Kansas State University Athletics
Wednesday, November 30
Indianapolis, IN
5:30 p.m.
Kansas State University
6-1,0-0Big 12
64
at
76
Butler
5-3,0-0Big East
1
2
F
Kansas St.
25
39
64
Butler
37
39
76
K-State’s Comeback Comes Up in Short in 76-64 Loss at Butler
Nov 30, 2022 | Men's Basketball
Senior Keyontae Johnson posts first double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Kansas State could not quite dig itself out of a first-half deficit, as a hot-shooting Butler hit on nearly 55 percent from the field in a 76-64 win on Wednesday night in the fourth annual BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle before 7,660 fans at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Butler (5-3), which came into the game averaging 90 points per game on 60.1 percent shooting in 3 home games this season, stayed hot from the field in handing K-State (6-1) its first loss under first-year head coach Jerome Tang. The Bulldogs connected on an opponent-high 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field, including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) in the second half, while all 5 starters scored in double figures led by Manny Bates' 22 points.
Despite the impressive offensive performance by the home team, the Wildcats still had opportunities to rally from a double-digit deficit twice in the second half. After falling behind by 14 just after halftime, senior Markquis Nowell's first 3-pointer keyed a 13-4 run that closed the deficit to 48-43 with just over 14 minutes to play. However, the Bulldogs responded with a 17-2 run that pushed the lead to 20 points.
Down 65-45 with 8:29 remaining, senior Desi Sills helped spark one more attempt at a comeback for K-State, as the reserve scored 13 of his 17 second-half points in a 15-3 run that cut the deficit to 68-60 with just over 4 minutes to play. However, once again, Butler had a response, rattling off 6 in a row to push the lead back to double figures en route to the 12-point victory.
The loss spoiled an impressive night by senior Keyontae Johnson, who collected his first double-double as a Wildcat, pouring in a team-high 20 points on perfect 9-of-9 shooting to go with a season-high 12 rebounds in 36 minutes. It was his 14th career double-double, including his sixth with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He became just the ninth player in school history to go 9-of-9 or better from the field.
Sills came off the bench to provide a big lift in the second half, scoring all 17 of his points after halftime on 8-of-12 shooting. Nowell dished out a game-high 8 assists to go with his 13 points.
For the game, K-State connected 46 percent (29-of-63), including just 20 percent (4-of-20) from 3-point range. The Wildcats had a season-high 48 points in the paint but posted season-lows in a number of categories, including just 3 free throw attempts while making 2. The team came in averaging 17.3 free throws made per game.
Butler, which has all 5 starters averaging in double figures, continued that balance in the victory, as Bates led 5 starters in double figures with a game-high 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting with 10 rebounds in nearly 39 minutes. Junior Chuck Harris added 15 points on 5-of-8 field goals, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Wildcats dropped to 0-3 all-time in the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior Keyontae Johnson gave K-State the lead on the first possession with a 3-pointer from the top of key on a pass from senior Markquis Nowell. However, after a Johnson bucket gave the Wildcats a 5-4 lead, the Bulldogs rattled off 9 of the next 11 points to take a 13-7 advantage. Johnson, who had 10 of the team's first 12 points, got K-State to within 15-12, but Butler scored 8 straight points to push its lead to 23-12 and forced head coach Jerome Tang to call his first timeout at the 11:45 mark.
After the lead grew to 13, K-State was able to close the gap to 26-17 on a dunk by junior David N'Guessan and a 3-point play from Nowell heading into the third media timeout with 7:54 to play. However, Butler answered back with 6 of the next 8 points to push the lead back to 13 at 32-19 with 3:51 before halftime.
The lead stood at 37-25 at halftime as Butler capped the half with a 3-pointer from sophomore Simas Lukosius with 10 seconds left. The balanced Bulldogs got 5 or more points from each of their starters, including 10 from big man Manny Bates to go with 6 rebounds. Johnson scored more than half of the Wildcats' points with a game-high 14 on 6-of-6 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers, to go with 6 boards.
Nowell was active in the early going of the second half, scoring 6 points to help cut the deficit to 46-37 right before the first media timeout. The Wildcats cut the deficit to 48-43 with back-to-back baskets from Johnson and a layup from sophomore Cam Carter to force the Bulldogs to take a timeout with 14:08 to play.
However, the home team was able seize the momentum with a 17-2 run that was highlighted by a pair of dunks by Bates and consecutive 3-pointers from Lukosius and fifth-year senior Chuck Harris that pushed the lead back to double figures and grew to 65-45 midway through the half.
