Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, February 1
Morgantown, WV
1 p.m.
Kansas State University
9-12,2-6Big 12
57
at
66
West Virginia
17-4,5-3Big 12
1
2
F
Kansas St.
27
30
57
West Virginia
30
36
66
12/11 West Virginia Scraps By K-State, 66-57
Feb 01, 2020 | Men's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – No. 12/11 West Virginia finally broke free from a scrappy Kansas State team with a 19-6 run early in the second half, as the Mountaineers extended their home court winning streak to 11 games with a 66-57 win on Saturday afternoon before a sold-out crowd of 14,000 fans at the WVU Coliseum.
With the win, West Virginia (17-4, 5-3 Big 12) evened the season series at 1-all and snapped a 3-game winning streak by K-State (9-12, 2-6 Big 12) in the series.
The Wildcats had a number of opportunities in the opening moments of the second half down just 1 but freshman DaJuan Gordon and junior Mike McGuirl combined to miss 4 consecutive free throws before the Mountaineers started the pivotal 19-6 run with a 3-pointer by senior Chase Harler.
During the 19-6 run, WVU made several critical plays, including a 3-pointer by junior Taz Sherman at the shot clock buzzer after a near steal by Gordon with 13:44 to play, and a Harler steal and dunk by sophomore Derek Culver that keyed a run of 9 consecutive points that pushed the lead from 40-35 to 49-35 with 9 minutes remaining.
The Wildcats continued to fight despite the double-digit deficit, closing to within 8 points on four separate occasions in the last 6 minutes, but each time the Mountaineers always seemed to have an answer, including a 5-0 run after a 3-pointer by junior Cartier Diarra cut it to 61-53 with 1:27 to play.
As expected with the teams' defensive pedigree, neither team shot well from the field, as West Virginia connected on 42 percent (21-of-50), including 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from 3-point range, while K-State hit on 36.7 percent (18-of-49), including 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from long range. The 3 3-pointers were a season-low for the Wildcats.
Culver was only West Virginia player in double figures, but it was a big offensive effort, as he was responsible for nearly a third of the team's points with a game-high 19 points on 8-of-15 field goals to go with a game-best 14 rebounds. Two others – Harler and freshman Oscar Tshiebwe – each added 8 points.
Junior David Sloan continued his solid play since joining the starting lineup 5 games ago, as he led the Wildcats with 13 points on 5-of-11 field goals and 3-of-3 free throws to go with team-highs in both assists (3) and steals (2) in 29 minutes. Senior Xavier Sneed added 11 points, most of which came from the free throw line (7-of-10).
In starting the last 5 games, Sloan is averaging 10.2 points and 3.6 assists in 26.8 minutes per game.
K-State has now lost 8 games (of 12 total losses) by single digits or by 40 total points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
K-State jumped out to the early lead on the strength of a 7-0 run, which was highlighted by 3-point plays by freshman DaJuan Gordon and junior David Sloan, to take a 9-5 lead before a West Virginia jumper made it 9-7 at the first media timeout at the 15:36 mark. However, West Virginia regained the lead at 10-9 on a 3-point play by sophomore Derek Culver that capped a 5-0 run by the Mountaineers.
The two teams traded the lead 4 times over the next few possessions, including a 14-11 lead by K-State on a 3-pointer by freshman Montavious Murphy at the 12:02 mark, before WVU used another 5-0 run to take a 20-16 advantage into the third media timeout with 7:30 before halftime.
The run was extended to 10-0 after 2 free throws by freshman Miles McBride and a 3-pointer by junior Brandon Knapper that forced head coach Bruce Weber to call his first timeout with the Mountaineers leading 25-16 at the 5:23 mark. A jumper by Mike McGuirl 30 seconds later ended the drought that lasted more than 5 minutes.
The McGuirl bucket seemed to kick start the Wildcat offense, as the jumper started a 9-2 run that closed the deficit to 27-25 on a pair of free throws by senior Xavier Sneed with 1:50 before halftime. Down 29-27 with the Wildcats had an opportunity to tie the game, but Sloan's layup rattled off the rim with 9 seconds, and sophomore Emmitt Matthews, Jr., hit 1 of 2 free throws to give the Mountaineers a 30-27 edge at the break.
