Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, January 4
Norman, OK
12 p.m.
Kansas State University
7-6,0-1Big 12
61
at
66
Oklahoma
10-3,1-0Big 12
1
2
F
Kansas St.
33
28
61
Oklahoma
30
36
66
Late Rally Lifts Oklahoma Past K-State, 66-61
Jan 04, 2020 | Men's Basketball
NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma ended the game on a 12-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from junior Austin Reaves with 1:38 to play, as the Sooners rallied late to hand Kansas State a 66-61 defeat in the Big 12 opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon before 8,012 fans at the Lloyd Noble Center.
K-State (7-6, 0-1 Big 12), which lost its fifth game by single digits this season, led for nearly 34 minutes before Reaves' 3-pointer at the 1:39 mark gave Oklahoma (10-3, 1-0 Big 12) a 63-61 lead. The Wildcats could never re-establish their earlier momentum, missing 3 field goals and turning the ball over twice down the stretch, as the Sooners salted the game away at the free throw line, knocking down 3 of 6 attempts to finish off the 66-61 victory.
Senior Xavier Sneed led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-17 field goals, including 5-of-13 from 3-point range, but was hampered by foul trouble, playing just under 12 minutes in the second half. Junior Cartier Diarra also registered double figures points (10), while dishing out a game-high 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Freshman DaJuan Gordon enjoyed a solid outing in his first Big 12 game, scoring 8 points and grabbing 3 rebounds.
Reaves scored 18 of his team-high 21 points in the second half on 5-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and went 5 of 6 from the free throw line. Reaves and senior Kristin Doolittle (19) combined for 40 of Oklahoma's 66 points on 11-of-23 field goals and a 14-of-17 effort from the free throw line.
Trailing 61-54 with 3:45 to play after a 3-pointer by DaJuan Gordon, the Sooners started their run of 12 consecutive points to end the game with a layup from freshman De'Vion Harmon on the next possession. Reaves and junior Brady Manek followed with buckets before Reaves' game-deciding 3-pointer. During this final stretch, the Wildcats missed 5 field goals and had 3 turnovers.
For the game, K-State connected on 34.9 percent (19-of-51) from the field, including 32.4 percent (12-of-37) from 3-point range, while tying a season-high with 12 3-point field goals on 37 attempts – the most by a Wildcat team under head coach Bruce Weber. Oklahoma made just 37.3 percent (19-of-51) of its field goals, including 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from long range, but went a stellar 23-of-29 from the free throw line.
The Wildcats dropped to 9-15 all-time Big 12 openers, including 3-11 when debuting away from home. Today's game marked the 14th time that K-State and Oklahoma have met in a conference opener with the Sooners now leading those meetings, 9-5, including 5-1 at home.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams went back and forth in the early going with K-State holding a slight 8-7 lead at the first media timeout behind solid shooting from beyond the arc. Senior Makol Mawien opened the game with a 3-pointer from the left corner on the Wildcats' first possession, while fellow senior Xavier Sneed followed 2 minutes later.
K-State built a 13-7 lead with a 3-pointer from junior Mike McGuirl – the team's third of the half – at the 14:42 mark, but Oklahoma rallied for 6 straight points to tie the game at 13-all at the second media timeout.
The Wildcats went into the third media timeout with an 18-13 behind consecutive buckets by freshman Antonio Gordon and junior David Sloan but was not able to gain in traction with a nearly 3-minute scoring drought. Fortunately, the defense was locked in, holding the Sooners to a nearly 5-minute drought.
A 6-0 run, including consecutive jumpers, gave Oklahoma a 19-18 lead forcing head coach Bruce Weber to call his first timeout at the 5:26 mark. A pair of free throws by Sneed ended K-State's scoring drought at more than 5 minutes with 5:13 before the half for a 20-19 edge. A 3-pointer by freshman Montavious Murphy – the team's fifth triple all by 5 different players – helped the Wildcats to a 23-19 lead at the 4:10 mark.
Back-to-back jumpers by DaJuan Gordon extended the K-State lead to 27-22 while a 3-pointer by Sneed tied the team's largest lead at 6 points -- 30-24 -- with 1:53 before the half. Oklahoma closed to within 2 points on two occasions with its stellar free throw shooting (10-of-10), but a 3-pointer by junior Cartier Diarra propelled the Wildcats to a 33-30 halftime advantage.
