AMES, Iowa (KStateSports.com) – All five Wildcat starters scored in double figures, including a season-high 20 points from junior Dug McDaniel, as Kansas State snapped No. 3/3 Iowa State’s 29-game home court winning streak – the second-longest streak in the country – with an 80-61 victory on Saturday afternoon before a sold-out crowd of 14,267 fans at Hilton Coliseum.
The win was just the sixth-ever by K-State over a Top 5 team on the road and the first since a 56-54 win at No. 2 Baylor on Feb. 4, 2017. The 19-point margin of victory is the largest-ever over a Top 5 team on the road and second largest behind a 20-point win over No. 4 Long Island on Jan. 31, 1951.
Overall, it was the 28th all-time Top 5 win by the Wildcats (10-11, 4-6 Big 12) and the first since a 75-70 overtime win over No. 4 Kansas at home on Feb. 5, 2024. Head coach Jerome Tang is now 14-15 all-time against Top 25 opponents, including 7-5 vs. Top 10 foes.
No. 3/3 Iowa State (17-4, 7-3 Big 12) looked like it was on its way to another home win, as the Cyclones scored the game’s first 6 points on consecutive 3-pointers en route to a 13-4 lead prompting a timeout by Tang less than 4 minutes into the game.
The timeout seemed to settle down the Wildcats, as the first of three 3-pointers from senior Coleman Hawkins ignited a 13-3 run that gave them their first lead at 17-16 at the 12:28 mark. They extended that lead to 28-23 after an old-fashioned 3-point play from senior David N’Guessan, but the Cyclones were able to get to the free throw line, knocking down 7 of 8 attempts, to go along with a 3-pointer from junior Tamin Lipsey to take a 33-28 lead with 3:10 to play.
With the momentum clearly on the side of the home team, the Wildcats were able to end the half on a 9-2 run that propelled them ahead 37-35 at the break. Senior Max Jones scored 5 of the team’s 9 points in the pivotal run. They carried that momentum into the second half, as they scored the first 7 points, capped by Hawkins’ second 3-pointer, to take a 44-35 lead and force a timeout.
K-State kept the pressure on, using a 12-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from junior Brendan Hausen to take a 58-39 lead with just under 14 to play. However, ISU responded with a 13-0 run of its own to pull to within 58-52 at the midway point of the half.
A Hausen 3-pointer ended the run and started an 8-0 spurt by the Wildcats, as they pulled back ahead by double figures at 66-52 with 8:10 remaining. From that moment, the Cyclones could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way, as the Wildcats ended the game with 7 consecutive points to tie for the largest win at Hilton Coliseum.
With the victory, K-State became the first sub .500 in AP poll history to win by 15 or more points on the road against an AP top 5 opponent.
All five Wildcat starters scored in double figures for the first time since a win over No. 6/6 Texas on Jan. 3, 2023, as McDaniel recorded his first career 20-point game as a Wildcat and his eighth overall in his career. He scored 15 of his 20 points after halftime, connecting on 6-of-11 field goals, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and 1-of-2 free throws in playing all 20 minutes. He finished the day 8-of-17 from field, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, to go with a game-high 5 assists.
McDaniel was joined in double figures by Hawkins (17 points), Hausen (15 points), Jones (12 points) and N’Guessan (10 points). Hawkins was 5-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line, while posting 7 rebounds, a game-high 4 steals, 3 steals and a block in playing all but 47 seconds. N’Guessan had a near double-double with a game-high 8 rebounds. Jones collected 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.
Hausen, who was coming off a perfect 5-of-5 effort from 3-point range in the win over Oklahoma State, was equally exceptional from the free throw line against Iowa State, finishing a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe. He also had 4 rebounds and a career-high 3 steals in 31 minutes.
K-State scored its 80 points on 44.8 percent (26-of-58) shooting, including 50 percent (10-of-20) from 3-point range, and 85.7 percent (18-of-21) from the free throw line. The Wildcats outscored the Cyclones, 30-22, in the paint and used their 39-29 advantage on the boards to post a 21-6 edge in second-chance points.
