MANHATTAN, Kan. – Freshman Nijel Pack paced three Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 16 points, as Kansas State put together a complete team effort in posting a 70-46 win over Jacksonville in a rare Monday afternoon game in front of a limited capacity crowd of 504 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats (4-5, 1-1 Big 12) won their third game in the last 4 outings with a solid effort on both ends of the court, as the offense was efficient in producing a season-high 23 assists on 27 made field goals with six players scoring at least 6 points, while the defense held Jacksonville (6-4) to an opponent-low 46 points on 34 percent shooting (16-of-47), including 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from 3-point range, with 17 turnovers.
K-State has now held 27 opponents under 50 points in head coach Bruce Weber's tenure.
Pack was joined in double figures by sophomore DaJuan Gordon, who earned his second double-double in the last 3 games with 13 points and a career-best 12 rebounds to go with 3 steals, and senior Mike McGuirl, who added 12 points and dished out a game-high 7 assists. Three others (Selton Miguel, Carlton Linguard, Jr. and Seryee Lewis) all added at least 6 points in the Wildcats' largest win of the season.
The Wildcats connected on 50 percent (15-of-30) from the field, including 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from 3-point range, in the first half to build as much as a 20-point lead on the Dolphins. A key 13-0 run midway through the opening half flipped a narrow 11-10 lead into a 24-10 advantage with just under 9 to play. Seven different players had at least one made field goal in the first half, while five had at least one assist.
Pack scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the first half, as the freshman point guard connected on 4-of-6 field goals, including a season-best 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Gordon had a near double-double at the half, grabbing 10 rebounds to equal the entire total for Jacksonville, while posting 8 points.
The second half proved much the same, as the Wildcats built as much as a 30-point lead late in the second half, as all 11 available players saw action in the final contest before the team takes an 8-day break from game competition.
In all, K-State connected on 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field, including 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from 3-point range, and held a 45-22 advantage on the glass. The Wildcats posted season-highs for 3-point field goals (11), assists (23) and rebounds (45).
The Dolphins had just one player in double figures, as junior Bryce Workman scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
KEY STRETCH(ES)
K-State broke up a one-point game (11-10) with a 13-0 run midway through the first half, as four different Wildcats (Pack, Antonio Gordon, DaJuan Gordon and McGuirl) scored baskets in the stretch, including a pair of 3-pointers by Pack. In addition, all 5 field goals in the 13-0 run came via an assist, including 2 from junior Rudi Williams.
K-State led by more 20 points for most of the second half, building a game-high 30-point lead at 68-38 with just over 4 minutes to play after a 9-0 run.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Freshman Nijel Pack scored a game-high 16 points on 6-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes of action. The 4 3-point field goals were a season-high, while he dished out at least 5 assists in game for the sixth time in 9 games.
Sophomore DaJuan Gordon collected his second career double-double, all coming in the last 3 games, as he scored 13 points on 5-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with a career-best 12 rebounds, a game-high 3 steals and 2 assists in 32 minutes. He nearly had his career-high in rebounds at halftime with 10, which equaled the entire Jacksonville team.
STAT OF THE GAME
23 and 27 – K-State was efficient on offense, recording assists on 23 of its 27 made field goals. Seven players record at least one assist, including 5 or more by Mike McGuirl (7), Rudi Williams (5) and Nijel Pack (5).