Down 20 points with 8:29 to play, K-State rode the efforts of senior Desi Sills for one last attempt at a comeback. The reserve scored 13 points in a 15-3 run that cut the deficit to 68-60 with just over 4 minutes to play. However, the Wildcats could not shave any more off the lead, as the Bulldogs scored 6 in a row to put the game back in double figures en route to the 76-64 victory.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Senior Keyontae Johnson scored a team-high 20 points on perfect 9-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range, to go with a season-high 12 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist in 36 minutes. It was his 14th career double-double, including sixth 20-point/10-rebound double-double.
Senior Desi Sills came through from the bench for the second straight game, scoring all 17 of his points in the second half on 8-of-12 field goals, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range. This second-half performance came after going scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting, including 0-of-2 from beyond the arc, in the first half.
STAT OF THE GAME
54.9/60.9 – Butler connected on an opponent-high 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field, including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) in the second half.
IN THEIR WORDS
Head coach Jerome Tang
On the game…
"The crowd was great. It was our first really experience in a somewhat hostile environment. I've been here before. So, I understand the history of it. So as a coach and a basketball junkie, it was a pleasure to be able to play here. Obviously, I want to win, but you got to give those guys credit, because their staff did a great job."
On Butler and their offense…
"I thought their staff did a great job of putting their players in position to shoot practice shots. And so, we as a staff have to do a better job of preparing our guys."
On the struggles on defense…
"Our defense is predicated on ball pressure. And I don't think that we pressured the ball the way that we're capable of. So, we got to go back and see we can give our guys a better opportunity to execute a game plan. And then we're going to look at what they did, because they obviously were prepared for what we wanted to do. Manny Bates was incredible. I thought we played better defense in the second half, because we caused turnovers, but they still shot 61 percent. I always said there are a few nights a year where it doesn't matter what you do, you're not gonna beat the other team and a few nights a year it doesn't matter what they did, they're not going to beat you. And then, the rest of it comes down to one or two possessions."
On Keyontae Johnson…
"When you have a guy on your team that does not miss a shot just means you didn't shoot enough. And as a staff that's on us to make sure that he gets more shots. But he has been unbelievable. Just a great kid and he's fun to be around and his basketball is just only getting better and better and better."
Senior Keyontae Johnson
On he should've been more aggressive…
"I needed to do a better job of getting my teammates involved. I had a way too many turnovers."
On the loss…
"I told the guys after the game we have to just move on to the next game. It's a quick turnaround. We know what we did wrong. We have to come to practice tomorrow, focused on getting better. We know we have a big game on Saturday night, so we just have to be ready to practice tomorrow."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
Team Notes
Player Notes
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State returns home on Saturday, Dec. 3 when the Wildcats play host to in-state rival Wichita State (4-3) at 8 p.m., CT on ESPNU. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased online at kstatesports.com/tickets, by calling (800) 221.CATS or visiting the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
Butler (5-3), which came into the game averaging 90 points per game on 60.1 percent shooting in 3 home games this season, stayed hot from the field in handing K-State (6-1) its first loss under first-year head coach Jerome Tang. The Bulldogs connected on an opponent-high 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field, including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) in the second half, while all 5 starters scored in double figures led by Manny Bates' 22 points.
Despite the impressive offensive performance by the home team, the Wildcats still had opportunities to rally from a double-digit deficit twice in the second half. After falling behind by 14 just after halftime, senior Markquis Nowell's first 3-pointer keyed a 13-4 run that closed the deficit to 48-43 with just over 14 minutes to play. However, the Bulldogs responded with a 17-2 run that pushed the lead to 20 points.
Down 65-45 with 8:29 remaining, senior Desi Sills helped spark one more attempt at a comeback for K-State, as the reserve scored 13 of his 17 second-half points in a 15-3 run that cut the deficit to 68-60 with just over 4 minutes to play. However, once again, Butler had a response, rattling off 6 in a row to push the lead back to double figures en route to the 12-point victory.
The loss spoiled an impressive night by senior Keyontae Johnson, who collected his first double-double as a Wildcat, pouring in a team-high 20 points on perfect 9-of-9 shooting to go with a season-high 12 rebounds in 36 minutes. It was his 14th career double-double, including his sixth with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He became just the ninth player in school history to go 9-of-9 or better from the field.