While the offense put 80 points for the second straight game, the defense also performed well against one of the top scoring offenses (84.2 ppg.) in the country, holding Iowa State to their second-lowest point total of the season and their lowest at home. The Cyclones shot 36.5 percent (19-of-52) from the field, including 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from 3-point range. K-State also forced a season-high 18 turnovers, scoring 18 points off those miscues.
Junior Tamin Lipsey paced three Cyclones in double figures with a game-tying 20 points, which came on 6-of-12 field goals, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-7 free throws. He was joined in double figures by senior Curtis Jones (14 points) and junior Joshua Jefferson (13 points).
The win not only snapped the nation’s second-longest homecourt winning streak at 29 games, but it also ended the Wildcats’ 15-game road losing streak, which included 12 in Big 12 play. It was the first road victory since an 81-67 win at West Virginia on Jan. 9, 2024.
The 19-point win was the first in Ames since 2002 and tied for the largest by the Wildcats at Hilton Coliseum, along with a 70-51 victory on Feb. 2, 1977.
The road swing continues Tuesday night, as K-State makes a trip to Tempe, Ariz., to take on Arizona State (12-9, 3-7) at 9 p.m., CT on ESPN+. This will be the first of 2 meetings with the Sun Devils this season. The Wildcats won’t return home until their matchup with No. 11/11 Kansas (15-6, 6-4 Big 12) on Saturday, Feb. 8. Tickets can be purchased online at kstatesports.com/tickets or by phone (800) 221.CATS.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
Opening statement…
“First of all, just want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the opportunity that I have to live life with these young men and be the head coach at Kansas State. And it’s just such a blessing God’s given us this platform, you know, to honor him. And if you only honor Him when you win, it’s not honor. And I think all season long, we’ve gone through some rough things, but our guys have honored God with their actions and their work, and our staff has done the same thing. And so, this win at Iowa State is, you know, obviously it’s huge. They’re a great team, I think they are a team that can win a national championship with the pieces they have and when they’re fully healthy, and so to win on the road, and it was a challenge like we haven’t won a road game in a while, and it was I took it personally as a coach, and I was thankful I had a team that took it personally also and gave us this opportunity today.”
On Brendan Hausen’s steal late in the game…
“Brendan is a hooper, and he’s a competitor. It was great play to steal because Dug had slipped down, and they had an advantage. We call it live, and he sprinted back into the play. I think Coleman (Hawkins) might have been back too, but he sprinted back and got the steal and stopped the run. It quieted the crowd some, and so it was a huge play for us.”
On if the win is even more gratifying after walking in as bit of a villain today…
“I don’t expect people on the road to like us. I have the utmost respect for the Iowa State fans. You know, I’ve said all along that they’re so knowledgeable as fans. They don’t wait for the team to do something good, to cheer. They’ll sense when their team needs them. And they’ll start cheering, and you can hear it when they started doing it. I have utmost respect for TJ (Otzelberger) and what he does. And just winning a road game, right, like that was huge for us. We want one, one to win a road game, one to show that, you know, we can win away from home. And we because we got that kind of character guys and that kind of toughness. And so, this is one game. I told y’all, like, when we lose one game, we move on to next. This is one win. We’re gonna move on to the next, because it’s the Big 12. And as soon as you think you can relax, you end up on a losing streak.”
On the response of his team after burning those early timeouts…
“It was great. You know, I was pleased with several responses that we had when they went on. I think it was a 13-0 run, and the crowd was as loud as I’ve ever heard it. And it was great. So, I was very proud of the guys and their response. But when I was at Baylor, we won games here where Coach Drew called his last time out with more than eight minutes to go in the game, and the team was able to handle it. So, you know, sometimes what we say in the huddle is overrated. It is what those guys do on the floor.”
On Coleman Hawkins being an extra coach out there after his success vs. Iowa State last season…
“No, not really. He was a coach, and what we were doing like he executed what we wanted to do, and that’s the great thing about these guys. They’ve come from other great programs with other great coaches, and it’s taken us a while to get to where we felt like we could be at, but they bought in, and they’re playing K-State basketball and how they can be successful here with us together.”
On the defense on Keshon Gilbert and Curtis Jones…
“I think sometimes dudes just miss shots, you know, and those guys are great players. Jones is having a player of the year type year as a player. And you know, Gilbert, man, he’s so tough, and so sometimes it’s dudes just miss shots. It’s not necessarily what the other team does.”