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"I'm happy for our guys. Obviously, a quick turnaround for us. (Baylor) kicked our butts Saturday and they're really good. I think (there was) a little loss of confidence from that. You have high hopes, then they just totally take you out of the game. Yesterday, I saw a lot of long faces when we got here. I just said 'Guys, if you're going to be sad, I'm not going to let you be sad. You've got to have life, you've got to have energy, and you've got to prepare and understand that there's another game. We've got to be ready for Jacksonville.' We've got to understand that every game is different in how people guard, and we've got to adjust to that. We weren't great at the beginning. We turned it over too many times early, but then we got going and it felt good to get Nijel (Pack) on track again, where he's making some shots. DaJuan, I told him yesterday, 'Be the best DaJuan Gordon,' and he has a double-double, 13 points, 12 rebounds, obviously the only thing is the assists, and then he led us on our play hard chart at 14. We were much more active on defense, we were better on defense. We had a tough turnaround, but they had a tougher one playing Miami about the same time we played Baylor. We thought we could break their spirit a little bit and we were able to do that. I thought (it was a) great job from the coaches with the scouting report and the players listening and going and executing it. (Dontarius) James is a really good player, averaging 20 points a game. We did a lot of switching, we fought him in the post, we frustrated him, we doubled him, and he only has 2 points, and the bucket he got was late, and four turnovers. We did some good things, we made some progress. Obviously we've got some time, they're going home, and then on the 29th come back and play Omaha, and then you're into the league. I hope they can get a chance to go home and enjoy their families. I really hope they stay COVID free and come back and we can continue to make progress as a group."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State is now 3-4 on the season in non-conference play.
- This was the first meeting between K-State and Jacksonville and the first vs. an Atlantic Sun foe since playing Kennesaw State in 2018… K-State is now 8-0 against teams from the Atlantic Sun.
- The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of senior Mike McGuirl, sophomore DaJuan Gordon, freshman Nijel Pack, freshman Selton Miguel and freshman Davion Bradford… McGuirl, Gordon and Pack have started all 9 games this season… McGuirl has the longest current active start streak at 14 games.
- It marked the fourth straight game that three Wildcat true freshmen have started.
- All 11 available Wildcats saw action, including walk-ons Drew Honas and Joe Petrakis.
Team Notes
- K-State eclipsed 70 points for the fourth time this season, including the third time in the last 4 games, connecting on 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field, including 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from 3-point range, and hit on 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from the free throw line.
- K-State posted a season-high 11 3-point field goal makes, including 9 in the first half… It marked the third time this season totaling double-digit 3-pointers.
- Eight players had at least one made field goal, while 7 had at least one assist.
- K-State held a 45-22 advantage on the boards, including a season-best 17 offensive rebounds.
- K-State held the edge in points off turnovers (16-11), points in the paint (28-12), fast-break points (18-10) and second-chance points (5-4).
- Jacksonville was held to an opponent-low 46 points on 34 percent shooting (16-of-47), including 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from 3-point range, with 17 turnovers… It marked the 27th time during head coach Bruce Weber's tenure that the Wildcats have held an opponent under 50 points.
- K-State held a 42-23 lead at halftime on the strength of 50 percent (15-of-30) shooting from the field, including 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from 3-point range.
- The 19-point halftime lead was the largest of the season.
Player Notes
- Freshman Nijel Pack scored a game-high 16 points on 6-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range to go with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes… It marked his third time leading the team in scoring… He scored 12 of 16 points in the first half on 4-of-6 field goals, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range… It marked a season-high for 3-pointers… He now has 4 double-digit scoring games this season… He now has at least 5 assists and at least 5 rebounds in 6 of 9 games this season.
- Sophomore DaJuan Gordon collected his second career double-double, all coming in the last 3 games, with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, with a career-best 12 rebounds, a game-high 3 steals and 2 assists in 32 minutes… He nearly had his career high in rebounds at the half, as he grabbed 10 of the Wildcats' 22, including 8 on the defensive end… It marked his 11th career double-digit scoring game, including his team-leading fifth this season.
- Senior Mike McGuirl scored 12 points on 4-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, with a game-high 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals in 31 minutes… It marked his 15th career double-digit scoring game, including his team-leading fifth this season… He now 21 assists in the last 4 games.
- Sophomore Carlton Linguard, Jr., posted 7 points on 3-of-7 field goals with 3 rebounds in 12 minutes.
- Freshman Seryee Lewis scored a season-high 6 points on 3-of-3 shooting to go with 5 rebounds and a steal in just under 9 minutes of action.
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State takes an 8-day break from game competition before resuming play on Tuesday, Dec. 29 with a home contest against Omaha (2-7) at 7 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. It will be the last game of the 2020 portion of the 2020-21 season.