Kansas State University Athletics
Wednesday, February 26
Orlando, FL
6 p.m. CT
Kansas State University
13-15,7-10Big 12
76
at
80
UCF
15-13,6-11Big 12
1
2
F
Kansas St.
34
42
76
UCF
41
39
80
Rally Comes Up Short in 80-76 Loss at UCF
Feb 26, 2025 | Men's Basketball
Senior Max Jones led four Wildcats in double figures with a season-high 22 points.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Kansas State nearly fought back from an 11-point second-half deficit, closing to within one possession several times in the last 2 minutes, before UCF held on for an 80-76 on Wednesday night before 7,003 fans at Addition Financial Arena.
The Wildcats (13-15, 7-10 Big 12) played without senior Coleman Hawkins for the second straight game, as the team's losing streak hit 4 games with their first-ever loss to the Knights.
UCF (15-13, 6-11 Big 12) was paced by the guard tandem of senior Darius Johnson and junior Keyshawn Hall, who combined for 49 points on 53.6 percent (15-of-28) shooting, including 40 percent (6-of-15) from 3-point range. The duo also combined to go 13 of 16 from the free throw line. They were joined in double figures by freshman Moustapha Thiam, who finished with a near triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 8 blocks.
Senior Max Jones paced four Wildcats in double figures with a season-high 22 points on 6-of-17 field goals, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range, and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. It was his 27th career 20-point game, including his first as a Wildcat. He was joined in double figures by juniors C.J. Jones (12 points), Brendan Hausen (11 points) and Dug McDaniel (10 points).
The pivotal moment in the game came in the last 4 minutes off the first half and the first 3 minutes of the second half when UCF flipped a 34-31 deficit into a 47-36 lead. The Knights ended the first half on a 10-0 run then scored 6 of the first 8 points of the second half.
Despite the 16-2 run, K-State still had a chance in the waning minutes. UCF scored 5 straight points to go ahead by 11 (69-58) for second time in the half with 5:48 to play. However, two free throws by Max Jones keyed a 7-0 run by the Wildcats that cut the deficit to 69-65 at the final media timeout. The teams traded points before 2 more free throws by Jones cut it to 73-71 with 2:11 left.
Following free throws by both teams, K-State had two chances to tie the game with a minute to play, but McDaniel's driving layup missed and Hausen turned the ball over on the inbounds.
After UCF made 4 straight free throws to go ahead 78-72 with 18 seconds, Hausen redeemed himself for the turnover with a rare 4-point play, hitting a long 3-pointer before being fouled and making the free throw, that pulled K-State to within 78-76 with 14 seconds. However, that would be closest it would get, as Hall made both free throws after being fouled on the inbounds play.
For the game, K-State hit on 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the field, including 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from 3-point range, and made 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the line. The Wildcats outscored the Knights, 40-34, in the paint and scored 26 points off 15 turnovers.
UCF connected on 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field, including 24.1 percent (7-of-29) from 3-point range, and shot 76 percent (19-of-25) from the free throw line.
This was just the fourth all-time meeting between the schools, including the second in the Big 12 era. K-State still leads the series, 3-1, including 1-1 in Orlando.
K-State returns to Bramlage Coliseum on Sunday afternoon when the Wildcats play host to Colorado (11-18, 2-15 Big 12) at 3 p.m., CT on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased online at kstatesports.com/tickets or by phone (800) 221.CATS.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
Opening statement…
"First of all, let me I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the blessing of being able to coach these guys and do what I love. I remember being a young high school coach and watching games like this on TV and just dreaming of being here and so I mean, obviously this is not the outcome that I dreamt about but just being given this opportunity, and I understand it is a huge blessing, so blessed to be here and thankful to work with these guys. I want to give Johnny (Dawkins), his staff and his team all the credit for the win tonight, their players made plays. You know, (Darius) Johnson and (Keyshawn) Hall going for 49 tonight, when we had an emphasis on them, sometimes you just need dudes to be dudes, and they were dudes tonight. And then, you know, making free throws down the stretch was big for them. So, all the credit goes to those guys."
