Behind a team-high 18 points from freshman Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State snapped a 6-game losing streak with a near wire-to-wire 66-54 win over Kansas State on Sunday afternoon before 9,121 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State (13-14, 7-9 Big 12) saw its losing streak hit 3 games with the loss, as the Wildcats played without their all-everything senior Coleman Hawkins, who is the only Division I player to average 10 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
Arizona State (13-14, 4-12 Big 12) had its own missing piece, as head coach Bobby Hurley dismissed the Sun Devils’ leading scorer B.J. Freeman (13.7 ppg.) prior to the road trip. However, it was Hawkins’ presence that was clearly felt more as K-State was held to a season-low 54 points on 33.3 percent (22-of-66) shooting, including 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from 3-point range.
The Wildcats were paced by senior David N’Guessan, who collected his eighth career double-double, including his team-leading fifth of the season, with game-highs in both points (20) and rebounds (13). It marked his second 20-point, 10-rebound performance of the season and the first since the season opener with New Orleans. He was joined in double figures by junior C.J. Jones, who scored 10 points 4-of-11 field goals. Jones earned the start in place of the injured Hawkins.
K-State returns to action on Wednesday with a trip to Orlando, Fla., to take on UCF (13-13, 4-11 Big 12) at 6 p.m., CT at the Addition Financial Arena on ESPN+. The Wildcats will return to Bramlage Coliseum on Sunday, March 2 when they play host to Colorado (11-17, 2-14 Big 12) at 3 p.m., CT on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased online at kstatesports.com/tickets or by phone (800) 221.CATS.
Jerome Tang
David N’Guessan & CJ Jones