Seven of K-State's 12 field goals in the first half came from 3-point range, as the team connected on 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from the field, including 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from long range. Oklahoma was held to just 37.5 percent (9-of-24) shooting, including 18.2 percent (2-of-11), but was stellar from the line (10-of-10). Senior Kristian Doolittle led all scorers with 13 points for the Sooners, while Sneed paced the Wildcats with 10 points.
Mawien started off the second half with a layup before K-State rallied off 8 consecutive points, including consecutive 3-pointers from Diarra and Sneed, extended the lead to 43-33 at the 15:40 mark.
After the lead was at its largest at 44-33, Oklahoma cut into the lead with 6 consecutive points, including 4 from the free throw line, to close to within 44-39 with 11:39 to play. However, Sneed responded with a rare 4-point play then followed with another triple to push the lead back out to 51-41 at the 10:59 mark.
The Sooners once again chipped away at the deficit, using 7 straight points to key an 11-4 run, to close to within 55-54 on a 3-pointer by junior Austin Reaves with 5:06 remaining. The Wildcats responded with 6 consecutive points, including a huge trey by DaJuan Gordon to push back out at 61-54 at the 3:45 mark.
Freshman De'Vion Harmon started Oklahoma's 12-0 run to end the game with a lay-up on the next possession, which was followed by field goals by Reaves and junior Brady Manek, before Reaves' 3-pointer with 1:39 to play gave the Sooners a 63-61 lead. K-State could get nothing going down the stretch with 5 misses from the field and 3 turnovers, as Oklahoma went 3-of-6 from the free throw line to finish off the 66-61 victory.
The Wildcats connected on just 29.4 percent (10-of-34) in the second half, including 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from 3-point range, while the Sooners hit on 37 percent (10-of-27), including 25 percent (3-of-12) from long range. Reaves scored 18 of Oklahoma's 36 second-half points, while Sneed had 12 of K-State's 28.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Senior Xavier Sneed led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-17 field goals, including 5-of-13 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds in 28 minutes. It marked his seventh career 20-point game, including his third this season.
Junior Cartier Diarra had a solid all-around game with 10 points, a game-high 7 assists and 6 rebounds in 34 minutes. He has now posted at least 6 assists in 8 of 12 games this season.
STAT OF THE GAME
23 of 29 – The Big 12's top free throw shooting team, Oklahoma connected on nearly 80 percent of its 29 attempts (23) of the day, including a perfect 10-of-10 effort in the first half. K-State managed just 9 attempts with 5 makes, as the Wildcats were whistled for 23 personal fouls.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"It's a tough loss. Credit to Oklahoma to find a way to win when they were down. They had maybe played zone one time all year, but they threw it at us late in the game and it really affected us. We didn't attack it properly. We got very cautious against the zone. We tried to attack it from 35 feet. I tried to tell our guys to flatten out and push the ball. We had too many turnovers and empty possessions at the end of the game then (Kristian) Doolittle out-hustled us for a couple of rebounds and we have to foul. We led a lot of the game and we did some good things and played a lot of young guys, but we didn't find a way to win the game."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
Team Notes
Player Notes
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State returns home to Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday night when the Wildcats play host to TCU (9-3) in the Big 12 home opener at 8 p.m., CT on ESPNU.
K-State (7-6, 0-1 Big 12), which lost its fifth game by single digits this season, led for nearly 34 minutes before Reaves' 3-pointer at the 1:39 mark gave Oklahoma (10-3, 1-0 Big 12) a 63-61 lead. The Wildcats could never re-establish their earlier momentum, missing 3 field goals and turning the ball over twice down the stretch, as the Sooners salted the game away at the free throw line, knocking down 3 of 6 attempts to finish off the 66-61 victory.
Senior Xavier Sneed led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-17 field goals, including 5-of-13 from 3-point range, but was hampered by foul trouble, playing just under 12 minutes in the second half. Junior Cartier Diarra also registered double figures points (10), while dishing out a game-high 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Freshman DaJuan Gordon enjoyed a solid outing in his first Big 12 game, scoring 8 points and grabbing 3 rebounds.
Reaves scored 18 of his team-high 21 points in the second half on 5-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and went 5 of 6 from the free throw line. Reaves and senior Kristin Doolittle (19) combined for 40 of Oklahoma's 66 points on 11-of-23 field goals and a 14-of-17 effort from the free throw line.
Trailing 61-54 with 3:45 to play after a 3-pointer by DaJuan Gordon, the Sooners started their run of 12 consecutive points to end the game with a layup from freshman De'Vion Harmon on the next possession. Reaves and junior Brady Manek followed with buckets before Reaves' game-deciding 3-pointer. During this final stretch, the Wildcats missed 5 field goals and had 3 turnovers.