On the up-and-down nature of the season and the message to his team…
"We got to be better. Like, we're not good enough to take plays off. We lost the middle 8 (the last 4 minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half) today. The 10-0 run to end the half. The 6-2 run to start the second half. It's a 14-point swing. We're not good enough to do those things. I love our guys' toughness, grittiness, you know, we keep fighting to come back and stuff, but at some point, in time, we got to not have to fight to come out, just fight at the beginning, and then you don't have to worry about the comeback. We got to be better. And, normally, I walk in here and say, I take the blame for it and stuff, but we all have to take ownership of this one and moving forward because it doesn't get any either easier. We are in the second-best league in America this year, but over the last, you know, seven years been the best league in America, and that's what we signed up for. I told them, as 12-year-olds, they dreamt of playing in games like this, right? They'd watch TV and go, 'Man, I want to be out there,' right? And so now, like, we got to be sick and tired of it and make the change. We have to do that."
On playing Macaleab Rich tonight…
"Buddy was good. He's grown up. One of the best parts of my job is the opportunity to help these young men grow as men, right? There's no business in the world where you get paid before you work right? And that's what you have to teach these guys. Man, that you gotta work right? It's not easy. (Former Wildcat and current Cleveland Cavalier) Nae'Qwan Tomlin was here tonight supporting us and he just told me, he said, 'Man, I've learned so much just how important it is, you know, how hard it is, right? And so, there's no easy way, like, life's not easy, right? Buddy's doing some growing up, and I'm proud of him, and I was proud of his effort today and being ready. I should have probably played him last game. He's responding the right way, and now he needs to respond the right way to this."
On the last 3 games of the regular season…
"I'm not thinking about three games. I'm thinking about one game, right? That's what it's about. It's about one game, one game, one mission, win at home. I just said on the radio, and I'll say right now to our fans, like any team that's come to Bramlage (Coliseum) and felt the Octagon of Doom, right? Like what it's supposed to be like, has left with an L, right? And the ones like we played in January when the students weren't there, you know, they didn't get to feel the doom and last week that team didn't get to feel the doom, we're not good enough without our fans. I need our students at the game, right? And every time I've been asked to speak to a sorority or fraternity or any student organization, I've been there, right? And so, I'm asking, like our students, to show up for this next one. We need them. We need we can't win. We don't win without Bramlage (Coliseum) being the Octagon of Doom. And so, this is a challenge to our fans and to our students, and I've been there for you guys. Every one of them has my phone number. You know? I give it out to all the students. If they need me, they can call me or text me, and I'm there for them. And so I need them, right? Our team needs them, and so that that's, that's what I want to see. I want to see a packed Bramlage and and make life miserable for Colorado."
FIRST HALF
UCF jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead, which included the game's first 5 points. Consecutive baskets by senior Max Jones and junior Ugonna Onyenso closed it to one possession, but back-to-back 3-pointers put the Knights up 14-6 at the first media timeout with 15:33 to play.
A 4-point play by Jones out of the timeout pulled K-State to within 14-10, however, UCF scored on back-to-back possession to once again lead by 8 points (18-10). The teams traded baskets, as the lead stood at 23-15 at the second media timeout with just over 11 minutes remaining.
The Wildcats again shaved the lead to 4 points (23-19) after baskets by junior Brendan Hausen and sophomore Macaleab Rich, but again the Knights responded with back-to-back baskets from senior Darius Johnson. A 3-pointer by Jones made it 27-22 before the third media timeout.
A 3-pointer by Hausen and a running layup by junior Dug McDaniel pulled K-State to within 28-27 at the 6:05 mark, prompting a timeout by UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins. The momentum continued out of the timeout, as McDaniel converted on a layup and a pair of free throws to give the Wildcats their first lead. A 3-point play from Johnson tied it at 31-all before junior C.J. Jones connected on a 3-pointer to give K-State a 34-31 lead at the final media timeout with 3:45 to play.
A 3-pointer from freshman Moustapha Thiam keyed a 10-0 run to end the first half, as UCF led 41-34 at the break. The duo of Johnson and junior Keyshawn Hall combined for 26 of the 41 points, as the Knights hit on 46.9 percent (15-of-32) from the field. The Wildcats shot 38.2 percent (13-of-34) in the first half, including 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from 3-point range. Jones led the way with 9 points.
SECOND HALF
Six straight points by UCF forced a timeout by head coach Jerome Tang less than 3 minutes into the second half, as the Knights surged ahead 47-36 at the 17:05 mark. A 3-point play by Max Jones and another 3-pointer from C.J. Jones closed the deficit to 49-42 at the first media timeout.