Neither team shot particularly well in the opening half, as WVU connected on 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from the field, including 25 percent (2-of-8) from 3-point range, while K-State hit on 38.5 percent (10-of-26), but just 11.1 percent (1-of-9) from long range. Both teams shot 66.7 percent from the free throw line.
Culver led all scorers with 9 points for the Mountaineers on 4-of-9 field goals to go with 7 rebounds, while Sloan paced the Wildcats with 7 points on 3-of-8 field goals and Gordon had a team-high 6 rebounds.
K-State had multiple opportunities to take the lead in the opening moments of the second half, as both Gordon and McGuirl missed 2 free throws each with the Wildcats within 30-29 before a 3-pointer by senior Chase Harler and a jumper by Culver extended the lead to 35-29 at the 15:56 mark.
Down 37-33 after 2 free throws by Gordon, K-State looked like it had the opportunity to close the gap further on a steal, but Harler scrapped and got the ball back to junior Taz Sherman, who nailed a 3-pointer at the shot clock buzzer to push the lead back out to 40-33 with 13:44 to play.
After a jumper by senior Makol Mawien cut it to 40-35 on the next possession, Weber called his third timeout after a runout and dunk by Culver made it 42-35 with just over 12 to play.
Unfortunately for K-State, the timeout didn't disrupt the run, as WVU added 5 more points in a row to extend the lead into double figures for the first time all afternoon at 47-35 on a 3-point play by freshman Oscar Tshiebwe with 9:32 to play. The Mountaineers led 49-35 after a pair of free throws by sophomore Sean McNeil after a technical was called on Sneed with exact 9 remaining.
K-State started to chip away at the deficit, closing to 51-43 on 4 free throws from junior Levi Stockard III and Sneed with 5:58 to play, but WVU pushed it back out on a 3-pointer by McBride just 26 seconds later.
A jumper by Gordon and a 3-pointer by Diarra once again got the Wildcats to within single digits at 56-48 heading into the final media timeout with 2:46 remaining. However, just like the other challenges to the lead, the Mountaineers responded, as Harler hit a couple of big shots, the first, a long 2-pointer that extended the lead back 10 points at 58-48, then a 3-pointer moments later that made it 61-50 with 1:41 to play.
WVU wrapped things up with a mini 5-0 run after a Diarra 3-pointer that made it 66-53 with 41 seconds left, while Sloan scored the game's final points with a pair of free throws and a jumper for the 66-57 final score.
The Mountaineers connected on 42.3 percent (11-of-26) of their field goals in the second half, including 36.4 percent (4-of-11) from 3-point range, while the Wildcats managed to hit on just 34.8 percent (8-of-23), including 25 percent (2-of-8) from long range, after halftime.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Junior David Sloan continued to impress as the Wildcats' starting point guard, scoring a season-high 13 points on 5-of-11 field goals and a 3-of-3 effort from the free throw line to go with 3 assists (to 1 turnover) and 2 steals.
STAT OF THE GAME
3 – K-State connected on a season-low three 3-point field goals against West Virginia on 17 attempts.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"(First, just give) credit to coach (Bob) Huggins and his team and their staff, to get their culture back after last year. I know it was a struggle for him. It wasn't a fun season for him. He made some tough decisions. They got their culture back, they played their butts off. (They were) probably not like (Jevon) Carter's teams and that group, but in their own way, they have a good unit. I thought our guys battled. They've destroyed everybody here in the last stretch. With Texas, 38, and TCU, 30, and Missouri, 20 something, and even Texas Tech was double digits. We knew it would be a tough task. We were just saying to grind in there, stay close, maybe we will make a couple plays. We just didn't make the shots and the free throws. And credit to them. I thought we missed either four or five straight free throws in the second half, when it was right there. You know, I think we could've taken the lead twice, and we just missed the free throw. (Senior guard Chase) Harler hit the one 3, and then we went zone and (junior guard Taz) Sherman hit that other 3 with one second on the shot clock and those were back-breakers, and now they get to seven and nine (points ahead). If you really study it, it's the box score. They made six 3's and we made 3's and it's nine points. So, you know you find a way to make one or two of those and some were open and some were forced. Their defense was much better than at our place obviously, but you know, credit to our guys. We've made improvement, we've battled. I would like them to play a little sharper and crisp, but part of that is how West Virginia plays."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
Team Notes
Player Notes
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State makes a quick turnaround on Monday night, as the Wildcats play host to top-ranked Baylor (19-1, 8-0 Big 12) at Bramlage Coliseum at 8 p.m., CT on ESPN2. The Bears will be the ninth No. 1 team to visit Bramlage Coliseum in its history and the first since these same Bears were No. 1 in 2017.