For the game, K-State connected on 34.9 percent (19-of-51) from the field, including 32.4 percent (12-of-37) from 3-point range, while tying a season-high with 12 3-point field goals on 37 attempts – the most by a Wildcat team under head coach Bruce Weber. Oklahoma made just 37.3 percent (19-of-51) of its field goals, including 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from long range, but went a stellar 23-of-29 from the free throw line.
The Wildcats dropped to 9-15 all-time Big 12 openers, including 3-11 when debuting away from home. Today's game marked the 14th time that K-State and Oklahoma have met in a conference opener with the Sooners now leading those meetings, 9-5, including 5-1 at home.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams went back and forth in the early going with K-State holding a slight 8-7 lead at the first media timeout behind solid shooting from beyond the arc. Senior Makol Mawien opened the game with a 3-pointer from the left corner on the Wildcats' first possession, while fellow senior Xavier Sneed followed 2 minutes later.
K-State built a 13-7 lead with a 3-pointer from junior Mike McGuirl – the team's third of the half – at the 14:42 mark, but Oklahoma rallied for 6 straight points to tie the game at 13-all at the second media timeout.
The Wildcats went into the third media timeout with an 18-13 behind consecutive buckets by freshman Antonio Gordon and junior David Sloan but was not able to gain in traction with a nearly 3-minute scoring drought. Fortunately, the defense was locked in, holding the Sooners to a nearly 5-minute drought.
A 6-0 run, including consecutive jumpers, gave Oklahoma a 19-18 lead forcing head coach Bruce Weber to call his first timeout at the 5:26 mark. A pair of free throws by Sneed ended K-State's scoring drought at more than 5 minutes with 5:13 before the half for a 20-19 edge. A 3-pointer by freshman Montavious Murphy – the team's fifth triple all by 5 different players – helped the Wildcats to a 23-19 lead at the 4:10 mark.
Back-to-back jumpers by DaJuan Gordon extended the K-State lead to 27-22 while a 3-pointer by Sneed tied the team's largest lead at 6 points -- 30-24 -- with 1:53 before the half. Oklahoma closed to within 2 points on two occasions with its stellar free throw shooting (10-of-10), but a 3-pointer by junior Cartier Diarra propelled the Wildcats to a 33-30 halftime advantage.
Seven of K-State's 12 field goals in the first half came from 3-point range, as the team connected on 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from the field, including 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from long range. Oklahoma was held to just 37.5 percent (9-of-24) shooting, including 18.2 percent (2-of-11), but was stellar from the line (10-of-10). Senior Kristian Doolittle led all scorers with 13 points for the Sooners, while Sneed paced the Wildcats with 10 points.
Mawien started off the second half with a layup before K-State rallied off 8 consecutive points, including consecutive 3-pointers from Diarra and Sneed, extended the lead to 43-33 at the 15:40 mark.
After the lead was at its largest at 44-33, Oklahoma cut into the lead with 6 consecutive points, including 4 from the free throw line, to close to within 44-39 with 11:39 to play. However, Sneed responded with a rare 4-point play then followed with another triple to push the lead back out to 51-41 at the 10:59 mark.
The Sooners once again chipped away at the deficit, using 7 straight points to key an 11-4 run, to close to within 55-54 on a 3-pointer by junior Austin Reaves with 5:06 remaining. The Wildcats responded with 6 consecutive points, including a huge trey by DaJuan Gordon to push back out at 61-54 at the 3:45 mark.
Freshman De'Vion Harmon started Oklahoma's 12-0 run to end the game with a lay-up on the next possession, which was followed by field goals by Reaves and junior Brady Manek, before Reaves' 3-pointer with 1:39 to play gave the Sooners a 63-61 lead. K-State could get nothing going down the stretch with 5 misses from the field and 3 turnovers, as Oklahoma went 3-of-6 from the free throw line to finish off the 66-61 victory.
The Wildcats connected on just 29.4 percent (10-of-34) in the second half, including 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from 3-point range, while the Sooners hit on 37 percent (10-of-27), including 25 percent (3-of-12) from long range. Reaves scored 18 of Oklahoma's 36 second-half points, while Sneed had 12 of K-State's 28.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Senior Xavier Sneed led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-17 field goals, including 5-of-13 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds in 28 minutes. It marked his seventh career 20-point game, including his third this season.
Junior Cartier Diarra had a solid all-around game with 10 points, a game-high 7 assists and 6 rebounds in 34 minutes. He has now posted at least 6 assists in 8 of 12 games this season.
