Nowell scores 36 as K-State rolls over No. 6 Texas 116-103
AP
Jan 04, 2023
AUSTIN, Texas Longhorns (AP) Markquis Nowell had 36 points and nine assists as Kansas State Wildcats beat No. 6 Texas 116-103 on Tuesday night, setting a school scoring record with a stunning offensive outburst that gave first-year Wildcats coach Jerome Tang his biggest victory.
The Wildcats poured in 58 points in the first half behind 64% shooting and eight 3-pointers. Kansas State then held off a Texas rally as the Longhorns made 11 consecutive shots in the second half and shaved a 20-point deficit under 10 with just under five minutes left.
''We wanted to be aggressive the first five minutes,'' said Nowell, who was one assist shy of being the first Kansas State player with at least 30 points and 10 assists. ''We're a really dangerous team when we get it going downhill.''
And they never let up, especially in the second half as the teams traded basket after basket.
Nowell and Kansas State also showed enough poise to get the big shots they needed late to close out the win. Nowell's two free throws with 3:23 remaining made it 100-88 before he swished a step-back 3-pointer on the next possession to put an exclamation point on the night for the Wildcats.
Keyontae Johnson added 28 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (13-1, 2-0 Big 12), whose free-flowing offense with Nowell leading the way found just about any open shot the team wanted. Nowell came into the game No. 2 nationally in assists, and his shifty drives and nifty passing had Texas defenders looking for the ball all game.
''People who complain about scoring in college basketball, I think they got to see a whole bunch of scoring tonight. Those of us who consider ourselves defensive coaches? It was a headache,'' Tang said. ''But it was a lot of fun.''
The scoring display is sure to grab the attention of the rest of the Big 12.
''Every game is a statement game for us,'' Johnson said. ''We were picked last in the conference. We have to keep proving people wrong.''
Tyrese Hunter scored 29 points and Marcus Carr had 27 for the Longhorns, handed their first loss in their new arena, the Moody Center.
Kansas State also sent the Longhorns (12-2, 1-1) to their first loss since head coach Chris Beard was suspended indefinitely without pay following his Dec. 12 arrest on a felony family violence charge. Assistant coach Rodney Terry has been acting head coach since then and had led Texas to five straight wins, including a victory at Oklahoma in the Big 12 opener.
The 116 points were the most Texas has permitted in a Big 12 game.
''We'll work hard to get a lot better defensively,'' Terry said. ''(Nowell) put his will on the game.''
Sir'Jabari Rice's three-point play pulled Texas to 77-65 with 11:28 to play and a Longhorns rally was on. A block by Rice against Nowell set up another Longhorns 3-pointer. But the Wildcats kept answering, usually behind Nowell.
''Every time the crowd got into it, our guys were able to silence it,'' Tang said. ''That was huge.''
KEEPING IT CLEAN
Texas has smothered a lot of opponents with aggressive defense that often leads to turnovers and points in transition. Kansas State committed just 12 turnovers, though, and only three in the second half. That sort of ball control kept the Longhorns from getting extra possessions. Texas scored just nine points off K-State turnovers.
''This was a game where both teams' players were making big shots,'' Tang said. ''As long as you don't turn it over, the ball is going in the hole.''
BIG PICTURE
Kansas State: Made 31 of 33 free throws to maintain a comfortable cushion in the second half.
Texas: School officials have provided no updates on Beard's status with the program. His legal case is scheduled for its first court hearing on Jan. 18. His fiancee issued a Dec. 23 statement saying he did not choke her during the Dec. 12 incident, contradicting what the arrest warrant affidavit said she initially told police. Beard's attorney has said the coach is innocent.
UP NEXT
Kansas State plays at No. 19 Baylor.
Texas visits Oklahoma State.