With the win, West Virginia (17-4, 5-3 Big 12) evened the season series at 1-all and snapped a 3-game winning streak by K-State (9-12, 2-6 Big 12) in the series.
The Wildcats had a number of opportunities in the opening moments of the second half down just 1 but freshman DaJuan Gordon and junior Mike McGuirl combined to miss 4 consecutive free throws before the Mountaineers started the pivotal 19-6 run with a 3-pointer by senior Chase Harler.
During the 19-6 run, WVU made several critical plays, including a 3-pointer by junior Taz Sherman at the shot clock buzzer after a near steal by Gordon with 13:44 to play, and a Harler steal and dunk by sophomore Derek Culver that keyed a run of 9 consecutive points that pushed the lead from 40-35 to 49-35 with 9 minutes remaining.
The Wildcats continued to fight despite the double-digit deficit, closing to within 8 points on four separate occasions in the last 6 minutes, but each time the Mountaineers always seemed to have an answer, including a 5-0 run after a 3-pointer by junior Cartier Diarra cut it to 61-53 with 1:27 to play.
As expected with the teams' defensive pedigree, neither team shot well from the field, as West Virginia connected on 42 percent (21-of-50), including 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from 3-point range, while K-State hit on 36.7 percent (18-of-49), including 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from long range. The 3 3-pointers were a season-low for the Wildcats.
Culver was only West Virginia player in double figures, but it was a big offensive effort, as he was responsible for nearly a third of the team's points with a game-high 19 points on 8-of-15 field goals to go with a game-best 14 rebounds. Two others – Harler and freshman Oscar Tshiebwe – each added 8 points.
Junior David Sloan continued his solid play since joining the starting lineup 5 games ago, as he led the Wildcats with 13 points on 5-of-11 field goals and 3-of-3 free throws to go with team-highs in both assists (3) and steals (2) in 29 minutes. Senior Xavier Sneed added 11 points, most of which came from the free throw line (7-of-10).
In starting the last 5 games, Sloan is averaging 10.2 points and 3.6 assists in 26.8 minutes per game.
K-State has now lost 8 games (of 12 total losses) by single digits or by 40 total points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
K-State jumped out to the early lead on the strength of a 7-0 run, which was highlighted by 3-point plays by freshman DaJuan Gordon and junior David Sloan, to take a 9-5 lead before a West Virginia jumper made it 9-7 at the first media timeout at the 15:36 mark. However, West Virginia regained the lead at 10-9 on a 3-point play by sophomore Derek Culver that capped a 5-0 run by the Mountaineers.
The two teams traded the lead 4 times over the next few possessions, including a 14-11 lead by K-State on a 3-pointer by freshman Montavious Murphy at the 12:02 mark, before WVU used another 5-0 run to take a 20-16 advantage into the third media timeout with 7:30 before halftime.
The run was extended to 10-0 after 2 free throws by freshman Miles McBride and a 3-pointer by junior Brandon Knapper that forced head coach Bruce Weber to call his first timeout with the Mountaineers leading 25-16 at the 5:23 mark. A jumper by Mike McGuirl 30 seconds later ended the drought that lasted more than 5 minutes.
The McGuirl bucket seemed to kick start the Wildcat offense, as the jumper started a 9-2 run that closed the deficit to 27-25 on a pair of free throws by senior Xavier Sneed with 1:50 before halftime. Down 29-27 with the Wildcats had an opportunity to tie the game, but Sloan's layup rattled off the rim with 9 seconds, and sophomore Emmitt Matthews, Jr., hit 1 of 2 free throws to give the Mountaineers a 30-27 edge at the break.
