of big shots. You have to give them credit. Not only big shots, but they made the right pass. They played good basketball, and we have to learn from them. You make a couple more threes and a couple more free throws and a few of those layups, and our offense looks a little better."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
Player Notes
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State concludes it 3-game homestand on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., CT when the Wildcats play host to Alabama State (1-6) at Bramlage Coliseum. Tickets start at just $5 before gameday ($10 on gameday). The game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
With the loss, the Wildcats (5-3) see their winning streak against non-conference opponents at Bramlage Coliseum end at 33 games. The last non-conference loss at Bramlage Coliseum came against Georgia on Dec. 31, 2014.
The Golden Eagles (7-2), led by the nation's top scorer in Markus Howard, did most of their damage beyond the arc, knocking down 12 of 22 attempts on 54.5 percent shooting. Six different players had at least one triple on the night, including 3 each by Howard, junior Jamal Cain and sophomore Greg Elliott.
Marquette connected on 42.4 percent (25-of-59) for the game, but just 35.1 percent (13-of-37) from inside the arc.
Howard, who was averaging 26 points per game, led all scorers with 19 points on 6-of-16 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, while Cain added 17 points and a game-high 9 rebounds off the bench. Cain, who was averaging 4.5 points per game, hit on 6-of-9 shots, including 3-of-4 from long range. Senior Sacar Anim scored 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting, while Elliott had 9 points off the bench.
Trailing 42-28 just 90 seconds into the second half, the Wildcats used a 16-3 run to close to within 45-44 on a jumper by junior Levi Stockard III at the 12:55 mark. However, the Golden Eagles responded with a 7-0 run, including a 3-pointer by Howard, to quickly push the lead back to 52-44 with 10 minutes to play.
Although K-State got to within 52-49 behind a 3-pointer from junior Mike McGuirl and a pair of free throws by senior Xavier Sneed, Marquette again answered with 7 straight points to push the lead to 10 points with 7:03 to play. The Wildcats never got closer than 6 points the rest of the way.
K-State struggled on the offensive end, hitting on a season-low 32.3 percent (20-of-62), including 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from 3-point range, and made just 18 of 30 free throw attempts (60 percent). The Wildcat defense turned the Golden Eagles over 18 times, but managed to score just 14 points off those miscues.
Junior Cartier Diarra was among 4 Wildcats in double figures with 14 points to go with team-highs in rebounds (8) and assists (5) in 33 minutes, while senior Makol Mawien and Sneed chipped 11 points each and freshman DaJuan Gordon added 10 points. Freshman Antonio Gordon grabbed a season-high 8 rebounds to go with 3 steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior Makol Mawien got the scoring going early with K-State's first 5 points, including his second triple of the season to open the game. A 3-pointer by senior Markus Howard gave Marquette the lead at 6-5, igniting an 11-2 run that gave the Golden Eagles a 14-7 advantage at the 12:15 mark.
After a pair of free throws by senior Xavier Sneed closed the gap to 14-10, Marquette got hot from beyond the arc, as sophomore Greg Elliott canned back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead to 22-13 and force head coach Bruce Weber to call a timeout at 8:01 mark. A bucket by senior Sacar Anim gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead at 26-16 with 5:25 before halftime.
With K-State struggling from the field and Sneed and Mike McGuirl on the bench with 2 fouls, a long jumper by Mawien started a 9-4 spurt that cut the deficit to 30-25 with 2:57 to play. However, the Wildcats couldn't take advantage of their opportunities from the free throw line, as the Golden Eagles ended the half on 9-1 run to take their biggest lead into halftime at 39-26.
Marquette connected on 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from the field, including 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from 3-point range, in the first half and made 4 of 5 free throw attempts. K-State hit on just 26.5 percent (9-of-34) from the field, including 27.3 percent (3-of-11) from long range, and missed 7 of 12 free throw attempts.
Howard and Anim led the way with 10 points each for the Golden Eagles in the first half, while two others (Elliott and Jamal Cain) added 6 points each. Mawien and Diarra guided the Wildcats with 7 points each.
The two teams traded baskets to start the second half, including a 3-pointer by Marquette to increase the lead to 42-28, however, K-State responded with a 9-0 run to close the gap to 42-37 on a Diarra 3-pointer and force head coach Steve Wojciechowski to call a timeout at the 15:53 mark.
After a ninth 3-pointer by the Golden Eagles ended the run, the Wildcats again responded with a run, this time a 7-0 spurt, to close the gap to 45-44 on a jumper by junior Levi Stockard III with 12:55 remaining.
But that would be the closest it would get, as Marquette scored 7 in a row, including a third 3-pointer from Howard, to push the lead back to 52-44 with 10:18 to play.
The Wildcats would close to within 52-49 after a McGuirl 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from Sneed, but the Golden Eagles responded with another 7-0 run to push the lead into double digits at 59-49 with 7:03 remaining.