Sills came off the bench to provide a big lift in the second half, scoring all 17 of his points after halftime on 8-of-12 shooting. Nowell dished out a game-high 8 assists to go with his 13 points.
For the game, K-State connected 46 percent (29-of-63), including just 20 percent (4-of-20) from 3-point range. The Wildcats had a season-high 48 points in the paint but posted season-lows in a number of categories, including just 3 free throw attempts while making 2. The team came in averaging 17.3 free throws made per game.
Butler, which has all 5 starters averaging in double figures, continued that balance in the victory, as Bates led 5 starters in double figures with a game-high 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting with 10 rebounds in nearly 39 minutes. Junior Chuck Harris added 15 points on 5-of-8 field goals, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Wildcats dropped to 0-3 all-time in the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior Keyontae Johnson gave K-State the lead on the first possession with a 3-pointer from the top of key on a pass from senior Markquis Nowell. However, after a Johnson bucket gave the Wildcats a 5-4 lead, the Bulldogs rattled off 9 of the next 11 points to take a 13-7 advantage. Johnson, who had 10 of the team's first 12 points, got K-State to within 15-12, but Butler scored 8 straight points to push its lead to 23-12 and forced head coach Jerome Tang to call his first timeout at the 11:45 mark.
After the lead grew to 13, K-State was able to close the gap to 26-17 on a dunk by junior David N'Guessan and a 3-point play from Nowell heading into the third media timeout with 7:54 to play. However, Butler answered back with 6 of the next 8 points to push the lead back to 13 at 32-19 with 3:51 before halftime.
The lead stood at 37-25 at halftime as Butler capped the half with a 3-pointer from sophomore Simas Lukosius with 10 seconds left. The balanced Bulldogs got 5 or more points from each of their starters, including 10 from big man Manny Bates to go with 6 rebounds. Johnson scored more than half of the Wildcats' points with a game-high 14 on 6-of-6 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers, to go with 6 boards.
Nowell was active in the early going of the second half, scoring 6 points to help cut the deficit to 46-37 right before the first media timeout. The Wildcats cut the deficit to 48-43 with back-to-back baskets from Johnson and a layup from sophomore Cam Carter to force the Bulldogs to take a timeout with 14:08 to play.
However, the home team was able seize the momentum with a 17-2 run that was highlighted by a pair of dunks by Bates and consecutive 3-pointers from Lukosius and fifth-year senior Chuck Harris that pushed the lead back to double figures and grew to 65-45 midway through the half.
Down 20 points with 8:29 to play, K-State rode the efforts of senior Desi Sills for one last attempt at a comeback. The reserve scored 13 points in a 15-3 run that cut the deficit to 68-60 with just over 4 minutes to play. However, the Wildcats could not shave any more off the lead, as the Bulldogs scored 6 in a row to put the game back in double figures en route to the 76-64 victory.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Senior Keyontae Johnson scored a team-high 20 points on perfect 9-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range, to go with a season-high 12 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist in 36 minutes. It was his 14th career double-double, including sixth 20-point/10-rebound double-double.
Senior Desi Sills came through from the bench for the second straight game, scoring all 17 of his points in the second half on 8-of-12 field goals, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range. This second-half performance came after going scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting, including 0-of-2 from beyond the arc, in the first half.
STAT OF THE GAME
54.9/60.9 – Butler connected on an opponent-high 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field, including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) in the second half.
IN THEIR WORDS
Head coach Jerome Tang
On the game…
"The crowd was great. It was our first really experience in a somewhat hostile environment. I've been here before. So, I understand the history of it. So as a coach and a basketball junkie, it was a pleasure to be able to play here. Obviously, I want to win, but you got to give those guys credit, because their staff did a great job."
On Butler and their offense…
"I thought their staff did a great job of putting their players in position to shoot practice shots. And so, we as a staff have to do a better job of preparing our guys."
On the struggles on defense…
"Our defense is predicated on ball pressure. And I don't think that we pressured the ball the way that we're capable of. So, we got to go back and see we can give our guys a better opportunity to execute a game plan. And then we're going to look at what they did, because they obviously were prepared for what we wanted to do. Manny Bates was incredible. I thought we played better defense in the second half, because we caused turnovers, but they still shot 61 percent. I always said there are a few nights a year where it doesn't matter what you do, you're not gonna beat the other team and a few nights a year it doesn't matter what they did, they're not going to beat you. And then, the rest of it comes down to one or two possessions."
