Jan 17, 2021

Texas runs past K-State, 82-67

Posted Jan 17, 2021 2:06 PM

AUSTIN, Texas – No. 4/4 Texas rode an impressive first-half offensive performance, which included an 18-0 run, to an 82-67 win over Kansas State on Saturday night in front of a fan less Frank Erwin Center.

The Longhorns (11-2, 5-1 Big 12), which saw their 6-game winning streak end on Wednesday night on a last-second shot by No. 15/15 Texas Tech, connected on 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the field in the first half, including 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from 3-point range, to jump out to a 20-point lead at the half. For the game, Texas hit on 52.5 percent (31-of-59) from the field, including 38.7 percent (12-of-31) from beyond the arc.

The key moment came early in the game after K-State clawed back from a poor offensive start to tie the game at 12-all with just under 13 minutes before halftime. Keyed by a pair of free throws by junior Courtney Ramey, Texas blew open the tight contest with 18 consecutive points, which was highlighted by 4 straight 3-point field goals, including back-to-back treys from junior Kamaka Hepa. The Wildcats went 7 minutes and 30 seconds without a field goal in the stretch before a 3-pointer from sophomore DaJuan Gordon at the 5:29 mark.

The Longhorns continued their hot shooting to start the second half, scoring 12 of the first 16 points, to double up K-State and build as much as a 28-point lead (56-28) barely 3 minutes into the final half. They would keep a 20-point lead for much of the half before the Wildcats finished off the game by scoring 10 of the last 12 points.

Hepa earned the start over freshman Greg Brown, who missed the game due to COVID-19 protocols, as he finished with 15 points on 5-of-9 field goals, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. He was one of four Longhorns in double figures, which included a game-high 19 points from junior Andrew Jones and 14 points each from Ramey and senior Jericho Sims. Ramey also dished out a game-high 9 assists.

The Wildcats (5-9, 1-5 Big 12), which dropped their fifth game in a row, finally got some offensive rhythm going in the second half, connecting on 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the field, but could not quite recover from the poor start, finishing at 43.1 percent (25-of-58) from the field, including 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from 3-point range. The 24 first-half points tied a season-low, while the team shot a season-low 30 percent (9-of-30) from the field in the opening half, including 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from 3-point range.

Freshman Davion Bradford led four players in double figures with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting with a team-high 7 rebounds, while junior Rudi Williams turned in his best all-around effort with 12 points on 4-of-9 field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers, with a season-high 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Senior Mike McGuirl, who has now scored in double figures in 6 straight games, and sophomore DaJuan Gordon each finished with 11 points.

K-State returned to the court on Saturday night after seeing its home game with Iowa State on Wednesday postponed due to an insufficient number of players. The Wildcats played with 11 players, as they got back sophomore Antonio Gordon and freshmen Luke Kasubke and Seryee Lewis. Gordon played for the first time since Dec. 21, while Kasubke made his season debut after missing the first 13 games due to injury.

Despite the returnees, K-State played without its starting point guard Nijel Pack for the second straight game.

KEY STRETCH(ES)
After K-State rallied to tie the game at 12-all after a dismal start, the veteran Texas squad flipped the momentum with a 18-0 run that withstood 2 timeouts by head coach Bruce Weber to take a 30-12 lead with 5:57 before halftime. The Longhorns hit 4 consecutive 3-pointers, including back-to-back treys by junior Kamaka Hepa.

Texas continued its offensive momentum to start the second half, scoring 12 of the first 16 points, to take a 56-28 lead less than 4 minutes into the final frame. Hepa continued his stellar shooting from beyond the arc connecting on a pair of 3-pointers in the stretch.

PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Freshman Davion Bradford continued to make strides, scoring in double figures for the fourth time in Big 12 play with a team-high 14 points on 6-of-10 field goals to go with a team-best 7 rebounds in 26 minutes.

Junior Rudi Williams scored 12 points – his best in a Big 12 game this season – on 4-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range, to go with a season-high 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 32 minutes.

STAT OF THE GAME
18-0 – Texas flipped the momentum after K-State recovered from a poor start to tie the game at 12-all with a game-altering 18-0 run that gave the Longhorns a 30-12 lead with less than 6 minutes to play before halftime.

IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
"We knew we had a difficult task. We had heard rumors yesterday that they might be missing some guys. Basically their starting lineup is still there. You've got guys coming off the bench, (Kamaka) Hepa started against us last year. (Jace) Febres has started, and Donovan Williams has started. They have pretty good depth. I thought their guard play was really good. Obviously, we were 12-12, I believe, then they go on an 18-0 run on us. We knew we'd have trouble with their half-court defense. They're able to guard and switch. When you have Jericho Sims who can guard your point guard and stay in front of your two guard, it puts you in a little bit of a bind. You have to have somebody step up and make a play, but I knew that would be tough. I did not think we would struggle with their press. Those three or four turnovers against the press led to layups. Then they beat us in transition then they went 7-of-14 at halftime from three. You've got a big deficit to come back. Again, credit to our guys. They did not quit. They battled. We talked about getting assists in the second half. We had two assists at halftime. We got 10 assists in the second half and shot 57 percent. When we move the basketball and play together and share the basketball, we're not a bad team. But when we try to do stuff on our own, we're not old enough to do that. You've got a guy like (Matt) Coleman who has started probably more games than all of our players combined. (Courtney) Ramey, all those guys, they've been through it. It's a tough task for us. All we can do is our best. Obviously, we've had a bunch of issues to deal with. It was great to get Luke (Kasubke) in the game. It was great to get Antonio (Gordon) back. He hadn't played in 21 days. Seryee (Lewis) didn't practice for eight days. He practiced yesterday and played. You just gotta make the best of it. Hopefully, the guys keep their spirits up and hope we keep improving. That was the message at halftime. Let's get better in the second half. Obviously, that's not a consolation, but we did make improvement. Now you've got a quick turnaround with Oklahoma."

