MANHATTAN, Kan. (Kansas State Athletics)– Redshirt freshman Oso Ighodaro blocked sophomore Ish Massoud shot at the rim with 4 seconds left, as Marquette withstood a late Kansas State rally to post a 64-63 win in the third edition of the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle on Wednesday night before 7,184 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
In a game marked by alternating runs, it was Golden Eagles’ 11-2 spurt over a near 3-minute span midway through the second half that gave them the cushion to hold off a late rally by the Wildcats.
Down 61-54 with 5:42 to play after freshman Kam Jones connected on Marquette’s 10th 3-point field goal of the game, K-State twice closed to within one point in the last minute of play, lastly on a 3-pointer from the corner by senior Mike McGuirl with 19 seconds left to make it 64-63.
The Wildcats (5-3) had to foul on 3 straight possessions to put Golden Eagles (8-2) at the free throw line for the 1-and-1 opportunity with 14 seconds, as Jones missed the front end of the free throw to give K-State one last chance to win. With no timeouts left to set up a play, Massoud drove to the basket and attempted to lay the ball off the rim from under the standard but was blocked by Ighodaro with 4 seconds remaining and redshirt freshman Tyler Kolek grabbed the rebound to secure the win.
The loss snapped K-State’s 3-game winning streak and ended its 7-game winning streak against non-conference opponents at Bramlage Coliseum. The team has now lost both home games to Marquette in the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle with last season’s scheduled contest at Butler cancelled due to COVID-19.
Although the Golden Eagles knocked down 11 3-point field goals on the night, it was their inside game in the second half that proved to be the deciding factor, as they scored 16 of their 33 points in the paint and were a combined 10-of-13 from inside the arc after halftime. Jones scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the second half, including 3 of the team’s 4 3-point field goals.
Redshirt freshman Justin Lewis joined Jones in double figures with a near double-double of 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting and 9 rebounds to go with a solid line of 5 assists and 3 steals in 33 minutes. Three other players (seniors Kur Kuath and Darryl Morsell and junior Greg Elliott) each had 8 points.
The Wildcats, which came into the game ranking fourth nationally in 3-point field goal percentage defense (23.5), allowed their second-highest 3-point total (11) of the season, one shy of the season-high of 12 set by Illinois on Nov. 23. However, they made the Eagles work for it, as they posted 37 attempts from beyond the arc, which were the second-most by an opponent in school history and the most since Wichita State had 39 on Dec. 10, 1997.
It was a gutsy effort by K-State, which was without its starting point guard and leading scorer Nijel Pack for the second consecutive game and got limited action from fellow sophomore Selton Miguel, who was injured in practice on Tuesday.
The three newcomers – Massoud, fifth-year senior Mark Smith and junior Markquis Nowell – combined for 44 of the Wildcats’ 63 points with each scoring in double figures and playing better than 32 minutes. The trio also collected 22 of the team’s 41 rebounds and 15 of the 18 assists.
Smith led K-State in scoring for the first time this season with 17 points on 6-of-13 field goals to go with a team-tying 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 33 minutes, while Massoud broke out of a recent shooting slump with a season-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers, and 6 rebounds.
Nowell, who was vital in Sunday’s win at Wichita State, was again impressive against Marquette, nearly posting the school’s first triple-double, as he scored 11 points on 5-of-13 field goals with a game-high 11 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 steals in a season-high 37 minutes. It marked just the 12th double-double in school history with points and assists, while Nowell’s 11 assists tied for the seventh-most in school history and the most by any Wildcat since Jacob Pullen had 11 against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 14, 2008.
K-State, which posted a season-high for fast-break points (19) and second-chance points (17), connected on 39.1 percent (25-of-64) from the field, including 24 percent (6-of-25) from 3-point range, and made 7 of its 10 attempts from the free throw line.
Marquette has now won 3 straight games in the series with K-State, including back-to-back wins at Bramlage Coliseum, both coming in the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle.
