Oklahoma State Slips Past K-State, 64-59

Tuesday, February 11

Manhattan, Kan.

8 p.m.

Kansas State University

9-15,2-9Big 12

Oklahoma State

12-12,2-9Big 12

Oklahoma St.

Kansas St.

Feb 11, 2020 | Men's Basketball

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

By: The Cowboys snap a 4-game losing streak to the Wildcats

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Oklahoma State was a scorching 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the field in the second half, as the Cowboys snapped a 4-game losing streak against Kansas State with a 64-59 victory on Tuesday night before 7,967 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.

The team's 81.3 field goal percentage (13-of-16) in the second half was the second highest by an opponent in a half and the highest since Colorado connected on 82.4 percent at home on Jan. 24, 2009. Overall, the Cowboys (12-12, 2-9 Big 12) connected on 51.2 percent (22-of-43) from the field, including 57.1 percent (20-of-35) from inside the 3-point arc, to claim its first win in the series since an 80-64 win at Bramlage Coliseum on Feb. 22, 2017.

The loss was another frustratingly close one for K-State (9-15, 2-9 Big 12), which drew within 49-47 on a layup by junior Cartier Diarra with just over 6 minutes to play. However, OSU responded with a 10-3 run, which included 5 consecutive points from sophomore Yor Anei and was capped by a 3-pointer by senior Lindy Waters III, that pushed the lead back out to 9 points (59-50) with 2:15 remaining.

K-State still had an opportunity after a 3-pointer from junior Mike McGuirl and free throws by senior Makol Mawien closed the deficit to 59-55 with 1:24 to play, but OSU knocked down 5-of-8 free throws down the stretch, including a pair by senior Cameron McGriff with 14 seconds, to seal the victory, 64-59.

The Wildcats have now lost 10 games (of 15 total losses) by single digits or by 51 total points.

Anei was the star of the night for the Cowboys, as he was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field, including 1-of-1 from 3-point range, for a team-high 15 points, while Waters (12), graduate transfer Jonathan Laurent (11) and McGriff (10) also scored in double figures. McGriff added a near double-double with a game-high 8 rebounds.

McGuirl led the Wildcats with a game-high 16 points off the bench on 5-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and a 3-of-3 effort from the free throw line. It marked the second time in his career that McGuirl has led the team in scoring, while he registered double-digit points for the fifth time this season.

Fellow junior Cartier Diarra scored 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with a career-tying 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 36 minutes. Senior Makol Mawien also scored in double figures for the Wildcats with 11 points on 3-of-6 field goals and 5-of-8 free throws in 24 minutes.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After Oklahoma State scored the first points of the game on a pair of free throws by senior Lindy Waters III,
K-State responded with a 7-1 run, which included a 3-pointer by senior Xavier Sneed, that propelled the Wildcats to an early 7-3 lead. However, the Cowboys chipped away at the deficit with a 10-5 run to take a 13-12 lead on a dunk by senior Cameron McGriff at the 11:33 mark.

The Wildcats took a 17-15 lead into the third media timeout with 7:55 before halftime on the strength of 3-pointer by junior Mike McGuirl and a layup by junior David Sloan. However, the Cowboys again responded with a 9-1 run, which included 6 consecutive points, that gave them a 24-18 lead and forced head coach Bruce Weber to call his first timeout at the 5:08 mark.

The run was extended to 10-1 on a free throw on the next possession that extended the lead to 25-18 before a free throw by senior Makol Mawien finally ended the offensive drought by the Wildcats just after the final media timeout at the 3:46 mark. The teams traded points in the last minutes of the half, the Cowboys took a 27-21 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

OSU connected on 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from the field, including 16.7 percent (1-of-6) from 3-point range, in the first half while K-State hit on just 28.6 percent (8-of-28), including 27.3 percent (3-of-11) from long range. Diarra led the Wildcats with 6 points on 2-of-5 shooting, while three different Cowboys (McGriff, Yor Anei and Waters) had 6 points each.

K-State started the second half with some momentum, forcing an early OSU timeout at the 16:11 mark, after scoring 5 of the first 7 points to close to within 29-26. A pair of free throws by McGuirl closed the deficit to 29-28 with 15:14 remaining, but OSU responded by scoring 7 of the next 9 points to push back out 36-30 at the third media timeout of the half at the 11:19 mark.

The Wildcats were able to close to within one possession at 38-35 on a 3-point play by McGuirl with 10 minutes to play, but the Cowboys got a pair of jumpers by Anei and a 3-point play by graduate transfer Jonathan Laurent that pushed the lead to 45-37 with 8:19 to play.

A 3-pointer by McGuirl on the next possession keyed an 8-2 run that allowed K-State to close the gap to 47-45 and force an OSU timeout with 7:09 remaining. Once again, the Cowboys responded with a 7-2 spurt, started by 2 free throws from freshman Isaac Likelele, that pushed it back to 53-47 and made Weber take a timeout with 5:21 left.