FIRST HALF
Iowa State got off to a quick start, scoring the game’s first 6 points on consecutive 3-pointers en route to a 13-4 lead, which prompted head coach Jerome Tang to call his first timeout at the 16:17 mark. The timeout seemed to spark K-State, which responded with an 11-3 run to close the deficit to 16-15 and forced an ISU timeout with 12:45 before halftime.
The run grew to 13-3 on a steal and layup by junior Dug McDaniel out of the timeout that gave the Wildcats their first lead at 17-16. The Cyclones ended the run with a layup on the next possession to regain the lead at 18-17. A free throw by senior David N’Guessan tied it at 18-all, junior Brendan Hausen was fouled on a corner 3-pointer and made all 3 foul shots for a 21-18 lead.
Two free throws by senior Coleman Hawkins and a 3-point play by N’Guessan gave K-State at 28-23 advantage, but Iowa State was able to convert on 7 of 8 free throws to pull back ahead 30-28 at the final media timeout at the 3:39 mark.
A 3-pointer by Tamin Lipsey ended a field goal drought by both teams to extend the lead to 33-28 and the run to 10-0. However, senior Max Jones was able to answer on the next possession with a pullup jumper followed by a running layup by junior C.J. Jones. After a pair of free throws by the Cyclones, sophomore Mobi Ikegwuruka connected on 2 free throws before a Max Jones 3-pointer gave the Wildcats a 5-0 run to end the half and a 37-35 lead.
Iowa State connected on 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from the field, including 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from 3-point range, and 9-of-10 from the free throw compared to 41.4 percent (12-of-29) for K-State, including 50 percent (4-of-8) from long range, and 9-of-10 from the line.
Hawkins led the Wildcats with 9 points, while Max Jones added 8 points.
SECOND HALF
K-State kept its first half momentum going to start the second half, as the Wildcats scored 7 in a row capped by a 3-pointer from Hawkins to extend the lead to 44-35 and forced a Cyclone timeout less than 2 minutes into the second half. Lipsey was able to end the ISU drought on the next possession, but a jumper by Max Jones and layup by McDaniel kept K-State ahead 48-39 at the first media timeout at the 15:29 mark.
A 3-pointer by McDaniel out of the timeout continued the momentum, as the Wildcats increased the run to 12-0 and lead to 58-41 at the second media timeout with less than 12 to play. During the run, Otzelberger was called for a technical resulting in a pair of free throws by Hausen.
The momentum quickly shifted to the home team, as Cyclones used a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 58-49 and forced a timeout by Tang near the midway point of the half. After the run was extended to 13-0, Hausen broke the drought with a 3-pointer followed by a pair of free throws from Hawkins and another 3-pointer from McDaniel to push the lead back to double figures at 66-52 at the 7:46 mark.
ISU pulled to within 68-58 after an old-fashioned 3-point play by Lipsey, but Hausen canned a pair of free throws before Hawkins connected on a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 73-59 lead with 3:48 to play. The Cyclones scored on the next possession to close the deficit to 12 at the final media timeout with 3:35 remaining, but it would be the last time they scored in the game, as the Wildcats scored the final 7 points for an 80-61 victory.
K-State shot 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from the field, including 50 percent (6-of-12) from 3-point range, in the second half, and made 9 of 11 attempts from the free throw line. McDaniel scored 15 of his game-high 20 points after halftime, while Hausen added 12 points.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State (10-11, 4-6 Big 12) extended its winning streak to 3 games with an 80-61 win over No. 3/3 Iowa State (17-4, 7-3 Big 12) at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday afternoon… The win snapped the Cyclones’ 29-game homecourt winning streak at Hilton Coliseum.
- K-State snapped a 15-game road losing streak, including 12 in Big 12 play… It was the first road victory since an 81-67 win at West Virginia on Jan. 9, 2024.
- The win was the 28th all-time over a Top 5 team, including the sixth on the road.
