STILLWATER, Okla. (KStateSports.com) – Oklahoma State blew open a tight contest with a 15-0 run to end the first half, as the Cowboys earned their first Big 12 win of the season with a 79-66 win over Kansas State on Tuesday night before 5,540 fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Oklahoma State (9-5, 1-2 Big 12) held a narrow 28-24 lead at the final media timeout of the first half with 3:54 to play before a driving layup by senior guard Khalil Brantley spurred a 15-0 run that flipped a two-possession game into a 19-point halftime advantage for the Cowboys.
Five players scored for OSU in the decisive run, including 4 each by Brantley and graduate Abou Ousmane, 3 by senior Bryce Thompson and 2 each by graduates Marchelus Avery and Brandon Newman. Brantley capped the impressive run with a steal and pullup jumper at the buzzer.
K-State (7-7, 1-2 Big 12) twice cut the lead to 11 points in the second half, including 52-41 after an 11-2 run with 12:46 to play, but a 3-pointer from Thompson with the shot clock running down ignited a 9-0 run that pushed the lead back to 20 at 61-41 near the midway point of the half.
Most of the damage caused by the Cowboys came off 19 Wildcat turnovers that they converted into 31 points. The 31 points off turnovers tie for the fourth-most ever allowed an opponent and the most since Baylor scored 34 points off turnovers on Jan. 27, 2021.
The loss continued the Wildcats’ struggles on the road, as they dropped their 13th consecutive game dating back to last season. The team has now lost 10 straight Big 12 road games.
Although plagued by the 19 turnovers, the K-State offense did connect on 50 percent or better from the field for the sixth time this season, finishing at 51.1 percent (24-of-47), including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) in the second half. However, the Wildcats were dismal from 3-point range, making just 21.4 percent (3-of-14) of their shots from beyond the arc.
Senior Coleman Hawkins led three Wildcats in double figures with 18 points on 7-of-13 field goals to go with 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 2 blocks in 32 minutes. Fellow senior David N’Guessan collected his sixth double-double, including his second in a row, with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. He also added 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks to his stat line. Senior Max Jones scored in double figures for the sixth time this season with 10 points.
For the game, Oklahoma State shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the field, including 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from 3-point range, while making 14 of 18 attempts from the free throw line. In addition to a 31-14 advantage in points off turnovers, the Cowboys were 14-4 on fast-break points.
Ousmane led all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-15 field goal attempts, while Avery and Thompson added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Brantley had game-highs in both assists (5) and steals (3) to go with his 6 points.
OSU has now back-to-back games in the series since ending a 3-game losing streak.
K-State returns home to Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday, as the Wildcats play host to No. 12/11 Houston (11-3, 3-0 Big 12) at 5 p.m., CT on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased online at kstatesports.com/tickets or by phone (800) 221.CATS.
FIRST HALF
Oklahoma State got off to a fast start, scoring the game’s first 5 points before senior Max Jones connected from the corner for K-State’s first points at the 17:55 mark. The Cowboys continued their hot start, scoring 6 of the next 8 points to take an 11-5 lead into the first media timeout.
K-State was able to chip away at the deficit, using an 8-2 run to tie the game at 13-all on a layup by senior David N’Guessan with 11:44 to play. However, a 3-pointer by Avery Marchelus on the next possession helped OSU take an 18-15 lead into the next media timeout just over a minute later.
The Wildcats got to within 23-22 on a jumper by sophomore Macaleab Rich at the 5:52 mark, but a 5-0 run by the Cowboys provided some cushion at 28-22 with 4:32 to play. After 2 free throws by Max Jones right before the final media timeout, OSU scored 6 straight points to push ahead by double figures at 34-24 and forced a timeout by head coach Jerome Tang with 2:12 to play.
The timeout didn’t stop the Cowboys’ momentum, as they finished off the half with 9 more points to lead 43-24 at the halftime break.
OSU connected on 50 percent (18-of-36) from the field, including 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from 3-point range, and scored 16 points off 11 K-State turnovers in the first half. Graduate Abou Ousmane led all scorers with 17 points on 8-of-11 field goals.