K-State closed to within 67-61 on a 3-point play by freshman DaJuan Gordon and free throw by Mawien with 2:22 to play, but junior Koby McEwen knocked down a 3-pointer on the next possession for Marquette to end any hopes of a comeback.
Both teams connected on 39.3 percent (11-of-28) in the second half, as Cain led all scorers with 11 of his 17 points after halftime on 4-of-5 field goals, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range, to go with 5 rebounds. Gordon scored all 10 of his points in the second half on 4-of-6 shooting to lead the Wildcats.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Junior Cartier Diarra led the Wildcats in points (14), rebounds (8) and assists (5) for the first time in his career. He has now led the team in assists in 8 consecutive games to start the season.
Freshman Antonio Gordon totaled season-best for rebounds (8) and steals (3) in 31 minutes.
STAT(S) OF THE GAME
16-3 – Down 14 points just 90 seconds into the second half, K-State used a 16-3 run to close to within 45-44 with 12:55 to play, but the Wildcats could get no closer.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
""The problem was we shouldn't have been down 13 at halftime. Now you have to fight back and use all that energy. They made a couple plays and we didn't, and now it's back to a seven point game and we are fighting our butts off. They made a lot of big shots. You have to give them credit. Not only big shots, but they made the right pass. They played good basketball, and we have to learn from them. You make a couple more threes and a couple more free throws and a few of those layups, and our offense looks a little better."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- With the loss, K-State sees its winning streak against non-conference opponents at Bramlage Coliseum end at 33 games… It was the first non-conference loss since Georgia on Dec. 31, 2014.
- K-State is now 109-7 in non-conference play at home dating back to 2006-07 with wins in 96 of its last 101 non-conference home games.
- Head coach Bruce Weber is now 155-92 at K-State, 468-247 overall.
- K-State is now 7-5 all-time against Marquette, including 3-1 at home… This was the first meeting in Bramlage Coliseum with the previous 3 matchups (1953, 1982, 1986) coming at Ahearn Field House.
- K-State is now 24-25 all-time against teams from the Big East, including 12-3 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 fourth time using this lineup.
- Sneed has now played in 114 career games, including 81 starts (42 consecutive)… Mawien has played and started in every game in his career, which now stretches to 79… Diarra has now played in 71 games, including 39 starts (10 consecutive)… McGuirl has now played in 54 career games, including 10 starts… This was the fifth career start for Gordon.
- Junior Levi Stockard III, sophomore Shaun Williams and freshman DaJuan Gordon were the first players off the bench.
- Freshman Montavious Murphy did not play for the fifth consecutive game after sustaining an injury against Monmouth on Nov. 13… Junior James Love III and sophomore Nigel Shadd have missed all 8 games this season due to injuries.
- K-State connected a season-low in field goal percentage (32.3 percent / 20-of-62) from the field.
- K-State produced a season-high in both makes (18) and attempts (30).
- K-State scored a season low in points in the paint (16).
- K-State swatted a season-high seven blocks.
- The bench unit for K-State produced 20 points on the night.
- The Wildcats won the turnover battle against the Golden Eagles (K-State-10, Marquette-18).
- K-State trailed for over 35 minutes in the game (35:27).
Player Notes
- Junior Cartier Diarra led the team in scoring, rebounds and assists with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists… Diarra's 8 rebounds were a career-high in the loss… With his five assists, Diarra has now achieved over 50 assists on the year (53)… The 5 assists were a season low.
- Diarra has now scored in double figures in 22 career games, including 5 this season… He has now the team in assists in 8 consecutive games to start the season.
- Senior Xavier Sneed has now scored 10 or more points for the sixth time on the season with his 11 points… Sneed has now scored double figures in 59 career games.
- Sneed became the 13th Wildcat to join the career 1,000-point/500-rebound club with his first rebound of the game… He now has 1,124 career points and 505 career points.
- Senior Makol Mawien scored 11 points to go with 7 rebounds… He has now scored in double figures in 26 career games, including 4 this season.
- Freshman DaJuan Gordon scored 10 points on the bench in a career-high 27 minutes to go with a season-high 2 blocks… It marked his second career double-digit scoring game.
- Freshman Antonio Gordon tied with Diarra with a season-high 8 rebounds on a season-high 32 minutes.
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State concludes it 3-game homestand on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., CT when the Wildcats play host to Alabama State (1-6) at Bramlage Coliseum. Tickets start at just $5 before gameday ($10 on gameday). The game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Marq
KState
FG%
.424
.323
3FG%
.545
.304
FT%
.688
.600
RB
45
37
TO
18
10
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballK-State MBB | Tang Talkin' Transfers - Khamari McGriff
Monday, September 15
K-State MBB | Tang Talkin' Transfers - Abdi Bashir Jr
Wednesday, September 10
K-State MBB | Hang With Tang On The Go (Season 4, Episode 1)
Friday, September 05
K-State MBB | Coach Driscoll Mic'd Up
Friday, August 08