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

  1. K-State is now 5-9 on the season, including 1-5 in Big 12 play… The Wildcats are off to a 1-5 start to league play for the first time since 2001-02, including 5 straight defeats.
  2. K-State is now 22-19 all-time against Texas, including 17-19 in the Big 12 era… The Longhorns are 11-9 all-time at home in the series, including 11-8 at the Erwin Center… Texas has won 4 of the last 5 meetings, including consecutive games at the Erwin Center.
  3. The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of senior Mike McGuirl, sophomore Antonio Gordon, junior Rudi Williams, freshman Selton Miguel and freshman Davion Bradford… This is the first time using this lineup… McGuirl has now started all 14 games this season and has the longest current active start streak at 19 games… Gordon earned the start for the first time since the Fort Hays State (12/8/20) game.
  4. Sophomore Antonio Gordon saw his first action since the Jacksonville game (12/21/20).
  5. Sophomore DaJuan Gordon came off the bench for the first time since the Iowa State (3/7/20) game last season, snapping a 14-game start streak.
  6. Freshman Seryee Lewis saw his first action since the Texas Tech game (1/5/21).
  7. Freshman Luke Kasubke made his season debut after missing the first 13 games due to injury… He checked in with 11:31 left in the first half.
  8. K-State played without sophomore Kaosi Ezeagu (10 games), sophomore Montavious Murphy (10 games) and freshman Nijel Pack (2 games).


Team Notes

  1. K-State scored 67 points on 43.1 percent shooting (25-of-58), including 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from 3-point range, while connecting on 62.5 percent (10-of-16) from the free throw line… The Wildcats scored 43 of their 67 points in the second half on 57.1 percent (16-of-28) shooting… The 43 points were a season-high for any half this season.
  2. Texas scored its 82 points on 52.5 percent shooting (31-of-59), including 38.7 percent (12-of-31) from 3-point range, while hitting on 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from the free throw line.
  3. It marked the fourth time this season the Wildcats have allowed 80 or more points.
  4. Texas scored an opponent-high 23 points off 14 K-State turnovers, holding a 23-10 advantage in points off turnovers… The 14 turnovers came off 9 steals by the Longhorns.
  5. K-State scored 32 points in the paint, which marked the seventh time with 30 or more paint points.
  6. The team tied with 34 rebounds each with Texas holding a 12-9 edge in second-chance points.
  7. K-State held a 20-12 advantage in bench points, including 11 by DaJuan Gordon.
  8. Texas held a 44-24 lead at halftime on the strength of 57.1 percent (16-of-28) shooting, including 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from 3-point range… Andrew Jones and Courtney Ramey III had 13 and 12 points, respectively, to lead the way for the Longhorns… K-State shot just 30 percent (9-of-30) from the field, including 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from 3-point range.
  9. K-State is now 0-8 on the season when trailing at the half.


Player Notes

  1. Freshman Davion Bradford scored a team-high 14 points on 6-of-10 field goals to go with a team-best 7 rebounds and 1 block in 26 minutes… It marked the second time leading the team in scoring and the fourth in rebounding… He has now scored in double figures in 5 games, including 4 in Big 12 play.
  2. Junior Rudi Williams had his best all-around game with 12 points on 4-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range, with a season-high 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 32 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 3 games, including 2 in Big 12 play.
  3. Senior Mike McGuirl scored 11 points on 4-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range, to go with a team-high 4 assists and 2 rebounds in 33 minutes… He now has scored in double figures in 20 career games, including a team-high 10 this season… He has a streak of 6 consecutive games scoring in double figures, which extends a personal-high… He has at least 3 made 3-pointers in 6 games.
  4. Sophomore DaJuan Gordon scored 11 points on 4-of-9 field goals, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range, to go with 4 rebounds in 26 minutes… It marked his 14th career double-digit scoring game, including his eighth this season.
  5. Freshman Luke Kasubke made his first appearance in a Wildcat uniform, finishing with a rebound in 10 minutes of action… He missed the first 13 games due to injury.


WHAT'S NEXT
K-State continues its 2-game road trip on Tuesday, as the Wildcats travel to Oklahoma (7-4, 3-3 Big 12) at 5:30 p.m., CT at the Lloyd Noble Center on FOX Sports Oklahoma. This will be the first meeting between the schools this season after they split their 2 matchups in 2019-20. The Sooners have won 4 of the last 5 meetings in Norman, including a 66-61 victory on Jan. 4, 2020 in the last matchup at the Lloyd Noble Center.

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