MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State ushered in the Jerome Tang era with an emphatic 93-59 victory over UTRGV on Monday night before an energetic crowd of 7,635 fans at Bramlage Coliseum, as six Wildcats scored in double figures en route to helping the team post their most points in an opener since 2014.
Tang, who was hired as K-State's 25th head men's basketball coach on March 21 after spending 19 seasons (2003-22) helping build Baylor into a national powerhouse as an assistant and associate head coach, was engulfed and splashed by his new team in the locker room following his first official victory.
"Yeah, I got doused pretty good," said Tang. "I kind of wasn't expecting it. I was just thinking about okay, 'What are the three things I need to tell them so they can get out of here and go celebrate themselves and move on to the next thing,' and then I saw bottles and I was like 'Oh man here it comes.' I enjoyed it with them."
Fifth-year senior Markquis Nowell and junior Nae'Qwan Tomlin each had 14 points to lead the Wildcats (1-0), while fifth-year senior Keyontae Johnson scored 13 points in his triumph return to college basketball after a near two-year absence from medical emergency on Dec. 12, 2020. He connected on 4-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, and added 4 assists and 2 rebounds in a team-high 26 minutes of action.
"I'm feeling good, just thanking God every day for giving me the opportunity to get here and play again just staying patient," said Johnson. "Before the game, I was a little emotional, but I knew the game was going to go so I had to keep going, just play and lay everything out for my team."
Another fifth year Abayomi "Baybe" Iyiola posted 12 points and 5 rebounds off the bench, while senior Desi Sills and junior Ismael (Ish) Massoud each added 10 points. It marked the first time since a victory over Colorado State on Dec. 17, 2016, that six Wildcats scored in double figures.
The 93 points were the most by a K-State team in a season opener since scoring 98 against Southern Utah on Nov. 14, 2014, while they are fourth-most in an opener in the last 25 seasons.
K-State was electric on both ends of the court to start the game, jumping out to a 15-3 advantage behind 3-pointers from Nowell, Massoud and Johnson. The lead ballooned to as many as 30 in the first half, as the Wildcats capped off their 52-point opening half with a 3-pointer from senior Tykei Greene at the buzzer. The team connected on 51.5 percent (17-of-33) in the first half, including 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from beyond the arc.
The lead grew to as many as 36 in the second half after Johnson knocked down a pair of free throws with just over 5 minutes to play.
For the game, K-State connected on 45.5 percent (30-of-66), including 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from 3-point range, and made 72.4 percent (21-of-29) of their free throws. The Wildcats had assists on 25 of their 30 made baskets.
On the defensive end, the team held UTRGV (0-1) to just 39.2 percent (20-of-51) shooting, including 29.2 percent (7-of-24) in the first half. The Wildcats scored 31 points off 26 Vaqueros' turnovers.
The Vaqueros, who are coached by former K-State assistant Matt Figger, were led by senior and Preseason All-WAC First Team member Justin Johnson's game-high 20 points on 6-of-12 field goals. Freshman Adante Holiman added 13 points off the bench. Figger spent five seasons (2007-12) at K-State as an assistant to then head coach Frank Martin, in which the Wildcats won 117 games and advanced to four NCAA Tournaments.
With the win, K-State moved to 93-26 all-time in season openers dating back to 1903, including a 29-3 mark at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats have now won 24 of their last 26 season openers at home.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Senior Keyontae Johnson scored 13 points on 4-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, and made both free throws while adding 4 assists and 2 rebounds in his return to college basketball after a near 2-year absence due to a medical emergency. He led the team with 26 minutes played.
Senior Markquis Nowell tied junior Nae'Qwan Tomlin for the team lead in scoring with 14 points on 3-of-5 field goals, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-7 free throws. He added a team-high 7 assists on just 1 turnover to go with 4 steals in 25 minutes of action.
STAT OF THE GAME
12 – K-State scored more than a third of its points from beyond the arc, as the Wildcats connected on 12-of-27 attempts (44.4 percent) from 3-point range, including 9-of-16 (56.3 percent) in the first half. Six different players had at least one 3-pointer, while Johnson and Nowell each had a team-high 3.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Jerome Tang
On the game…
"Well, it was great to have my family here. And the lady Dr. Jennifer Cooper, who was the principal at Heritage Christian who first hired me, her and her husband Royce Cooper, they came to my first game as a college head coach. So did David Kelly, who was the pastor of the church. And so, to have them here to experience this with me, was very special. My mom and dad, they had doctor's appointments coming up so they couldn't make it here for the first game. So, I would have loved for them to be here but they got to watch it via Big 12 Now, so it was just a terrific experience."