KEY STRETCH(ES)
K-State started the game off strong, scoring the first 5 points on a 3-pointer by senior Mike McGuirl and a pair of free throws by fifth-year senior Mark Smith.
Marquette would finally get on the board with a 3-pointer from redshirt freshman Justin Lewis at 16:51 mark before a stretch of 7 straight points gave the Golden Eagles a 10-7 advantage a little less than 4 minutes later.
The Wildcats battled back to take the lead at 13-10 behind 6 straight points, all on baskets by junior Markquis Nowell, junior Kaosi Ezeagu and sophomore Ish Massoud.
The teams would go back and forth with runs over the next few minutes, including back-to-back 3-pointers from Smith and Massoud that gave the Wildcats a 21-15 lead at the 7:12 mark before an 8-0 run, including consecutive 3-pointers, gave the Golden Eagles a 23-21 edge with 5:30 before halftime.
The teams continued to trade the lead to end the first half, as Nowell gave K-State a 30-28 advantage with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 28 seconds left before Lewis canned a 3-pointer of his own that helped Marquette lead 31-30 at the break.
The Wildcats came out on fire out of halftime, scoring 7 straight points, to take a 37-31 lead and force Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Smart to call a timeout at the 18:37 mark. Massoud was responsible for 5 of the 7 points, including a 3-pointer to open the half.
Marquette slowly chipped away at the deficit, scoring 7 of the next 9 points to tie it at 41-all with 13:56 to play.
Twice, K-State took 3-point lead over the next few minutes, including 48-45 after a basket by Smith with 11:56 remaining, however, Marquette responded out of the media timeout with an 11-2 run that gave the Golden Eagles a 56-50 advantage with 8:45 to play.
The Wildcats continued to fight to within striking distance, closing to within 58-54 on a layup by sophomore Davion Bradford, but the Golden Eagles each time had an answer, including a 3-pointer from freshman Kam Jones that extended the lead to 61-54 with 5:42 remaining.
K-State tried one more rally, as a basket by Bradford and 4 straight points from Smith, closed the gap to 61-60 with 48 seconds to play. Marquette answered back with its 11th 3-pointer of the night, including the fourth from Jones, before McGuirl connected on one from the corner to again close the deficit to one at 64-63 with 19 seconds.
Following a missed free throw from Jones with 14 seconds, the Wildcats had one more chance but Massoud’s shot at the rim was blocked by redshirt freshman Oso Ighodaro with 4 seconds to play.
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Fifth-year senior Mark Smith led the Wildcats with 17 points on 6-of-13 field goals to go with 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 33 minutes of action.
Sophomore Ish Massoud broke out of his recent scoring slump with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers, to go with 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 33 minutes.
Junior Markquis Nowell nearly tallied the first triple-double in school history, falling 2 rebounds short, as he posted 11 points on 5-of-13 field goals with 11 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 steals in 37 minutes.
STAT OF THE GAME
11 – Marquette scored 33 of its 64 points from 3-point range, as the Golden Eagles connected on 11 of 37 attempts from beyond the arc. The 37 attempts from 3 were the second-most by an opponent in school history and the most since Wichita State had 39 on Dec. 10, 1997.
IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
“Obviously, it hurts. I thought we played well at times and then at other times we’ve got to get a little more mature and not try to win the game by ourselves. That’s probably the biggest thing. We got Markquis (Nowell), you look at it he’s got 11 points and 11 rebounds with almost a triple-double in rebounds (8). He gives everything but it’s just a few plays here and there that he just tries to do too much. Not just him, it’s a lot of guys and just kind of tough. Obviously, missing Nijel (Pack) doesn’t help. Selton (Miguel) strained his knee yesterday. I didn’t think he would play but he gave it a go. He didn’t have the pop that he needed so we’ve got to get healthy and get a couple guys back and then continue to make strides and get better. Credit to Marquette. They keep coming at you. They don’t score a lot of points all the time. Their pace is pretty good. It takes a toll on you especially when you don’t have the depth that you need.”
