MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Kansas State played short-handed for the second consecutive Big 12 contest, as the Wildcats once again got off to a fast start in the first half before running out of steam in the second half in dropping a 71-68 decision to West Virginia before 11,919 fans at the WVU Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
Down head coach Bruce Weber and at least six players due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols for the second straight game, the Wildcats (8-6, 0-3 Big 12) once again got the start they had been lacking at times during the season, leading by 17 points (23-6) near the midway point of the first half and 13 (40-27) at the half.
However, in a game similar to one against No. 14/16 Texas on Tuesday, West Virginia (12-2, 1-1 Big 12) used a strong start to second half to slowly chip away at the double-digit deficit. The Mountaineers scored 44 points on 50 percent (16-of-32) shooting in the second half after scoring just 27 points on 32.3 percent (10-of-31) in the first half. WVU grabbed its first lead at 53-50 on a 3-pointer by senior Sean McNeil with 8:35 to play then took it for good on a 3-pointer by fifth-year senior Taz Sherman just over a minute later.
McNeil, who led all scorers with 26 points, scored 19 of his points in the second half, hitting on 7-of-10 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and making both free throws in playing all 20 minutes.
After falling behind 61-53 with just over 6 minutes to play, the Wildcats tried to rally back, closing to 67-65 on a driving layup by junior Markquis Nowell with 18 seconds then, after a pair of Mountaineers free throws, got it to within 69-68 on a 3-pointer by sophomore Ish Massoud with 5.1 seconds. However, sophomore Jalen Bridges knocked down both of his free throws to extend the lead to 71-68 with 4.8 seconds before Nowell's tying 3-pointer from the top of the arc was off the mark at the buzzer.
Sophomore Nijel Pack led four Wildcats in double figures with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-18 field goals, including 6-of-15 from 3-point range, in playing 33 minutes, while fifth-year senior Mark Smith and Massoud added 14 and 13 points, respectively. Nowell, playing in his first Big 12 game after missing the last 2 games due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, collected his third points/assists double-double with 10 points and a game-high 10 assists. His 3 such double-doubles are the most by a Wildcat in a career and single season.
K-State finished with a season-high 13 made 3-point field goals, but they came on a season-high 34 attempts. Overall, the Wildcats connected on 37.3 percent (25-of-67) shooting, including 38.2 percent (13-of-34) from 3-point range, and made 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from the free throw line.
West Virginia, which was playing for the first time since New Year's Day, was back to full strength after missing both Sherman and senior Gabe Osabuohien in losing its Big 12 opener at Texas. In addition to McNeil's efforts, the Mountaineers also saw double-digit performances by Sherman (14 points) and fellow senior Kedrian Johnson (11 points). Osabuohien led all players with 12rebounds off the bench.
K-State had 9 available players (sophomore Davion Bradford, senior Drew Honas, sophomore Luke Kasubke, junior Carlton Linguard, Jr., sophomore Ish Massoud, sophomore Selton Miguel, sophomore Nijel Pack and fifth-year senior Mark Smith), including 8 scholarship players, for today's game.
In addition to Weber, the Wildcats were without sophomore Jordan Brooks, freshman Maximus Edwards, junior Kaosi Ezeagu, sophomore Trey Harris, freshman Logan Landers and senior Mike McGuirl due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
In Weber's place, assistant coach Jermaine Henderson assumed head coaching responsibilities.
KEY STRETCH(ES)
K-State raced out to a strong start for the second straight game, leading 14-4 after junior Markquis Nowell knocked down a 3-pointer right before the first media timeout at the 15:35 mark. During this opening stretch, the Wildcats hit 5 of their first 9 field goals, including 3 from 3-point range, while the Mountaineers were just 1-of-9 from the field, including 1-of-5 from long range.
West Virginia slowly started to chip away at the deficit, sparked by a technical on sophomore Davion Bradford after his dunk gave K-State a 23-6 lead at the 11:29 mark. The Mountaineers scored 10 of the next 14 points to close the deficit to 27-18 and cause acting head coach Jermaine Henderson to call his first timeout with 8:24 before halftime.
The WVU run continued even after the timeout, as the Mountaineers closed to within 33-25 on a 3-pointer by freshman Kobe Johnsonwith 4:24 remaining. However, the Wildcats ended the half on a 7-2 run with all 7 points coming from fifth-year senior Mark Smith, including back-to-back treys, to take a 40-27 advantage into halftime.
In a near carbon-copy of the start of the second half against Texas, West Virginia turned up the intensity, scoring 10 of the first 12 points to close the deficit to 42-37 at the first media timeout at the 15:27 mark. Five straight points, including a 3-pointer by senior Sean McNeil, cut it to just one possession (44-42) with 13:18 to play.
