Dec 09, 2020

K-State falls to Fort Hays State, 81-68

Posted Dec 09, 2020 12:29 PM

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Fort Hays State connected on 55.2 percent from the field, including 58.6 percent in the second half, as the Tigers posted an 81-68 win over Kansas State on Tuesday night in front of a limited capacity crowd of 519 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.

Fort Hays State got contributions from across the board, as six Tigers scored in double figures led by a 16-point, 11-rebound effort from senior forward Jared Vitztum. Five players had at least one assist, including 5 each by freshman Quinten Rock and redshirt freshman Kaleb Hammeke, while four had at least two 3-pointers.

The game, which was scheduled on Sunday after K-State's game with Butler in the Big 12/Big East Battle was officially cancelled due to COVID-19 issues within the Butler program, was K-State's first regular-season meeting with a Division II team since a matchup with Fort Hays State in 2009.

FHSU seized the momentum early, breaking a 6-all tie with 8 consecutive points, including back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Alvin Thompson and Rock, to force an early K-State timeout at the 12:14 mark.  

K-State (1-4) slowly chipped away at the lead, closing to within 27-25 on a pair of free throws from freshman Seryee Lewis with 1:41 before halftime. However, a 3-pointer by Hammeke on the next possession helped ignite an 8-4 run by FHSU to end the half for a 35-29 halftime advantage.

The Tigers continued their momentum to start the second half, scoring 13 of the first 19 points to push their lead to 48-35 and force a timeout by Wildcat head coach Bruce Weber at the 15:39 mark.

A 3-pointer from senior Mike McGuirl helped start a 7-4 spurt by K-State and close the gap to 52-42 with 12:45 to play. However, FHSU once again had an answer, as Vitztum knocked down a 3-pointer to push the Tigers back out to 13 points just before the media timeout with 11:58 remaining.

The Tigers would push the teams to as many as 21 points in earning their first win in the series since 1938.

K-State connected on 44 percent (22-of-50) from the field, including a season-low 19 percent (4-of-21) from 3-point range, while hitting on 66.7 percent (20-of-30) from the free throw line.

McGuirl led all scorers with a career-tying 22 points on 7-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, while sophomore DaJuan Gordon and freshman Selton Miguel added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

KEY STRETCH(ES)
With the score knotted at 6-all in the early going, Fort Hays State rattled off 8 straight point to take a 14-6 and force a timeout at the 12:14 mark of the first half. The Tigers held the advantage the rest of the half, including scoring the 8 of the last 12 points heading into halftime.

FHSU continued its momentum in the early moments of the second half, scoring 13 of the first 19 points out of halftime to take a 48-35 advantage and force a K-State timeout at the 15:39 mark. The Wildcats never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

PLAYER OF THE GAME
Senior Mike McGuirl tied a career-high with 22 points on 7-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc in 36 minutes. It marked his second 20-point game of the season and his third in double figures.

STAT OF THE GAME
55.2 – Fort Hays State connected on 55.2 percent (32-of-58) of its field goals, including 58.6 percent (17-of-29) in the second half. It was the highest field goal percentage by an opponent since Marquette connected on 56.8 percent on December 1, 2018.

IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"This was very, very disappointing and sad for our program. I knew this season wasn't going to be easy. Obviously, I didn't think it was going to be this tough. We've had to go through COVID-19 issues, injuries and all that. Despite those things, there's no way this should happen, but sometimes you got to learn the hard way and go through adversity to make any progress and get people's attention. Hats off to Fort Hays State. They played unbelievable; hit shots they've maybe never made in their career. It's unbelievable, and that's the special thing about college basketball. Every game is different. You play well, make some shots and get on a magic level and you have amazing things. Credit to them and their guys. Obviously, we're young, but at the same time, we've got to be better. We got to go back to the drawing board. We have to come together and see if we can make some progress by Friday." 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

  1. K-State is off to a 1-4 start to the season for the first time since 1965-66.
  2. This was the first regular-season meeting with a Division II team since the meeting with Fort Hays State in 2009… The game was scheduled on Sunday after K-State's game with Butler in the Big 12/Big East Battle was officially cancelled due to COVID-19 related issues with the Bulldogs.
  3. The series is now tied 3-3… It was the first regular-season meeting between the schools since 2009 and just the second matchup in the last 70 plus seasons… The teams regularly meet in exhibition play, including 2007 (95-59), 2011 (90-60), 2015 (70-52) and 2017 (79-56).
  4. The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of senior Mike McGuirl, sophomore DaJuan Gordon, freshman Nijel Pack, sophomore Antonio Gordon and freshman Davion Bradford… This is third different lineup used this season… McGuirl, DaJuan Gordon and Pack have started all 5 games this season… It marked the first career start for Bradford… McGuirl has the longest current active start streak at 10 games.
  5. It marked the first time that a pair of true freshmen have both started a game this season and the first time since DaJuan Gordon and Montavious Murphy started the game at TCU on Feb. 15, 2020.
  6. Sophomore Carlton Linguard, Jr., saw his first game action after missing the first 4 games due to injury… Linguard was one of the first players of the bench.
  7. K-State played segments of the game with all 5 starters being newcomers, including 3 true freshmen.
     

Team Notes

  1. K-State scored its 68 points on 44.1 percent shooting (22-of-50), including a season-low 19 percent (4-of-21) from 3-point range, and connected on 66.7 percent (20-of-30) from the free throw line.
  2. Fort Hays State scored an opponent-high 81 points on 55.2 percent shooting (22-of-50), including 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from 3-point range, and hit on 7-of-9 free throws… It was the highest field goal percentage by an opponent since Marquette connected on 56.8 percent on Dec. 1, 2018.
  3. K-State scored 21 points off 20 Fort Hays State turnovers, which were the most forced this season, to go with a season-high 11 steals.
  4. K-State scored a season-high 24 fast-break points.
  5. Eight different players scored in the game, including 3 players in double figures.


Player Notes

  1. Senior Mike McGuirl matched his career-high with 22 points on 7-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, and a 4-of-5 effort from the free throw line to go with 2 rebounds and 2 steals in 36 minutes… It marked his second career 20-point game (all this season)… He has now scored in double figures in 13 career games, including 3 times this season.
  2. Sophomore DaJuan Gordon scored 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting to go with a team-high 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 31 minutes… It marked his ninth double-digit scoring game, including his third this season… He has now led the team in rebounding in 3 of 5 game this season.
  3. Freshman Selton Miguel collected his first career double-digit scoring game with 10 points on 2-of-5 field goals and a 6-of-8 effort from the free throw line… He also added 2 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist in a season-best 23 minutes.
  4. Freshman Nijel Pack paced the team with a game-tying 5 assists to go with 6 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in 34 minutes… He has now dished out at least 5 assists in 3 of 5 games this season.
  5. Junior Rudi Williams scored a season-high 8 points on 3-of-5 field goals in 22 minutes of action.
  6. Sophomore Carlton Linguard, Jr., made his debut on Tuesday night, posting 4 points on 2-of-3 field goals with 2 rebounds in just 8 minutes of action… He had missed the first 4 games due to injury.


WHAT'S NEXT
K-State is scheduled to conclude its 6-game homestand on Friday night, as the Wildcats host Milwaukee (0-0) at 7 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. The game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

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