- The win was the first over a Top 5 team on the road since a 56-54 win at No. 2 Baylor on Feb. 4, 2017… The 19-point margin is the largest-ever on a Top 5 team on the road… It is the first over Top 5 victory since a 75-70 overtime win over No. 4 Kansas at home on Feb. 5, 2024… Overall, it was the second-largest win over a Top 5 team in school history, trailing the 85-65 win over No. 4 Long Island at home on Jan. 31, 1951.
- K-State becomes the first sub .500 team in AP poll history to win by 15 or more points on the road against an AP top 5 opponent (credit to ESPN Stats).
- K-State now leads the all-time series, 147-94, including 55-53 in games played in Ames… Iowa State holds a 31-30 edge in the Big 12 era, including 18-11 at Hilton Coliseum… The Wildcats earned their first win in Ames since a 75-69 overtime win on Feb. 12, 2022… The 19-point win tied for the largest at Hilton Coliseum with a 70-51 win on Feb. 2, 1977.
- 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 11th time and the 10th straight game… Hausen, M. Jones, Hawkins and N’Guessan have now started the first 21 games… All 21 of Hausen’s career starts have come at K-State.
- Hawkins now has 103 career starts (Illinois/K-State), M. Jones now has 102 career starts (Tampa/Cal State Fullerton/K-State), N’Guessan now has 60 career starts (all at K-State) and McDaniel now has 63 career starts (Michigan/K-State).
TEAM NOTES
- K-State scored its 80 points on 44.8 percent (26-of-58) shooting, including 50 percent (10-of-20) from 3-point range, while hitting on 85.7 percent (18-of-21) from the free throw line.
- It marked the sixth 80-point game of the season, including the second consecutive in Big 12… The last time K-State scored 80 or more points in back-to-back Big 12 games came in home wins over BYU (84 points) and West Virginia (94 points in overtime) on Feb. 24 and 26, 2024… The Wildcats are now 6-0 this season and 25-3 under head coach Jerome Tang when scoring 80 or more points.
- K-State connected on 10 made 3-pointers on 20 attempts… It marked the seventh time this season that the Wildcats have scored double-digit 3-pointers.
- K-State outscored ISU, 30-22, in the paint… The Wildcats are now 6-5 when outscoring their opponent in the paint.
- K-State held Iowa State to 61 points on 36.5 percent (19-of-52) shooting, including 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from 3-point range… The 61 points were the second-fewest scored by the Cyclones this season, including the fewest at home.
- K-State held a 39-29 advantage on the glass, including 14 offensive rebounds that the Wildcats turned into a 21-6 edge in second-chance points.
- The teams turned the ball over a combined 36 times with Iowa State holding a 26-18 edge in points off turnovers.
- K-State led 37-35 at the halftime and is now 10-4 on the season when leading at the half.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- All five Wildcat starters scored in double figures led by junior Dug McDaniel’s season-high 20 points… It marked the first time that all five starters scored in double figures since a win over No. 6/6 Texas on Jan. 3, 2023… He was joined in double figures by senior Coleman Hawkins (17 points), junior Brendan Hausen (15 points), senior Max Jones (12 points) and senior David N’Guessan (10 points).
- McDaniel scored his season-high 20 points on 8-of-17 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and 1-of-2 free throws to go with game-high 5 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal in 34 minutes… It was his first 20-point game at K-State and the eighth of his career… He now has 48 career double-digit scoring games, including 11 at K-State.
- Hawkins scored his 17 points on 5-of-10 field goals, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 free throws to go with 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists and a block in 39 minutes… He now has 58 career double-digit scoring games, including 13 this season.
- Hausen scored his 15 points on 2-of-6 field goals, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, and a perfect 9-of-9 free throws in 31 minutes of action… He now has 26 career double-digit scoring games, including 14 at K-State… He is the first Wildcat to go a perfect 9-of-9 or better from the free throw line since Tyler Perry went 10-of-10 vs. Texas in Big 12 Championship on March 13, 2024.
- Jones scored his 12 points on 5-of-10 field goals, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, to go with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal in 35 minutes… He now has 77 career double-digit scoring games, including 12 this season.
- N’Guessan had a near double-double with 10 points on 4-of-7 field goals and 2-of-4 free throws to go with a game-high 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals and an assist in 31 minutes… He now has 43 career double-digit scoring games, including a team-best 18 this season.