WVU finally took the lead at 53-50 on the strength of a 7-0 run that was capped by a 3-pointer by McNeil with 8:35 remaining. After sophomore Nijel Pack knotted it up at 53-all with a 3-pointer, senior Taz Sherman answered back to give the Mountaineers the lead for good at 56-53 with 7:18 to go.
The lead grew to as many as 8 points (61-53) with just under 6 remaining before K-State made one last run. Nowell closed the deficit to 67-65 with a driving layup with 18 seconds, and after a pair of WVU free throws, sophomore Ish Massoud closed it to 69-68 with a 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds.
After two free throws by sophomore Jalen Bridges with 4.8 seconds that extended the lead to 71-68, the Wildcats had one last chance to tie, but Nowell's 3-pointer from the top of the arc was off the mark.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Sophomore Nijel Pack registered his second consecutive 20-point outing, finishing with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-18 field goals, including 6-of-15 from 3-point range, to go with 5 rebounds in 33 minutes. It was his fifth career 20-point game and the first time he has gone for 20 in back-to-back games.
Fifth-year senior Mark Smith put together another solid line with 14 points on 5-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-4 from long range, to go with a team-high 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 37 minutes.
Junior Markquis Nowell returned to the starting lineup after missing 2 games and produced his third points/assists double-double in his last 5 games played, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting to go with a game-high 10 assists and 3 rebounds in 32 minutes.
STAT OF THE GAME
28 – After scoring 40 points in the first half on 45.2 percent (14-of-31) shooting, including 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from 3-point range, the Wildcats were held to 28 points in the second half on 30.6 percent (11-of-36) shooting, including 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from long range.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Acting Head Coach Jermaine Henderson
On the game…
"It's a tough day anytime you drop a game certainly that you had the potential of winning, but first and foremost, I told our guys that you got to give credit to West Virginia. I didn't realize the lead was what it was because you're too involved in the game, but they fought back like well-coached and good teams do and so credit to them. I'm just proud of our guys' effort and fight. I thought we took a step forward with execution in a tough place to play. They had seen us play Tuesday and they hadn't played all week. They threw some different things at us but really, really proud to be associated with these guys. It has not been an easy week for the program emotionally, so I thought we were mentally pretty good for 40 minutes and again, came up a little bit short at the end."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- With the loss, K-State has dropped 3 consecutive games for the first time this season.
- K-State is 0-3 to start Big 12 play for the first time since 2019-20
- West Virginia now leads the all-time series, 14-8, including 8-3 at home… The Mountaineers have now won 4 straight in the series, including the last 3 at the WVU Coliseum.
- Five of the team's 6 losses have come when allowing an opponent to score 70 or more points.
- K-State lost for the second straight game when leading at the half, previously had been 8-0.
- K-State had as much as a 17-point (23-6) lead in the first half vs. West Virginia… It marked the largest lead lost in a game since losing an 18-point lead against Western Carolina on Dec. 19, 2001, and the second largest lead ever lost in a Big 12 game (20 at Nebraska on Jan. 15, 1997).
- After scoring 40 points on 45.2 percent (14-of-31) shooting in the first half, including 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from 3-point range, the Wildcats scored just 28 in the second half on 30.6 percent (11-of-36) shooting, including 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from 3-point range.
- K-State connected on a season-high 13 3-pointers on a season-best 34 attempts… The team had 9 triples in the first half, which were also the most in a first half this season.
- K-State had 4 players score in double figures for the third time this season.
- Sophomore Nijel Pack had consecutive 20-point games for the first time in his career with a team-high 20 points… Pack now has 5 20-point games in his career… He had a season-high 6 3-point field goals.
- Junior Markquis Nowell now has three points/assists double-doubles this season, which is the most by a Wildcat player in both a career and a single-season… He finished with 10 points and a game-high 10 assists… His 10 assists tie for the seventh-most in a conference game and the most since 2014.
- K-State used a starting lineup of junior Markquis Nowell, sophomore Nijel Pack, fifth-year senior Mark Smith, sophomore Selton Miguel, sophomore Ismael (Ish) Massoud… This marked the first time using this lineup this season and seventh different lineup… Massoud and Smith have each started the first 14 games… Nowell returned to the lineup after a 2-game absence.
- K-State played without head coach Bruce Weber and six players (sophomore Jordan Brooks, freshman Maximus Edwards, junior Kaosi Ezeagu, sophomore Trey Harris, freshman Logan Landers and senior Mike McGuirl) due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State is scheduled to play host to TCU (10-1) at 8 p.m., CT on Wednesday, January 12 at Bramlage Coliseum. The Horned Frogs are expected to played their first Big 12 game today when they host top-ranked Baylor.