On Keyontae Johnson's first game back…
"Like I told the guys tonight, whether you felt you played well or didn't play well or played a lot or didn't play. Nobody should be unhappy tonight because Keyontae Johnson played a basketball game, a real game, an NCAA basketball game for the first time in two years. We have several guys on our team that had some tough roads to get here and this is a second opportunity for them, so we just have to be really excited about that. It was really cool for them to recognize that it was my first game here and my first win here and wanting to celebrate it. That just shows the character of the guys and that they're willing to think about other people, not just themselves."
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State is now 93-26 all-time in season openers dating back to 1903, including 81-10 at home.
- K-State is now 30-5 in openers at Bramlage Coliseum and 29-3 in season openers… The Wildcats have now won 24 of their last 26 home openers (losses in 2013 and 2020).
- K-State is now 122-14 in non-conference play at home venues dating back to 2006-07, including 112-12 at Bramlage Coliseum.
- K-State is now 4-0 all-time against UTRGV, including 3-0 at home… This was the first meeting between the schools since 2002… The Vaqueros are coached by former K-State assistant coach Matt Figger.
- K-State is now 15-2 against teams from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), including 13-0 at home.
- K-State used a starting lineup of fifth-year senior Markquis Nowell, sophomore Cam Carter, fifth-year senior Keyontae Johnson, junior Nae'Qwan Tomlin and junior David N'Guessan… Nowell is making his 22nd start at K-State, while Carter, Johnson, N'Guessan and Tomlin all made their firsts in Wildcat uniforms… It was Johnson's 56th start in college (other 55 at Florida) and the fifth for Carter (other 4 at Mississippi State), while N'Guessan and Tomlin made their first Division I starts.
- Ten of the 15 players saw action in tonight's game, including the first career action for 9 players.
Team Notes
- K-State scored 93 points on 45.5 percent shooting (30-of-66), including 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from 3-point range, and connected on 72.4 percent (21-of-29) from the free throw line… The team connected on 51.5 percent (17-of-33) in the first half, including 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from beyond the arc.
- The 93 points were the most in the opener since scoring 98 vs. Southern Utah to open the 2014-15 season on Nov. 14, 2014… The point total was the fourth-most in an opener in the last 25 seasons.
- K-State had 25 assists on 30 made field goals… The 25 assists were 3 shy of cracking the top-10.
- K-State knocked 12 of 27 attempts from 3-point range, which were just 1 shy of cracking the top-10… Six different players had at least one trey, including 3 each by Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell.
- K-State scored 31 points off 26 UTRGV turnovers, while registering just 14 turnovers of its own.
- K-State also posted advantages in bench points (41-19) and second-chance points (16-9).
- K-State out-rebounded UTRGV, 40-34, including 14 offensive rebounds.
- Nine of the 11 players had at least one made field goals, while 8 had at least one assist.
- K-State led 52-26 at the halftime on the strength of 51.5 percent (17-of-33) shooting, including 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from 3-point range… Johnson led the Wildcats with 11 points on 4-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
Player Notes
- Senior Markquis Nowell led the Wildcats with 14 points on 3-of-5 field goals, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range, to go with 5-of-7 free throws… It marked the 66th game with double-digit points, including the 20th time at K-State… He also added 7 assists to just 1 turnover and 4 steals… It marked his 47th game with 5 or more assists and his 54th game with 2 or more steals.
- Junior Nae'Qwan Tomlin had a near double-double in first official contest with a game-tying 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting with a game-tying 8 rebounds in nearly 20 minutes.
- Senior Keyontae Johnson scored a team-high 13 points on 4-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, and 2-of-2 free throws to go along with 4 assists and 2 rebounds in a team-best 26 minutes… It was Johnson's first college game since experiencing a medical emergency on Dec. 12, 2020, against Florida State… He has now scored in double figures in 39 career games… The 3 treys matched a career-high that he has now done in 4 career games.
- Senior Abayomi Iyiola posted 12 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting with 5 rebounds and a steal in 16 minutes off the bench… He has now scored in double figures in 40 career games.
- Senior Desi Sills scored 10 points on 3-of-6 field goals and 4-of-4 free throws in 18 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 51 career games.
- Junior Ismael Massoud scored 10 points on 3-of-6 field goals, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-2 free throws in 14 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 23 career games.
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State will hit the road this week to play at Pac-12 foe California (0-1) on Friday at 6 p.m., CT on the Pac-12 Network. The Bears opened the season with a 75-65 loss on Monday night against UC Davis. Friday's contest will be the second-earliest road game in school history following the contest at UNLV on Nov. 9, 2019.