STAT OF THE GAME
23 of 29 – The Big 12's top free throw shooting team, Oklahoma connected on nearly 80 percent of its 29 attempts (23) of the day, including a perfect 10-of-10 effort in the first half. K-State managed just 9 attempts with 5 makes, as the Wildcats were whistled for 23 personal fouls.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"It's a tough loss. Credit to Oklahoma to find a way to win when they were down. They had maybe played zone one time all year, but they threw it at us late in the game and it really affected us. We didn't attack it properly. We got very cautious against the zone. We tried to attack it from 35 feet. I tried to tell our guys to flatten out and push the ball. We had too many turnovers and empty possessions at the end of the game then (Kristian) Doolittle out-hustled us for a couple of rebounds and we have to foul. We led a lot of the game and we did some good things and played a lot of young guys, but we didn't find a way to win the game."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State is now 52-55 all-time in conference openers dating back to the start of Missouri Valley play in 1914, including a 17-34 mark on the road… The Wildcats are now 9-15 in Big 12 openers, including 3-11 when starting away from home… Today's game marked the 14th time that K-State and Oklahoma have met in a conference opener… The Sooners now lead those meetings, 9-5, including 5-1 at home.
- Oklahoma now leads the all-time series, 109-101, including 64-28 at home and 26-11 at the Lloyd Noble Center… The loss snapped a 2-game winning streak in the series for K-State.
- The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of juniors Cartier Diarra and Mike McGuirl, senior Xavier Sneed, freshman Montavious Murphy and senior Makol Mawien… This was the fifth time using this lineup.
- Sneed has now played in 118 career games, including 85 starts (46 consecutive)… Mawien has played and started in every game in his career, which now stretches to 84… Diarra has now played in 76 games, including 44 starts (15 consecutive)… McGuirl has now played in 59 career games, including 15 starts… This was the fifth career game and start for Murphy.
- K-State has now started at least one true freshman (A. Gordon or Murphy) in 12 of 13 games this season.
- Freshman Antonio Gordon was the first player off the bench.
Team Notes
- K-State connected on 34.9 percent (22-of-63) from the field, including 32.4 percent (12-of-37) from 3-point range, and hit on 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the free throw line.
- K-State tied a season-high with 12 3-point field goals, matching the 12 vs. Alabama State (12/11/19), while the 37 attempts were the most by a Wildcat team in the Bruce Weber era… The team has now hit on double-digit 3-point field goals 4 times, including in consecutive games.
- K-State's starting five produced 53 of the team's 61 points.
- K-State's defense held Oklahoma to just 37.3 percent (19-of-51) shooting from the field, including 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from 3-point line… The Sooners scored 23 of their 66 points from the free throw line.
- K-State led for nearly 34 minutes (33:51) compared to just 2:23 for Oklahoma… The team led by as many 11 points in the second half, including 44-33 with 14:23 to play.
- K-State led 33-30 at halftime, which marked the fifth leading at the break this season.
Player Notes
- Senior Xavier Sneed scored a team-high 22 points on 7-of-17 field goals, including 5-of-13 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds in 28 minutes… It marked his seventh career 20-point game, including his third this season… He has now led the team in scoring in 22 career games, including his 7 times this season… He has now scored in double figures in 63 career games, including 10 this season… He has now scored in double figures in 7 of the last 8 games.
- Junior Cartier Diarra also registered double figures with 10 points on 4-of-12 field goals, including 2-of-8 from 3-point range, to go with a game-high 7 assists and 6 rebounds in 34 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 25 career games, including 8 this season.
- Diarra has now dished out at least 6 assists in 9 of 12 games and led the way in 11 times.
- Senior Makol Mawien opened the game by connecting on his eighth career 3-pointer, including his third of the season… He finished with 9 points for the second consecutive game.
- With his first 3-pointer of the game, junior Mike McGuirl eclipsed his entire total from the 2018-19 season… McGuirl now has 19 treys on 41 attempts (46.3 percent) in 12 games.
- The 3 true freshmen (Antonio Gordon, DaJuan Gordon and Montavious Murphy) combined to play 69 minutes with DaJuan Gordon matching his career-high with 27 minutes.
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State returns home to Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday night when the Wildcats play host to TCU (9-3) in the Big 12 home opener at 8 p.m., CT on ESPNU.
Team Stats
KState
OU
FG%
.349
.373
3FG%
.324
.217
FT%
.556
.793
RB
37
42
TO
11
10
STL
4
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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