Neither team shot particularly well in the opening half, as WVU connected on 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from the field, including 25 percent (2-of-8) from 3-point range, while K-State hit on 38.5 percent (10-of-26), but just 11.1 percent (1-of-9) from long range. Both teams shot 66.7 percent from the free throw line.
Culver led all scorers with 9 points for the Mountaineers on 4-of-9 field goals to go with 7 rebounds, while Sloan paced the Wildcats with 7 points on 3-of-8 field goals and Gordon had a team-high 6 rebounds.
K-State had multiple opportunities to take the lead in the opening moments of the second half, as both Gordon and McGuirl missed 2 free throws each with the Wildcats within 30-29 before a 3-pointer by senior Chase Harler and a jumper by Culver extended the lead to 35-29 at the 15:56 mark.
Down 37-33 after 2 free throws by Gordon, K-State looked like it had the opportunity to close the gap further on a steal, but Harler scrapped and got the ball back to junior Taz Sherman, who nailed a 3-pointer at the shot clock buzzer to push the lead back out to 40-33 with 13:44 to play.
After a jumper by senior Makol Mawien cut it to 40-35 on the next possession, Weber called his third timeout after a runout and dunk by Culver made it 42-35 with just over 12 to play.
Unfortunately for K-State, the timeout didn't disrupt the run, as WVU added 5 more points in a row to extend the lead into double figures for the first time all afternoon at 47-35 on a 3-point play by freshman Oscar Tshiebwe with 9:32 to play. The Mountaineers led 49-35 after a pair of free throws by sophomore Sean McNeil after a technical was called on Sneed with exact 9 remaining.
K-State started to chip away at the deficit, closing to 51-43 on 4 free throws from junior Levi Stockard III and Sneed with 5:58 to play, but WVU pushed it back out on a 3-pointer by McBride just 26 seconds later.
A jumper by Gordon and a 3-pointer by Diarra once again got the Wildcats to within single digits at 56-48 heading into the final media timeout with 2:46 remaining. However, just like the other challenges to the lead, the Mountaineers responded, as Harler hit a couple of big shots, the first, a long 2-pointer that extended the lead back 10 points at 58-48, then a 3-pointer moments later that made it 61-50 with 1:41 to play.
WVU wrapped things up with a mini 5-0 run after a Diarra 3-pointer that made it 66-53 with 41 seconds left, while Sloan scored the game's final points with a pair of free throws and a jumper for the 66-57 final score.
The Mountaineers connected on 42.3 percent (11-of-26) of their field goals in the second half, including 36.4 percent (4-of-11) from 3-point range, while the Wildcats managed to hit on just 34.8 percent (8-of-23), including 25 percent (2-of-8) from long range, after halftime.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Junior David Sloan continued to impress as the Wildcats' starting point guard, scoring a season-high 13 points on 5-of-11 field goals and a 3-of-3 effort from the free throw line to go with 3 assists (to 1 turnover) and 2 steals.
STAT OF THE GAME
3 – K-State connected on a season-low three 3-point field goals against West Virginia on 17 attempts.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"(First, just give) credit to coach (Bob) Huggins and his team and their staff, to get their culture back after last year. I know it was a struggle for him. It wasn't a fun season for him. He made some tough decisions. They got their culture back, they played their butts off. (They were) probably not like (Jevon) Carter's teams and that group, but in their own way, they have a good unit. I thought our guys battled. They've destroyed everybody here in the last stretch. With Texas, 38, and TCU, 30, and Missouri, 20 something, and even Texas Tech was double digits. We knew it would be a tough task. We were just saying to grind in there, stay close, maybe we will make a couple plays. We just didn't make the shots and the free throws. And credit to them. I thought we missed either four or five straight free throws in the second half, when it was right there. You know, I think we could've taken the lead twice, and we just missed the free throw. (Senior guard Chase) Harler hit the one 3, and then we went zone and (junior guard Taz) Sherman hit that other 3 with one second on the shot clock and those were back-breakers, and now they get to seven and nine (points ahead). If you really study it, it's the box score. They made six 3's and we made 3's and it's nine points. So, you know you find a way to make one or two of those and some were open and some were forced. Their defense was much better than at our place obviously, but you know, credit to our guys. We've made improvement, we've battled. I would like them to play a little sharper and crisp, but part of that is how West Virginia plays."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- West Virginia now leads the all-time series, 11-8, with K-State, including 6-3 in Morgantown… The loss snaps a 3-game winning streak by the Wildcats in the series… The Mountaineers now lead the series, 10-7, in the Big 12 era.