A 3-pointer by Max Jones pulled the Wildcats to within 49-45, prompting a timeout by UCF with 13:45 to play. The teams traded baskets over the next few possessions before the Knights scored 9 of the next 14 points, including 5 in a row, to go ahead 64-56 and force a timeout by Tang with less than 9 minutes remaining. A running layup by McDaniel made it 64-58 at the third media timeout.
After 5 straight points from UCF pushed the lead to 69-58, a pair of free throws from Max Jones sparked a run of 7 straight points from K-State that closed the deficit to 69-65 at the final media timeout with just over 4 minutes to play. The teams traded points over the next few possessions before 2 free throws by Max Jones closed it to 73-71 with 2:11 to play.
The Wildcats had a chance to tie the game after a UCF turnover with 1:10 remaining, but McDaniel's driving layup missed. Mikey Williams and Hall each made a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 78-72 with 18 seconds to play before Hausen connected on a long 3-pointer and was fouled with 14 seconds. He completed the 4-point play to draw K-State within 78-76. Hall made a pair of free throws to push UCF ahead 80-76 before Hausen's 3-pointer was off the mark and Williams grabbed the rebound with 8 seconds to play to ice the game.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
TEAM NOTES
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The Wildcats (13-15, 7-10 Big 12) played without senior Coleman Hawkins for the second straight game, as the team's losing streak hit 4 games with their first-ever loss to the Knights.
UCF (15-13, 6-11 Big 12) was paced by the guard tandem of senior Darius Johnson and junior Keyshawn Hall, who combined for 49 points on 53.6 percent (15-of-28) shooting, including 40 percent (6-of-15) from 3-point range. The duo also combined to go 13 of 16 from the free throw line. They were joined in double figures by freshman Moustapha Thiam, who finished with a near triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 8 blocks.
Senior Max Jones paced four Wildcats in double figures with a season-high 22 points on 6-of-17 field goals, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range, and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. It was his 27th career 20-point game, including his first as a Wildcat. He was joined in double figures by juniors C.J. Jones (12 points), Brendan Hausen (11 points) and Dug McDaniel (10 points).
The pivotal moment in the game came in the last 4 minutes off the first half and the first 3 minutes of the second half when UCF flipped a 34-31 deficit into a 47-36 lead. The Knights ended the first half on a 10-0 run then scored 6 of the first 8 points of the second half.
Despite the 16-2 run, K-State still had a chance in the waning minutes. UCF scored 5 straight points to go ahead by 11 (69-58) for second time in the half with 5:48 to play. However, two free throws by Max Jones keyed a 7-0 run by the Wildcats that cut the deficit to 69-65 at the final media timeout. The teams traded points before 2 more free throws by Jones cut it to 73-71 with 2:11 left.
Following free throws by both teams, K-State had two chances to tie the game with a minute to play, but McDaniel's driving layup missed and Hausen turned the ball over on the inbounds.
After UCF made 4 straight free throws to go ahead 78-72 with 18 seconds, Hausen redeemed himself for the turnover with a rare 4-point play, hitting a long 3-pointer before being fouled and making the free throw, that pulled K-State to within 78-76 with 14 seconds. However, that would be closest it would get, as Hall made both free throws after being fouled on the inbounds play.
For the game, K-State hit on 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the field, including 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from 3-point range, and made 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the line. The Wildcats outscored the Knights, 40-34, in the paint and scored 26 points off 15 turnovers.
UCF connected on 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field, including 24.1 percent (7-of-29) from 3-point range, and shot 76 percent (19-of-25) from the free throw line.
This was just the fourth all-time meeting between the schools, including the second in the Big 12 era. K-State still leads the series, 3-1, including 1-1 in Orlando.
K-State returns to Bramlage Coliseum on Sunday afternoon when the Wildcats play host to Colorado (11-18, 2-15 Big 12) at 3 p.m., CT on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased online at kstatesports.com/tickets or by phone (800) 221.CATS.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
Opening statement…
"First of all, let me I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the blessing of being able to coach these guys and do what I love. I remember being a young high school coach and watching games like this on TV and just dreaming of being here and so I mean, obviously this is not the outcome that I dreamt about but just being given this opportunity, and I understand it is a huge blessing, so blessed to be here and thankful to work with these guys. I want to give Johnny (Dawkins), his staff and his team all the credit for the win tonight, their players made plays. You know, (Darius) Johnson and (Keyshawn) Hall going for 49 tonight, when we had an emphasis on them, sometimes you just need dudes to be dudes, and they were dudes tonight. And then, you know, making free throws down the stretch was big for them. So, all the credit goes to those guys."
