23/24 Kansas Wins Defensive Battle over K-State

MANHATTAN, Kan. – No. 23/24 Kansas broke open a tight defensive contest with a pivotal 14-3 run near the midway point of the second half, as Jayhawks captured the 295^th edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown with a 59-41 win in front of a limited capacity crowd of 1,248 fans at Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday night.

The win gave Kansas (16-7, 10-5 Big 12) a sweep of the regular-season series for the second consecutive season.

In a game where both teams struggled from long range, combining to make just 7 of 40 attempts from 3-point range, it was Kansas that used its defense to generate offense. The Jayhawks scored nearly half their points off turnovers, scoring 29 points off 18 miscues, while holding the Wildcats to just 11 points off their own 16 turnovers.

Kansas, which finished at 45.8 percent (22-of-48) shooting, got easy points in transition from the turnovers to make it up for its dismal shooting (4-of-16) from 3-point range. The Jayhawks converted on 56.3 percent (18-of-32) of their shots from inside the arc and outscored the Wildcats, 32-20, in the paint.

Senior Marcus Garrett led all scorers with 14 points on 5-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, while redshirt freshman Jalen Wilson totaled a near double-double with 11 points and game-high 9 rebounds. Two other Jayhawk starters – juniors Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack – added 9 and 8 points, respectively.

Leading 30-26 with just 14 minutes to play, Kansas rattled off a 14-3 run over a near 5-minute span in the second half, as five different Jayhawks had at least one basket in the stretch, including two each by reserves Mitch Lightfoot and Bryce Thompson. The Wildcats snapped the run with back-to-back buckets from senior Mike McGuirl and sophomore DaJuan Gordon, but the Jayhawks ended any chance of a comeback with quick 15-2 run that built the lead to a game-high 24 points with just over 2 minutes to play.

K-State (5-18, 1-13 Big 12) was held to a season-low 41 points on 31 percent (18-of-58) shooting, including 12.5 percent (3-of-24) from 3-point range, and made just 2 of 6 free throw attempts. The 41 points were the fewest pints scored in the Bruce Weber era, while they were the fewest at home since posting 39 vs. N.C. State in March 1998. In all, the team set or tied season-low in 9 offensive categories.

The Wildcats got a lift from the return of Gordon, who came off the bench to score 12 points on 6-of-13 field goals in 28 minutes. He had missed the last 4 games due to injury. Gordon was the only player to score in double figures, as two others (sophomore Antonio Gordon and freshman Nijel Pack) chipped in 6 points each. Gordon added a team-tying 7 rebounds and 3 steals, while Pack dished out a team-best 5 assists.

The team has now lost 13 in a row, including 12 in Big 12 play. The 13-game losing streak is the longest in a single season and the second-longest in school history.

KEY STRETCH(ES)
Kansas ended the first half on a strong note, scoring 8 of the last 10 points to take a 26-17 advantage into halftime. After K-State had closed to within 18-15 on a dunk by DaJuan Gordon with 2:34 remaining, the Jayhawks finally ended their 3-point drought with a triple from Jalen Wilson on a turnover then got free throws from Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji before ending the half with layup by Marcus Garrett.

K-State closed to within 30-26 on a jumper by Nijel Pack with 14:02 remaining, Kansas responded with a 14-3 run to push the lead back into double figures. Five different Jayhawks scored field goals in the stretch, including 4 points each from reserves Mitch Lightfoot and Bryce Thompson.

The Wildcats broke the run with consecutive baskets to close to within 44-33 with under 8 to play, however, the Jayhawks responded yet again with a 15-2 run to push the lead to 59-35 with just under 2 minutes to play.

PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Sophomore DaJuan Gordon was solid in his return to the court after missing the last 4 games, scoring a team-high 12 points on 6-of-13 field goals in 28 minutes.

Sophomore Antonio Gordon had an all-around game with 6 points on 3-of-8 shooting with a team-tying 7 rebounds and game-tying 3 steals in 25 minutes.

STAT OF THE GAME
29 – Kansas capitalized on 18 K-State turnovers, converting those into 29 points.

IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"I thought the guys were much better prepared this time than the last time. Obviously, the score isn't much different, but we talked about playing strong and playing tough. We talked about not being tentative. I thought we battled them. I thought we were very well prepared defensively. We took them out of a lot of stuff. Then we talked about playing with courage. We kept battling and battling. It's pretty simple. You go 0-for-15 from three before you hit one. I thought we had some of the most open shots we've had, maybe all year. We just couldn't make them. The points off turnovers, 18 turnovers. They're good defensively. They had 16 turnovers. I thought we did a good job staying in front of them and keeping them out of the paint. Much better job of knowing what they were trying to get. Obviously, they're going to get something, but you hold them to 26 and that's with a bonus point at the end. You're on track to hold them in the low 50s. They only got 59 and some of those down the stretch. It's 30-26, and they made a couple of big plays. We got it to eight or 10 then we just had some bad possessions. We just kind of lost our poise at that point. Disappointed for the guys. I know how much it meant for them. I thought we were more ready to play. We battled them and defended them. We get 12 offensive rebounds and just eight second chance points. Those are the plays. Those are the difference makers in the game."