- The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of junior David Sloan, freshman DaJuan Gordon, senior Xavier Sneed, freshman Montavious Murphy and senior Makol Mawien… This was the third time using this lineup and remains the sixth different lineup used this season.
- Sneed has now played in 126 career games, including 93 starts (54 consecutive)… Mawien has played and started in every game in his career, which now stretches to 92… Murphy earned his 11th start (most among all K-State freshmen) and has now played in 14 career games… Sloan made his fifth consecutive start (only 5 starts of the season) and has played in all 21 games this season… Gordon made his fourth career start and has played in all 21 games this season.
- Gordon and Murphy start together for the fourth time (third consecutive) this season… The last time a pair of true freshmen started together in more than one game came when Barry Brown, Jr., and Dean Wade started the last 9 games of the 2015-16 season.
- Juniors Cartier Diarra and Levi Stockard III were the first players off the bench.
Team Notes
- K-State scored its 57 points on 36.7 percent shooting (18-of-49), including 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from 3-point range, and connected on 18 of 26 attempts (69.2 percent) from free throw line… It marked the fourth time this season, including the third time in Big 12 play, that the Wildcats have not reached 60 points, while it was 11th time that the team shot below 40 percent from the field.
- The 3 3-point field goals made were a season-low, eclipsing the 4 made against TCU (1/7/20) and Texas Tech (1/14/20)… The 17.6 3-point field goal percentage was the second-lowest this season.
- WVU scored its 66 points on 42 percent shooting (21-of-50), including 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from 3.
- K-State held a 28-22 advantage in the paint, which marked the 10th time leading in points in the paint.
- WVU held a 39-32 advantage on the glass, which resulted in a 13-9 edge in second-chance points.
- WVU for nearly 34 minutes compared to just 4:36 for K-State.
Player Notes
- Junior David Sloan scored a team-high 13 points of 5-of-11 field goals and 3-of-3 free throws in 29 minutes… It marked the second time this season that he has led the Wildcats in scoring as well as the second time reaching double-figure points… He added team-highs in both assists (3) and steals (2).
- Sloan has now led the team in assists 4 times in starting each of the last 5 games, totaling 18 assists with just 6 turnovers in that span.
- Senior Xavier Sneed scored 11 points on 2-of-13 field goals and 7-of-10 free throws in 33 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 70 career games, including 17 this season… He has now scored in double figures in 14 of the last 16 games.
- With his 11 points, Sneed moved into No. 13 all-time in scoring in school history with 1,310 points, passing Ed Nealy (1,304/1978-82)… Needs 18 more points to pass Mitch Richmond (1,327/1986-88).
- Freshman DaJuan Gordon tied his season-high in rebounds (8) for the second time in 3 games with 8 rebounds against West Virginia… He also added 7 points on 2-of-5 field goals and 3-of-5 free throws.
- Gordon played 30 or more minutes for just the second time this season.
- Senior Makol Mawien grabbed 6 rebounds and now has 39 boards (7.8 rpg.) in the last 5 games.
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State makes a quick turnaround on Monday night, as the Wildcats play host to top-ranked Baylor (19-1, 8-0 Big 12) at Bramlage Coliseum at 8 p.m., CT on ESPN2. The Bears will be the ninth No. 1 team to visit Bramlage Coliseum in its history and the first since these same Bears were No. 1 in 2017.
Team Stats
KState
WVU
FG%
.367
.420
3FG%
.176
.316
FT%
.692
.643
RB
32
39
TO
14
15
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
K-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