On the up-and-down nature of the season and the message to his team…
"We got to be better. Like, we're not good enough to take plays off. We lost the middle 8 (the last 4 minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half) today. The 10-0 run to end the half. The 6-2 run to start the second half. It's a 14-point swing. We're not good enough to do those things. I love our guys' toughness, grittiness, you know, we keep fighting to come back and stuff, but at some point, in time, we got to not have to fight to come out, just fight at the beginning, and then you don't have to worry about the comeback. We got to be better. And, normally, I walk in here and say, I take the blame for it and stuff, but we all have to take ownership of this one and moving forward because it doesn't get any either easier. We are in the second-best league in America this year, but over the last, you know, seven years been the best league in America, and that's what we signed up for. I told them, as 12-year-olds, they dreamt of playing in games like this, right? They'd watch TV and go, 'Man, I want to be out there,' right? And so now, like, we got to be sick and tired of it and make the change. We have to do that."
On playing Macaleab Rich tonight…
"Buddy was good. He's grown up. One of the best parts of my job is the opportunity to help these young men grow as men, right? There's no business in the world where you get paid before you work right? And that's what you have to teach these guys. Man, that you gotta work right? It's not easy. (Former Wildcat and current Cleveland Cavalier) Nae'Qwan Tomlin was here tonight supporting us and he just told me, he said, 'Man, I've learned so much just how important it is, you know, how hard it is, right? And so, there's no easy way, like, life's not easy, right? Buddy's doing some growing up, and I'm proud of him, and I was proud of his effort today and being ready. I should have probably played him last game. He's responding the right way, and now he needs to respond the right way to this."
On the last 3 games of the regular season…
"I'm not thinking about three games. I'm thinking about one game, right? That's what it's about. It's about one game, one game, one mission, win at home. I just said on the radio, and I'll say right now to our fans, like any team that's come to Bramlage (Coliseum) and felt the Octagon of Doom, right? Like what it's supposed to be like, has left with an L, right? And the ones like we played in January when the students weren't there, you know, they didn't get to feel the doom and last week that team didn't get to feel the doom, we're not good enough without our fans. I need our students at the game, right? And every time I've been asked to speak to a sorority or fraternity or any student organization, I've been there, right? And so, I'm asking, like our students, to show up for this next one. We need them. We need we can't win. We don't win without Bramlage (Coliseum) being the Octagon of Doom. And so, this is a challenge to our fans and to our students, and I've been there for you guys. Every one of them has my phone number. You know? I give it out to all the students. If they need me, they can call me or text me, and I'm there for them. And so I need them, right? Our team needs them, and so that that's, that's what I want to see. I want to see a packed Bramlage and and make life miserable for Colorado."
FIRST HALF
UCF jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead, which included the game's first 5 points. Consecutive baskets by senior Max Jones and junior Ugonna Onyenso closed it to one possession, but back-to-back 3-pointers put the Knights up 14-6 at the first media timeout with 15:33 to play.
A 4-point play by Jones out of the timeout pulled K-State to within 14-10, however, UCF scored on back-to-back possession to once again lead by 8 points (18-10). The teams traded baskets, as the lead stood at 23-15 at the second media timeout with just over 11 minutes remaining.
The Wildcats again shaved the lead to 4 points (23-19) after baskets by junior Brendan Hausen and sophomore Macaleab Rich, but again the Knights responded with back-to-back baskets from senior Darius Johnson. A 3-pointer by Jones made it 27-22 before the third media timeout.
A 3-pointer by Hausen and a running layup by junior Dug McDaniel pulled K-State to within 28-27 at the 6:05 mark, prompting a timeout by UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins. The momentum continued out of the timeout, as McDaniel converted on a layup and a pair of free throws to give the Wildcats their first lead. A 3-point play from Johnson tied it at 31-all before junior C.J. Jones connected on a 3-pointer to give K-State a 34-31 lead at the final media timeout with 3:45 to play.
A 3-pointer from freshman Moustapha Thiam keyed a 10-0 run to end the first half, as UCF led 41-34 at the break. The duo of Johnson and junior Keyshawn Hall combined for 26 of the 41 points, as the Knights hit on 46.9 percent (15-of-32) from the field. The Wildcats shot 38.2 percent (13-of-34) in the first half, including 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from 3-point range. Jones led the way with 9 points.