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

K-State is now 5-18 on the season, including 1-13 in Big 12 play… The 13-game losing streak is the longest for a single season and the longest since losing 14 in a row between the 1921-22 and 1922-23 seasons.
K-State is now 119-272 all-time against Top 25 opponents, including a 5-8 mark vs. the AP's No. 23 ranked team… The Wildcats have 15 consecutive losses against ranked teams, including 0-10 this season.
K-State played its fifth consecutive Top 25 opponent, which is a first in school history.
K-State has lost 15 consecutive games in the month of February dating back to 2019.
K-State is now 94-201 all-time against Kansas, including a 48-80 mark at home… The Jayhawks swept the season series for the second consecutive season and have won 5 in a row in the series.
The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of senior Mike McGuirl, freshman Nijel Pack, freshman Selton Miguel, sophomore Antonio Gordon and freshman Davion Bradford… This is the fifth time using this lineup and the eighth lineup employed this season… This is the 12th time this season that the Wildcats have started 3 true freshmen… McGuirl has now started all 23 games this season and has the longest current active start streak at 28 games… Pack has started all 19 games in which he has played.
Sophomore DaJuan Gordon returned to the court after missing 4 games due to injury.

Team Notes

K-State scored its 41 points on 31 percent (18-of-58) shooting, including 12.5 percent (3-of-24) from 3-point range, while connecting on 33.3 percent (2-of-6) from the free throw line.
K-State set or tied season-lows in 9 categories, including points, field goal percentage, 3-point field goals made, 3-point field goal percentage, free throws made and attempted, free throw percentage, first-half points (17) and second-half points (26).
It was the fewest points scored in the Bruce Weber era, surpassing 42 scored at Baylor (2/21/2015), while it was the fewest scored in Bramlage Coliseum since posting 39 vs. N.C. State (3/11/1998).
Kansas scored its 59 points on 45.8 percent (22-of-48) shooting, including 25 percent (4-of-16) from 3-point range, and knocked down 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the free throw line.
Kansas scored nearly half its points of off turnovers with 29 of 18 K-State turnovers.
K-State held a slim 36-35 advantage on the boards, including 12 offensive rebounds.
Kansas held a 26-17 lead at halftime after holding K-State to 28.6 percent (8-of-28) shooting from the field in the first half… The Jayhawks scored 15 points off of 8 Wildcat turnovers.
K-State had not held a halftime lead in 13 consecutive games.
K-State is now 0-17 on the season when trailing at the half.

Player Notes

Sophomore DaJuan Gordon performed well in his return, scoring 12 points on 6-of-13 field goals with 28 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 16 career games, including 10 this season.
Sophomore Antonio Gordon was solid all-around with 6 points on 3-of-8 shooting with a team-tying 7 rebounds and game-tying 3 steals in 25 minutes.
Freshman Nijel Pack saw his streak of double-digit scoring game end at 8 after scoring 6 points on 3-of-12 field goals, including 0-of-7 from 3-point range, to go with team-high 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in 33 minutes… It marked his ninth time leading the team in assists.
Sophomore Kaosi Ezeagu also grabbed a team-tying 7 rebounds, which marked the first time he has led the team in rebounding this season… He also finished 3 points, an assist and a steal.
Freshman Davion Bradford also pulled down a team-tying 7 rebounds, which marked the seventh time he has led the team in rebounding this season.

WHAT'S NEXT
K-State finishes the regular season with 2 of 3 games on the road, as the Wildcats head to Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday afternoon to take on TCU (11-8, 4-6 Big 12) at the Schollmaier Arena at 4 p.m., CT on Big 12 Now. The Horned Frogs are looking to sweep the regular-season series for the second straight season after posting a 67-60 win over the Wildcats in Manhattan on Jan. 2. TCU has won the last 2 of the last 3 meetings at home in the series.

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Team Stats

DaJuan Gordon

Antonio Gordon

Nijel Pack

Kaosi Ezeagu

Players Mentioned

Davion Bradford

Kaosi Ezeagu

Antonio Gordon

DaJuan Gordon

Mike McGuirl

Selton Miguel

Nijel Pack

Players Mentioned

Davion Bradford

Kaosi Ezeagu

Antonio Gordon

DaJuan Gordon

Mike McGuirl

Selton Miguel

Nijel Pack

Kansas State University Athletics