Final Stats | Postgame Notes | Highlights
MANHATTAN, Kan. – No. 7/7 Kansas jumped out to a big lead and held off several attempted comebacks by Kansas State to earn a 70-56 win before a sold-out crowd at Bramlage Coliseum on Monday night.
K-State (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) was led by junior Dean Wade, who posted his sixth consecutive 20-point contest, with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. Sophomore forward Xavier Sneed added 10 points, as the Wildcats shot a paltry 32.3 percent (21-of-65) from the field.
Defensively, the Wildcats forced the Jayhawks into 16 turnovers, the most Kansas has turned the ball over in Big 12 play this season, and the most since Dec. 10 loss against Arizona State (16). The 16 turnovers forced on Monday night marks the fifth time K-State has forced the opponent into 15 or more turnovers this season.
Kansas (18-4, 7-2 Big 12) was led by senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk, who scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Mykhailiuk was joined by fellow seniorDevonte’ Graham, who added 16 points. As a team, the Jayhawks shot 45.7 percent (21-of-46).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats entered the Big Monday contest as winners of their last four games and five of their last six, though, the Jayhawks were the ones to gain an advantage early.
Right out of the gates, Kansas spouted off an 12-0 run behind three consecutive 3-pointers from the Jayhawks’ guard tandem of senior Devonte’ Graham, junior Lagerald Vick and senior Svi Mykhailiuk.
Despite the early deficit, K-State was able to force the Kanas defense into foul trouble, as junior guard Barry Brown, Jr. drew an and-one on an athletic drive. On the subsequent offensive possession, junior forward Dean Wade followed suite by drawing a foul on a successful fade-away jumper to bring the margin to just five points at 15-10 just 8:46 into the first half.
After the run by the Wildcats, the Jayhawks put together a run of their own to bring the largest deficit of the game (15) at the 7:48 mark. During the run, Kansas connected on 7-of-8, including two lay-ups from Mykhailiuk, who had a team-high 13 points at the half.
K-State answered back with a punch, scoring 9 unanswered against Kansas to bring the score to 31-25. Wade connected on seven of the points for the Wildcats during the run, including a pair of post-move scores and a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Wade had a team-high 13 points at the half.
During the K-State scoring streak, the Wildcats forced three turnovers in 2 minutes and 37 seconds of play, as they forced the Jayhawks into 12 turnovers in the first half. Just before the halftime buzzer, the Jayhawks were able to put together an 8-0 run, to end the half with a 40-27 lead.
K-State shot just 25.7 percent (9-of-35) in the first half, while the defense forced the Jayhawks into 12 turnovers in the first half. Along with leading the team in scoring, Wade added a team-high 4 rebounds at the break.
After making halftime adjustments, the Wildcats strung together another run to bring the score back to within single digits. The leading K-State scorer in the first half, Wade, hit his third 3-pointer of the game to bring the score to 40-33 with 16:33 remaining in the contest. Sneed would also add a boost for the Wildcats, scoring 9 of his 10 points in the game in the second half, including all four of his field goals in the game.
In the ensuing five minutes, the Wildcats battled to keep margin close. With under eight minutes remaining in the game, Kansas sophomore Malik Newman drove the lane to bring the deficit back to 10 at 51-41.
Kansas possessed a steady lead throughout the entirety of the contest, with the only lead change coming in the opening minute of play. In the end, the Wildcats were unable to cut the deficit throughout the contest, ultimately falling 70-56.
K-State connected on just 32.3 percent (21-of-65) from the field in the game, and had two individuals in double-digits, Wade and Sneed. Defensively, the Wildcats played opportune, forcing 16 turnovers in the game, including 3 steals from Brown to up his career total to 168.
Kansas was led by Mykhailiuk, who scored a game high 22 points on 8-of-18 from the field. As a team, the Jayhawks shot 45.5 percent (21-of-46) from the field.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Dean Wade – Junior Dean Wade reached the 20-point plateau for the sixth consecutive contest, as he tallied 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Wade also grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds.
STAT OF THE GAME
16 – K-State forced a total of 16 turnovers in Monday’s contest including 12 in the first half, to mark the fifth time this season that the Wildcats have forced 15 or more turnovers. The 16 turnovers were the most since forcing 20 against Oklahoma on Jan. 16.
SEASON RECORD UPDATE
- K-State 16-6 (5-4 Big 12)
- Kansas 18-4 (7-2 Big 12)