On Keyontae Johnson…
"When you have a guy on your team that does not miss a shot just means you didn't shoot enough. And as a staff that's on us to make sure that he gets more shots. But he has been unbelievable. Just a great kid and he's fun to be around and his basketball is just only getting better and better and better."
Senior Keyontae Johnson
On he should've been more aggressive…
"I needed to do a better job of getting my teammates involved. I had a way too many turnovers."
On the loss…
"I told the guys after the game we have to just move on to the next game. It's a quick turnaround. We know what we did wrong. We have to come to practice tomorrow, focused on getting better. We know we have a big game on Saturday night, so we just have to be ready to practice tomorrow."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State dropped its first game of the season and the first of the Jerome Tang era… It was the first loss of Tang's career as a head coach after starting 8-0 (which included 2 at Baylor as interim coach).
- K-State is now 165-53 in non-conference play since 2006-07, including 15-14 in true road games.
- K-State is now 0-2 all-time vs. Butler in their first meeting since the 2010 NCAA Tournament… The two teams were supposed to play in the 2020 version of the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle, but the game was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols.
- K-State is now 24-27 vs. current member of the BIG EAST, including 4-16 in road games… The last road win against a current BIG EAST member came in 1987 vs. Creighton.
- K-State used a starting lineup of fifth-year senior Markquis Nowell, sophomore Cam Carter, fifth-year senior Keyontae Johnson, junior Nae'Qwan Tomlin and junior David N'Guessan… It marked the sixth time in 7 games using this lineup.
- Nowell made his 28th start at K-State, while Carter, Johnson and Tomlin all made their seventh starts in Wildcat uniforms and N'Guessan his sixth… It was Johnson's 62nd start in college (other 55 at Florida), the 11th for Carter (other 4 at Mississippi State), sixth by N'Guessan (all at K-State), while Tomlin made his seventh Division I start (all at K-State).
Team Notes
- K-State scored 64 points on 46 percent shooting (29-of-63), including just 20 percent (4-of-20) from 3-point range, and connected on 66.7 percent (2-of-3) from the free throw line.
- K-State scored a season-high 48 points in the paint.
- K-State set season-lows in a number of categories, including 3-point field goals (4), 3-point field goal percentage (20 percent), free throws made (2) and attempted (3), offensive rebounds (9), total rebounds (27), and points off turnovers (12).
- Butler scored its 76 points on an opponent-high 54.9 percent (28-of-51) shooting from the field, including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) in the second half.
- Butler held the advantage on the glass, 31-27, including 25 defensive rebounds.
- Butler led 37-25 at halftime on the strength of 50 percent (14-of-28) shooting, including 36.4 percent (4-of-11) from 3-point range… The Wildcats connected on 40.7 percent (11-of-27), but just 18.2 percent (2-of-11) from long range… Senior Keyontae Johnson led all scorers with 14 points.
- The 12-point deficit was the largest of the season and the third straight game facing a deficit.
Player Notes
- Senior Keyontae Johnson scored a team-high 20 points on 9-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range, to go with a season-high 12 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist in 36 minutes… It was his 14th career double-double, including his first as a Wildcat, and his sixth double-double of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds… He became the ninth player in school history to go 9-of-9 or better from the field and the first since Antonio Gordon went 9-of-9 vs. Baylor on Dec. 19, 2020… It was his seventh straight double-digit scoring game… He has now scored in double figures in 45 career games.
- Senior Desi Sills continued his strong play from the bench, scoring a season-high 17 points on 8-of-15 field goals, including 1-of-4 from 3-point range, to go with 3 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist in 29 minutes… He now has 54 career double-digit scoring games, including 4 at K-State.
- Senior Markquis Nowell scored 13 points on 5-of-15 field goals, including 1-of-6 from 3-point range, and 2-of-2 free throws to go with a game-high 8 assists and 1 steal in 35 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 71 career games, including 24 in his K-State career.
- Junior David N'Guessan scored 8 points on 4-of-4 shooting with 2 rebounds and an assist.
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State returns home on Saturday, Dec. 3 when the Wildcats play host to in-state rival Wichita State (4-3) at 8 p.m., CT on ESPNU. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased online at kstatesports.com/tickets, by calling (800) 221.CATS or visiting the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
Team Stats
KState
Butler
FG%
.460
.549
3FG%
.200
.400
FT%
.667
.800
RB
27
31
TO
13
14
STL
8
3
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
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/ Men's BasketballPG
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/ Men's Basketball
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