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- Tonight’s loss snapped K-State’s 3-game winning streak, as the Wildcats fell to 5-3 on the year.
- The loss also ended a 7-game winning streak in non-conference games at Bramlage Coliseum.
- K-State is now 119-14 in non-conference play at home dating back to 2006-07, including 110-12 at Bramlage Coliseum.
- K-State is now 397-138 (.742) all-time at Bramlage Coliseum, including 258-80 (.763) since 2001-02.
- K-State still leads the all-time series with Marquette, 7-6, including 3-2 at home… The Golden Eagles have now won 3 straight games in the series, including back-to-back wins at Bramlage Coliseum.
- K-State falls to 0-2 in the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle, both losses coming at home.
- K-State used a starting lineup of junior Markquis Nowell, senior Mike McGuirl, fifth-year senior Mark Smith, sophomore Ismael (Ish) Massoud and junior Kaosi Ezeagu… This marked the second time using this lineup this season and the third different lineup used this season… Ezeagu, Massoud and Smith have each started the first 8 games… Ezeagu earned a start in his 14th career game at K-State… Massoud now has 16 starts in his college career… Smith now has 88 starts in his college career… Nowell earned his second straight start at K-State, while he now has 54 in his career.
- Sophomore Nijel Pack did not play due to injury… He has now missed 7 games due to injury in his career, while he has started the other 30 games.
- Three other Wildcats – freshman Maximus Edwards, sophomore Seryee Lewis and junior Carlton Linguard, Jr. – did not play due to injury… Lewis is out for the season, while Edwards is out for an extended time… Linguard continues to be day-to-day.
Team Notes
- K-State scored 63 points on 39.1 percent shooting (25-of-64), including 24 percent (6-of-25) from 3-point range, and connected on 70 percent (7-of-10) from the free throw line.
- The Wildcats had 18 assists on 25 made field goals, including 11 by junior Markquis Nowell.
- K-State had season-highs for fast-break points (19) and second-chance points (17), but season-lows for points off turnovers (11) and bench points (11).
- K-State held a 41-40 edge on the games, including 9 offensive boards… The Wildcats have now won the rebounding battle in 6 of 8 games this season.
- Marquette’s 11 3-point field goals were one shy of the season-high of 12 by Illinois (11/23/21), while the 37 attempts were the second-most by an opponent in school history (most-ever in Bramlage Coliseum by an opponent) and the most since Wichita State had 39 on Dec. 10, 1997.
- K-State trailed at the half for third time this season, as Marquette hit a 3-pointer right before the end of the half to take a 31-30 advantage at the break… The Wildcats are 0-3 when trailing at the half… Fifth-year senior Mark Smith led the team with 9 points, while sophomore Ish Massoud added 7 points and 6 rebounds.
Player Notes
- Fifth-year senior Mark Smith led the Wildcats in scoring for the first time this season with 17 points on 6-of-13 field goals and 4-of-7 free throws to go with team-tying 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 33 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 45 career games, including 5 at K-State.
- Sophomore Ish Massoud scored in double figures for the third time this season with 16 points on 6-of-14 field goals, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 33 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 14 career games.
- Junior Markquis Nowell nearly posted the school’s first triple-double, as he scored 11 points on 5-of-13 field goals with a game-high 11 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 steals in a season-high 37 minutes… It marked just 12th double-double in school history with points and assists and the first since Marcus Foster did it at Baylor on Feb. 15, 2014… The 11 assists tied for the seventh-most in school history and the most since Jacob Pullen had 11 against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 14, 2008… It marked the 53rd time he has scored in double figures, including the sixth time in 8 games at K-State.
- Sophomore Davion Bradford scored a season-high 9 points on 4-of-7 field goals to go with a rebound and a block in 17 minutes… Bradford is slowly returning from a 2-week illness.
WHAT’S NEXT
K-State concludes its 2-game homestand on Sunday afternoon, as the Wildcats play host to Green Bay (2-6) at Bramlage Coliseum.