The momentum continued for OSU out of the timeout, as the Cowboys scored 6 of the next 9 points, capped by a 3-pointer from Waters with 2:15 to play, that extended the lead to 59-50.

A 3-pointer from McGuirl and 2 free throws by Mawien pulled the Wildcats to within 59-55 with 84 seconds to play, but the Cowboys made 5 of 8 free throws down the stretch, including 2 in a row by McGriff with 14 seconds left, to earn the 64-59 victory.

OSU connected on 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the field in the second half, including 50 percent (1-of-2) from 3-point range, while K-State hit on 42.9 percent (12-of-28) from the field after halftime, including 36.4 percent (4-of-11) from long range.

McGuirl scored 11 of his game-high 16 points in the second half, while Mawien scored 10 of 11 points after halftime, while Anei and Laurent led the Cowboys with 9 points each.

PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Junior Mike McGuirl scored a game-high 16 points on 5-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and went 3-of-3 from the free throw line in 31 minutes off the bench. It marked just the second time in his career that he has led the team in scoring, while it marked his fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season.

Junior Cartier Diarra was solid all-around with 15 points on 5-of-13 field goals, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with a career-best 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 36 minutes.

STAT OF THE GAME
81.3 – Oklahoma State made 13 of its 16 field goals in the second half, which at 81.3 percent is the highest field goal percentage by an opponent in a half in school history and the highest since Colorado connected on 82.4 percent at home on Jan. 24, 2009.

IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"They went inside. They scored a lot of points in the paint. They only shot 2-of-8 from three, and they were smart. They got us in some foul trouble. They were patient, moved to their places and made the right plays at the right time. We've got to give them credit. We had our chances. At the start of the second half, I think it was 30-29 again, we had a layup, made our free throws. Then they made a couple plays. Every time we pushed it, they had an answer for us and made the right plays at the right times. I wish I had an answer. We compete, we battle, but we just don't make the right plays at the right time."

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

K-State still leads the all-time series, 82-54, with Oklahoma State, including 41-17 in Manhattan… The loss snaps a 4-game winning streak in the series by the Wildcats and the first by the Cowboys at Bramlage Coliseum since an 80-68 win on Feb. 22, 2017.
The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of junior Cartier Diarra, 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 129 career games, including 96 starts (57 consecutive)… He is now tied with D.J. Johnson (129/2012-17) for ninth place on the all-time games played list… He is also 6 starts shy of cracking the career starts list… He remains in ninth place on all-time minutes played list with 3,563.
Mawien has played and started in every game in his career, which now stretches to 95… Murphy earned his 14th start (most among all K-State freshmen) and has now played in 17 career games (missing 7 due to injury)… Gordon made his seventh career start and has played in all 24 games this season.
Gordon and Murphy start together for the seventh time (sixth 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.
Junior Levi Stockard III was the first player off the bench.

Team Notes

K-State was held below 60 points for fifth time this season, as the Wildcats scored 59 points on 35.7 percent shooting (20-of-56), including 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from 3-point range, and hit on 12 of 22 attempts (54.5 percent) from the free throw line.
Oklahoma State scored its 64 points on 51.2 percent shooting (22-of-43), including 25 percent (2-of-8) from 3-point range, and made 18-of-27 from the charity stripe (66.7 percent)… The Cowboys connected on 81.3 percent (13-of-16) in the second half, which was the second-highest by opponent in a half and the highest since Colorado connected on 82.4 percent at home on Jan. 24, 2009.
K-State forced Oklahoma State into 16 turnovers, but only managed to score 14 points off those miscues, while the Cowboys scored 11 points off 11 Wildcat turnovers.
Oklahoma State held a 30-22 margin for points in the paint.
The Wildcats' second unit outscored Oklahoma State's bench, 22-10.
The Cowboys outrebounded K-State, 38-29, on the night.
Oklahoma State led for nearly 30 minutes compared to just 8:24 for K-State.

Player Notes

Junior Mike McGuirl scored a game-high 16 points on 5-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and 3-of-3 free throws to go with 2 rebounds and a steal in 31 minutes… It marked just the second time that he has led the team in scoring… He has now scored in double figures in 7 career games, including 5 this season.
Junior Cartier Diarra scored 15 points on 5-of-13 field goals, including 2-of-6 from the 3-point range, to go with a career-best 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 36 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 33 career games, including 16 this season.
Senior Makol Mawien scored 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting while tacking on 6 rebounds on the night… He has now scored in double figures in 31 career games, including 9 this season.
Senior Xavier Sneed recorded 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting while hitting 2-of-4 3-point field goals to go with 4 rebounds and 3 steals… It marked the 38^th time leading the team in steals in his career.

WHAT'S NEXT
K-State returns to action on Saturday night, as the Wildcats travel to Fort Worth, Texas take on TCU (13-11, 4-7 Big 12) at 4 p.m., CT on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The Horned Frogs won the first meeting, 59-57, in Manhattan, Kan., on Jan. 7 and will be looking to sweep the season series for the first time in Big 12 era.