SECOND HALF
Six straight points by UCF forced a timeout by head coach Jerome Tang less than 3 minutes into the second half, as the Knights surged ahead 47-36 at the 17:05 mark. A 3-point play by Max Jones and another 3-pointer from C.J. Jones closed the deficit to 49-42 at the first media timeout.
A 3-pointer by Max Jones pulled the Wildcats to within 49-45, prompting a timeout by UCF with 13:45 to play. The teams traded baskets over the next few possessions before the Knights scored 9 of the next 14 points, including 5 in a row, to go ahead 64-56 and force a timeout by Tang with less than 9 minutes remaining. A running layup by McDaniel made it 64-58 at the third media timeout.
After 5 straight points from UCF pushed the lead to 69-58, a pair of free throws from Max Jones sparked a run of 7 straight points from K-State that closed the deficit to 69-65 at the final media timeout with just over 4 minutes to play. The teams traded points over the next few possessions before 2 free throws by Max Jones closed it to 73-71 with 2:11 to play.
The Wildcats had a chance to tie the game after a UCF turnover with 1:10 remaining, but McDaniel's driving layup missed. Mikey Williams and Hall each made a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 78-72 with 18 seconds to play before Hausen connected on a long 3-pointer and was fouled with 14 seconds. He completed the 4-point play to draw K-State within 78-76. Hall made a pair of free throws to push UCF ahead 80-76 before Hausen's 3-pointer was off the mark and Williams grabbed the rebound with 8 seconds to play to ice the game.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State (13-15, 7-10 Big 12) dropped its fourth in a row with an 80-76 loss to UCF at Addition Financial Arena on Wednesday night.
- K-State still leads the all-time series, 3-1, including 1-1 in the Big 12 era.
- K-State used a starting lineup of junior Dug McDaniel, junior Brendan Hausen, senior Max Jones, senior David N'Guessan and junior Ugonna Onyenso for the first time this season… Hausen, M. Jones and N'Guessan have now started all 28 games… All 28 of Hausen's career starts have come at K-State… It marked Onyenso's first start of the season.
- Senior Coleman Hawkins did not play due to injury.
- M. Jones now has 109 career starts (Tampa/Cal State Fullerton/K-State), N'Guessan now has 67 career starts (all at K-State), McDaniel now has 70 career starts (Michigan/K-State) and Onyenso now has 15 career starts (Kentucky/K-State).
TEAM NOTES
- K-State scored its 76 points on 41.5 percent (27-of-65) shooting, including 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from 3-point range, while hitting on 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the free throw line.
- K-State outscored UCF, 40-34, in the paint, marking the sixth game with 40 or more points in the paint, including the fourth in Big 12 play.
- K-State scored 26 points off 15 UCF turnovers, marking the sixth game with 20 or more points off turnovers, including the third in Big 12 play.
- UCF held a 41-35 advantage on the glass, including 16 offensive rebounds that the Knights converted into 15 second-chance points.
- UCF led 41-34 at the halftime, as K-State is now 0-10 on the season when trailing at the half.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Four Wildcats scored in double figures led by senior Max Jones' season-high 22 points… He was joined in double figures by juniors C.J. Jones (12 points), Brendan Hausen (11 points) and Dug McDaniel (10 points).
- Max Jones scored his 22 points on 6-of-17 field goals, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range, and 7-of-8 free throws to go with 4 rebounds and 2 steals… It marked his 27th career 20-point game, including his first as a Wildcat… He now has 81 career double-digit scoring games, including 16 this season (11 in Big 12 play).
- Jones scored his 12 points on 4-of-6 field goals, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and 2-of-3 free throws to go with 2 rebounds and an assist in 21 minutes… He now has 31 career double-digit scoring games, including 5 this season (4 in Big 12 play).
- Hausen scored his 11 points on 4-of-10 field goals, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range, and 1-of-1 free throws to go with 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal in 24 minutes… He now has 30 career double-digit scoring games, including 18 this season (10 in Big 12 play).
- McDaniel scored his 10 points on 4-of-14 field goals, including 0-of-4 from 3-point range, and 2-of-2 free throws to go with a game-high 9 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal in 35 minutes… He now has 53 career double-digit scoring games, including 16 this season (11 in Big 12 play)… His 9 assists tie for the third-most in a game this season.
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
KState
UCF
FG%
.415
.450
3FG%
.318
.241
FT%
.714
.760
RB
35
41
TO
13
15
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
W
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
W
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
W
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