GAME 29

16/15 KANSAS STATE (21-7, 11-4 Big 12) vs. rv/rv BAYLOR (19-9, 10-5 Big 12)

Saturday, March 2, 2019 >> 7:05 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) >> Manhattan, Kan.

 

PROMOTION

Tip-Off for TP

The Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) will be hosting its ninth annual Tipoff for TP event on Saturday, in which, members will be collecting toilet paper, paper towels and trash bags to donate to the Manhattan Emergency Shelter.

 

COACHES

Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)

Overall: 459-242/21^st season

At K-State: 146-87/7^th season

1. Baylor: 8-6 (3-3 at home)

 

Baylor: Scott Drew (Butler ’93)

Overall: 335-215/17^th Year

At Baylor: 315-204/16^th Year

1. Kansas State: 11-15 (5-7 on the road)

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (21-7, 11-4 Big 12)

G: #3 Kamau Stokes

G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.

G/F: #20 Xavier Sneed

F: #32 Dean Wade

F: #14 Makol Mawien

 

Baylor (19-9, 10-5 Big 12)

G: #10 Makai Mason

G: #12 Jared Butler

G/F: #4 Mario Kegler

F: #11 Mark Vital

F: #33 Freddie Gillespie

 

SERIES HISTORY

Overall: K-State leads 22-18

Current Streak: K-State, 5

In Manhattan: K-State leads 11-8

At Bramlage Coliseum: Tied 8-8

Last Meeting: W, 70-63, 2/9/19

Weber vs. Drew: 8-6 (3-3 at home)

 

OPENING TIP

• No. 16/15 Kansas State (21-7, 11-4 Big 12) returns home to Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday night, as the Wildcats play host to a surging Baylor (19-9, 10-5 Big 12) squad, which has won 3 in a row in Big 12 play. K-State posted a 70-63 win over Baylor at the Ferrell Center on Feb. 9, in which, the Bears played without starters Makai Mason and King McClure. The game will tip at 7:05 p.m., CT on ESPN2 with Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst) on the call.
• After Monday’s loss at No. 15/16 Kansas, K-State enters Saturday’s game in a first-place tie in the Big 12 with No. 11/11 Texas Tech (23-5, 11-4 Big 12), just one game ahead of the third-place duo of Kansas (21-7, 10-5 Big 12) and Baylor (19-9, 10-5 Big 12) and two games ahead of fifth-place Iowa State (20-8, 9-6 Big 12). Seven Big 12 schools have at least 6 league wins with 3 games left in the regular season.
• K-State saw its 6-game winning streak in Big 12 road games end on Monday night, as the Wildcats connected on just 32.1 percent (18-of-57) from the field in a 64-49 loss to No. 15/16 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. The 49 points were the third-fewest scored this season, while the 32.1 field goal percentage was the lowest since hitting on a season-low 30.5 percent against Tulsa on Dec. 8, 2018. Senior Kamau Stokes was the lone Wildcat to score in double figures with a team-high 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting to go with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Senior Barry Brown, Jr., scored just a season-low 4 points on 1-of-8 field goals, snapping a 14-game streak of scoring in double figures.  It was his lowest point total since his junior season.
• Baylor is one of the hottest teams in the Big 12 with wins in 4 of its last 5 games, including 3 in a row, after rallying from 19 points down to post an 84-83 win over Texas at home on Wednesday night. Four Bears scored in double figures, including a game-high 24-point effort by sophomore Mario Kegler. Kegler (10.7 ppg.) and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year candidate Makai Mason (14.6 ppg.) have paced a Baylor attack that is averaging 72.6 points on 44.6 percent shooting, including 34.7 percent from 3-point range. The Bears are 5-4 away from home this season, including 4-3 in Big 12 play, and have an impressive 73-69 win at Iowa State in their last road outing.
• K-State and Baylor will meet for the 41st time on Saturday night with the Wildcats holding a 22-18 edge in a series that dates to the 1948 NCAA Tournament. The series has been one of the most competitive in the Big 12 era with each school winning 17 times, including 8 each at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats have won 5 straight in the series, including a 70-63 win at the Ferrell Center on Feb. 9.
• Defense continues to be the Wildcats’ strong suit, holding opponents to just 59.5 points on 41.1 percent shooting, including 31.3 percent from 3-point range. K-State has held 15 of 28 opponents to 60 points or less with just two eclipsing 70. The team ranks among the Top 50 in several defensive categories nationally, including fourth in scoring defense, 49th in field goal percentage defense and 44th in 3-point field goal percentage defense. The Wildcats are averaging 17.0 points off 14.6 opponent turnovers this season, including 16.3 points in Big 12 play.