K-State shot just 41.7 percent (10-of-24) in the first half, including 28.6 percent (2-of-7) from beyond the arc. C.J. Jones and Max Jones each had 5 points to lead the Wildcats.
SECOND HALF
Max Jones opened the second half by making 3 straight free throws to help K-State to cut into the deficit. However, OSU continued its impressive offensive performance, scoring 7 of the next 10 points to go ahead by 50-30 at the first media timeout.
A jumper by N’Guessan sparked an 11-2 run by the Wildcats to cut the deficit to 52-41 and forced a timeout by Cowboy head coach Steve Lutz at the 12:46 mark. Four different players contributed points in the spurt, including 5 by senior Coleman Hawkins.
Out of the timeout, senior Bryce Thompson connected on a 3-pointer with the clock running down, as the Cowboys answered the run with 9 straight points to push the lead back to 20 at 61-41 near the midway point of the second half.
A 7-0 run pulled K-State to within 70-58 with just over 4 minutes to play, as junior Ugonna Onyenso and N’Guessan each had baskets while Hawkins had a 3-pointer. However, a 3-point play from Ousmane answered the run as OSU scored 5 of next 7 points to go back ahead 75-60.
A pair of free throws by N’Guessan got the Wildcats to within 75-64 with 2:44 remaining, but that would be closest they would get as the Cowboys won 79-66.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State still leads the all-time series, 87-60, including 28-38 in games played in Stillwater and 26-35 at Gallagher-Iba Arena… The Cowboys have now won the last 2 games.
- K-State has now lost 13 consecutive road games, including 10 straight in Big 12 play… The last road win by the Wildcats came at West Virginia on Jan. 9, 2024.
- K-State used a starting lineup of junior Dug McDaniel, junior Brendan Hausen, senior Max Jones, senior Coleman Hawkins and senior David N’Guessan for the fourth time and the third straight game… Hausen, M. Jones, Hawkins and N’Guessan have now started the first 14 games… All 14 of Hausen’s career starts have come at K-State.
- Hawkins now has 96 career starts (Illinois/K-State), M. Jones now has 95 career starts (Tampa/Cal State Fullerton/K-State), N’Guessan now has 53 career starts (all at K-State) and McDaniel now has 56 career starts (Michigan/K-State).
- K-State started junior Ugonna Onyenso in the second half, along with McDaniel, Max Jones, Hawkins and N’Guessan.
TEAM NOTES
- K-State scored its 66 points on 51.1 percent (24-of-47) shooting, including 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from 3-point range, while making 75 percent (15-of-20) from the free throw line.
- It marked the sixth time this season that the Wildcats have connected on 50 percent or better from the field, including the first time in Big 12 play.
- Oklahoma State scored 31 points off 19 K-State turnovers… The 31 points off turnovers tied for the fourth-most allowed by an opponent and the most since 2021.
- K-State scored 14 points off 12 OSU turnovers.
- K-State held a 38-34 advantage in points in the paint.
- K-State held a 30-29 rebounding edge, including 23 defensive rebounds.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Three Wildcats scored in double figures led by 18 points from seniors Coleman Hawkins (18 points), David N’Guessan (12 points) and Max Jones (10 points).
- Hawkins scored his 18 points on 7-of-13 field goals, including 1-of-4 from 3-point range, and 3-of-3 free throws to go with 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 2 blocks in 32 minutes… He now has 53 career double-digit scoring games, including 8 at K-State.
- N’Guessan collected his sixth career double-double, including his second in a row, with 12 points on 4-of-6 field goals and 4-of-4 free throws to go with a game-high 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 35 minutes… He now has 38 career double-digit scoring games, including his team-leading 12 this season.
- N’Guessan’s 4 assists matched his season-high for the second straight game.
- Jones scored his 10 points on 2-of-8 field goals, including 1-of-5 from 3-point range, and 5-of-5 free throws to go with 3 assists and 2 rebounds in 28 minutes… He eclipsed 1,500 career points with his scoring effort… He now has 71 career double-digit scoring games, including 6 at K-State.
