From K-State Athletics
Led by four players in double figures, including a game-high 19 points from junior forward Xavier Sneed, No. 15/14 Kansas State took down TCU, 70-61, in the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship in front 18,930 fans at the Sprint Center.
K-State (25-7, 15-4 Big 12) reaches 25 wins for the seventh-time in program history, including the first time in consecutive seasons. The victory advances the Wildcats to the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship for the third-straight year to take on Iowa State (21-11) on Friday at 6 p.m., CT.
With four players in double figures, the Wildcats were led by a game-high 19 points from Sneed, who scored 16 points in the second half, in the victory. The team is now 13-1 this season when four or more players score in double digits. Sneed was joined in double-figures by senior guards Barry Brown, Jr., (12) and Kamau Stokes (11) and junior forward Makol Mawien (10). In addition, sophomores Cartier Diarra and Levi Stockard III each chipped in 8 points to pace an 18-point effort by the bench. It marked Diarra’s first game in more than 5 weeks.
With the win, K-State sweeps all 3 games against TCU this season, holding the Horned Frogs to under their scoring average in all three contests this season. On Thursday, the Wildcats held the Horned Frogs to 61 points on 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the field, while scoring 22 points off 18 turnovers.
Offensively, K-State shot 41.9 percent (26-of-62) from the floor and 32 percent (8-of-25) on 3-pointers. K-State benefitted from play off the bench, where the Wildcats outscored Horned Frogs, 18-6.
K-State erased a 12-point first-half deficit, bringing the score to a 34-32 TCU advantage at halftime. In the second half, the Wildcats spouted off a 17-2 run midway through the half to grab their first lead of the game, as they would bring their lead to as much as 10.
TCU (20-13, 7-11 Big 12) was led by junior guard Desmond Bane, who scored a team-high 16 points on 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 on 3-pointers. Bane was joined in double-figures by senior Alex Robinson(12) and redshirt freshman Kevin Samuel (11).
