🏀 K-State pulls away for 71-50 win over TCU

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas State finally got its offense to match its suffocating defense of late, as the Wildcats continued their positive momentum by posting a 71-50 win over TCU in the first game of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championships on Wednesday night in front of a limited capacity crowd of 3,794 fans at the T-Mobile Center.

K-State (9-19) won its first game at the Big 12 Championships for the sixth consecutive season, including its fourth in a row against TCU (12-14) at the tournament. The Wildcats now advance to the quarterfinals where they will face top-seeded and No. 2/2 Baylor (21-1, 13-1 Big 12) on Thursday at 1:30 p.m., CT.

Winners of 4 of their last 5 games, the Wildcats played perhaps their best all-around game in some time, connecting on an efficient 48.3 percent (28-of-58) from the field, including 56.8 percent (21-of-37) from inside the 3-point arc, while holding the Horned Frogs to just 37 percent (20-of-54) shooting, including 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from long range, and forcing 17 turnovers.

K-State has now held 6 straight opponents to 65 points or less, including less than 60 in all 4 victories (TCU twice, Oklahoma and Iowa State). In that 6-game span, the Wildcats are allowing 56.8 points on 38.6 percent shooting, including 23.3 percent from 3-point range, while forcing an average of 15 turnovers.

Freshman Nijel Pack (23) and senior Mike McGuirl (17) combined for 40 of the Wildcats' 71 points on 13-of-22 field goals, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range, and 7-of-9 free throws. They were also responsible for 10 of the team's 13 assists and 5 of their 9 steals. It marked Pack's third 20-point game of the season, while he connected on 5 triples for the second time. McGuirl has scored in double figures in 5 consecutive games.

K-State shot better than 46 percent in both halves while posting its fourth-highest field goal percentage of the season and the highest since shooting 51 percent against No. 13/13 Texas on February 9. It marked just the second 70-point game since January and the first since scoring 77 in the same game against the Longhorns.

Only one Horned Frog – junior R.J. Nembhard – scored in double figures, leading the way with 11 points on 5-of-13 field goals to go with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

TCU finished the season losing 7 of its last 8 games, including 4 in a row.

KEY STRETCH(ES)
K-State enjoyed a solid start to the game, running out to multiple 7-point advantages, including 17-10 after a layup by junior Rudi Williams right before the third media timeout with 8:39 to play before halftime.

It was right after this stoppage that TCU caught fire, running off 9 straight points to take its first lead at 19-17 after a Kevin Samuel layup at the 5:23 mark. During the stretch, K-State went scoreless for nearly 3 minutes.

A layup by sophomore Kaosi Ezeagu broke the drought with 5:14 to play before back-to-back buckets by the Horned Frogs gave them their largest first-half lead at 23-19 at the 2:33 mark.

The Wildcats finished off the half with 8 straight points, which was ignited by consecutive baskets by senior Mike McGuirl and Williams. Freshman Nijel Pack broke a 23-all tie with the first of two 3-pointers that gave K-State a 29-23 heading into the locker room.

K-State continued its momentum with McGuirl scoring the first 6 points of the second half, including a 3-pointer, to push the Wildcats' lead to 35-23 less than a minute into the final half. The Horned Frogs countered with 7 of the next 8 points to close the gap to 36-30 with 16 minutes remaining.

A layup by freshman Davion Bradford ignited a 12-2 run and pushed K-State ahead 48-32 near the midway point. After a basket by the Frogs' Charles O'Bannon stopped the surge, the Wildcats responded with 13 straight points capped by a Pack 3-pointer to build their largest lead to 27 (61-34) with 6:05 remaining.

The lead stayed over 20 points the rest of the way.

PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Freshman Nijel Pack led all scorers with a game-high 23 points on 6-of-8 field goals, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with a 6-of-7 effort from the free throw line with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes.

Senior Mike McGuirl scored 17 points for the second consecutive game on 7-of-14 field goals, including 2-of-7 from 3-point range, to go with a team-tying 5 assists and a team-high 3 steals in 35 minutes.

STAT OF THE GAME
48.3 – K-State had arguably its best all-around offensive performance in nearly a month, connecting on 48.3 percent (28-of-58) of its field goals, including 50 percent (15-of-30) in the second half. It was the fourth highest field goal percentage this season and the highest since hitting on 51 percent vs. No. 13/13 Texas on Feb. 9.

IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"Obviously, I'm really excited and happy for our guys. Where we've come from to where we are now is amazing. Our defense, again, was the thing that gave us a chance. You hold them to 23 at halftime, and our goal was to hold them under 50. They got a couple buckets down the stretch to get the 50.  You guys know -­last six or seven games, we've held everybody in the 50s, except West Virginia to 65, so they made great strides. I thought we had a great start to the game. We allowed them to get back into due to our turnovers, which led to points on the other end. Once we settled down, obviously, the two 3-pointers at the end of the half by Nijel (Pack) and then the start of the second half were really, really key. Then just slowly but surely wore them down and kind of broke their spirit. Mike McGuirl, what can you say, how far he's come. I thought last year's TCU game was really important in the tournament for him moving forward, and this game, 17 points, 5 assists, no turnovers and 3 steals. He just kind of read them, got to the hoop, hit the pull-up, got it inside, just did a lot of good things. A great, great team win."

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

1. K-State is now 9-19 on the season… The Wildcats have won 4 of their last 5 after a 13-game losing streak.
2. K-State is now 37-41 all-time in Big Eight/12 Championship play, including 17-23 in the Big 12 era… The Wildcats are now 1-2 as a No. 9 seed in their first appearance since 2006… The team is now 20-14 in the first round… K-State is now 3-2 all-time against the No. 8 seed.

1. K-State is now 19-9 all-time against TCU, including a 4-1 mark at the Big 12 Championship… The Wildcats won 2 of the 3 meetings this year… K-State now leads the series, 16-7, in the Big 12 era.
2. The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of freshman Nijel Pack, senior Mike McGuirl, sophomore DaJuan Gordon, freshman Selton Miguel, and freshman Davion Bradford… This is the most used starting lineup, having been used in 10 games… This is the 16th time this season that the Wildcats have started 3 true freshmen… McGuirl has now started all 28 games this season and has the longest current active start streak at 33 games… He is the only player to start all 28 games.

Team Notes

1. K-State scored its 71 points on 48.3 percent (28-of-58) shooting, including 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from 3-point range, while connecting on 50 percent (8-of-16) from the free throw line.
2. It was just the second 70-point game since January and the first since posting 77 vs. Texas (2/9/21).
3. It was the fourth-highest field goal percentage this season and the highest since shooting 51 percent vs. Texas (2/9/21).
4. TCU scored its 50 points on 37 percent (20-of-54) shooting, including 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from 3-point range, while knocking down 50 percent (6-of-12) from the free throw line.
5. K-State is now 93-10 under head coach Bruce Weber when holding an opponent to 60 points or less, including 7-1 in 2020-21… The Wildcats have held 5 of the 6 opponents under 60 points.
6. K-State led for 31 minutes and 50 seconds… It marked second consecutive game and the sixth time overall that the Wildcats have led a game for more than 30 minutes.
7. K-State held a 38-36 advantage on the boards, including 12 offensive rebounds… The Wildcats have held the rebounding advantage in 15 games, including 7 times in the last 9 games.
8. K-State posted a 36-30 edge on points in the paint… It marked the 12th time this season that the Wildcats have totaled 30 or more points in the paint.
9. TCU held a 19-14 advantage in points off turnovers even though K-State had just 13 miscues.
10. K-State led 29-23 at the half as the Wildcats connected on 46.4 percent from the field.
11. K-State is now 7-1 when leading at the half… It marked the first time that the Wildcats have led at the half in back-to-back games since the Jacksonville (12/21/20) and Omaha (12/29/20) games in late December.

Player Notes

1. Freshman Nijel Pack scored 23 points on 6-of-8 field goals, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, and a 6-of-7 effort from the free throw line to go with a game-tying 5 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals in 2 steals in 34 minutes… It marked his third 20-point game this season and just 3 points shy of his season-high of 26 vs. Texas A&M (1/30/21)… He has now scored in double figures in 15 games… He has now led the team in scoring in 10 games this season… He posted his 12th game of at least 5 assists.
2. Senior Mike McGuirl scored 17 points on 7-of-14 field goals, including 2-of-7 from 3-point range, and 1-of-2 free throws to go with a team-tying 5 assists (and zero turnovers), 3 rebounds and a game-tying 3 steals in 35 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 30 career games, including a team-leading 20 this season… He has 10 or more points in 5 consecutive games.
3. Freshman Selton Miguel continued his solid play with 7 points on 3-of-11 field goals to go with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and game-tying 3 steals in 34 minutes.
4. Sophomore Kaosi Ezeagu grabbed a season-high 8 rebounds to go with 6 points on 3-of-4 shooting in 18 minutes off the bench.
5. Freshman Davion Bradford finished with 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting with 6 rebounds in 21 minutes.

WHAT'S NEXT
K-State will now face top-seed and No. 2/2 Baylor (21-1, 13-1 Big 12) in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 1:30 p.m., CT on ESPN. The Wildcats lost both games with the Bears in the regular season, falling 100-69 at home on Dec. 19, 2020 and then 107-59 in Waco, Texas on Jan. 27, 2021.