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1st Half
KSU
Wildcats
58
TEX
Longhorns
40
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Nae'Qwan Tomlin vs. Dillon Mitchell (Markquis Nowell gains possession)
19:48
Dylan Disu blocks Nae'Qwan Tomlin's two point layup
19:46
Dylan Disu defensive rebound
19:39
Marcus Carr turnover (lost ball) (Markquis Nowell steals)
19:32
Keyontae Johnson misses three point jump shot
19:30
Nae'Qwan Tomlin offensive rebound
19:22
+3
Markquis Nowell makes three point jump shot (Cam Carter assists)
3-0
19:04
+3
Tyrese Hunter makes three point jump shot (Marcus Carr assists)
3-3
18:54
+2
Abayomi Iyiola makes two point layup (Markquis Nowell assists)
5-3
18:35
Nae'Qwan Tomlin personal foul (Dylan Disu draws the foul)
18:28
Timmy Allen misses two point jump shot
18:26
Keyontae Johnson defensive rebound
18:19
+2
Abayomi Iyiola makes two point layup (Keyontae Johnson assists)
7-3
18:11
Dylan Disu turnover (traveling)
17:41
Nae'Qwan Tomlin misses two point jump shot
17:39
Marcus Carr defensive rebound
17:33
Abayomi Iyiola shooting foul (Dillon Mitchell draws the foul)
17:33
Dillon Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:33
Dillon Mitchell misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:33
Keyontae Johnson defensive rebound
17:24
Markquis Nowell misses two point layup
17:21
Abayomi Iyiola offensive rebound
17:19
+2
Nae'Qwan Tomlin makes two point layup (Keyontae Johnson assists)
9-3
17:19
Timmy Allen shooting foul (Nae'Qwan Tomlin draws the foul)
17:19
+1
Nae'Qwan Tomlin makes regular free throw 1 of 1
10-3
17:11
Nae'Qwan Tomlin personal foul (Dillon Mitchell draws the foul)
16:54
Dillon Mitchell misses two point jump shot
16:52
Keyontae Johnson defensive rebound
16:46
+2
Keyontae Johnson makes two point layup
12-3
16:44
Longhorns 30 second timeout
16:28
Desi Sills shooting foul (Tyrese Hunter draws the foul)
16:28
+1
Tyrese Hunter makes regular free throw 1 of 2
12-4
16:28
+1
Tyrese Hunter makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-5
16:16
+2
Cam Carter makes two point jump shot (Desi Sills assists)
14-5
16:05
+2
Christian Bishop makes two point layup (Marcus Carr assists)
14-7
15:47
+2
Keyontae Johnson makes two point layup
16-7
15:27
Tyrese Hunter misses three point jump shot
15:25
Ismael Massoud defensive rebound
15:15
Jump ball. Keyontae Johnson vs. Tyrese Hunter (Longhorns gains possession)
15:15
Keyontae Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Tyrese Hunter steals)
15:15
TV timeout
14:53
Timmy Allen misses two point layup
14:51
Sir'Jabari Rice offensive rebound
14:51
Sir'Jabari Rice misses two point dunk
14:49
Markquis Nowell defensive rebound
14:43
Cam Carter misses two point layup
14:41
Marcus Carr defensive rebound
14:37
Marcus Carr turnover (lost ball) (Markquis Nowell steals)
14:33
+2
Keyontae Johnson makes two point dunk (Markquis Nowell assists)
18-7
14:16
+3
Marcus Carr makes three point jump shot (Timmy Allen assists)
18-10
13:40
Cam Carter misses two point layup
13:48
Sir'Jabari Rice defensive rebound
13:40
Brock Cunningham misses three point jump shot
13:38
Cam Carter defensive rebound
13:31
Wildcats 30 second timeout
13:29
Markquis Nowell misses three point jump shot
13:27
Sir'Jabari Rice defensive rebound
13:20
Ismael Massoud shooting foul (Christian Bishop draws the foul)
13:20
+1
Christian Bishop makes regular free throw 1 of 2
18-11
13:20
+1
Christian Bishop makes regular free throw 2 of 2
18-12
12:59
Christian Bishop blocks Abayomi Iyiola's two point layup
12:57
Christian Bishop defensive rebound
12:51
+3
Sir'Jabari Rice makes three point jump shot (Timmy Allen assists)
18-15
12:26
+2
Keyontae Johnson makes two point jump shot
20-15
12:14
+2
Tyrese Hunter makes two point jump shot
20-17
12:02
+3
Desi Sills makes three point jump shot (Cam Carter assists)
23-17
11:49
Tykei Greene shooting foul (Timmy Allen draws the foul)
11:49
TV timeout
11:49
Timmy Allen misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:49
+1
Timmy Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2
23-18
11:40
Keyontae Johnson misses two point layup
11:38
Abayomi Iyiola offensive rebound
11:36
Abayomi Iyiola turnover (out of bounds)
11:26
Christian Bishop misses three point jump shot
11:24
Cam Carter defensive rebound
11:22
Timmy Allen personal foul (Cam Carter draws the foul)
11:02
+2
Abayomi Iyiola makes two point layup (Markquis Nowell assists)