MANHATTAN, Kan. (KStateSports.com) – Kansas State jumped out to 19-2 lead over No. 23/23 West Virginia and never looked back to emphatically end a 6-game losing streak with a 73-60 win on Saturday night before 9,018 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
The win was not only the first for the Wildcats (8-11, 2-6 Big 12) of the calendar year 2025, but also gave them their second Top 25 win of the season. Head coach Jerome Tang is now 11-3 at home vs. AP Top 25 opponents, including 2-1 in 2024-25.
Buoyed by the impressive start, K-State connected on 53.3 percent (16-of-30) of its field goals in the first half, including 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from 3-point range, as the Wildcats surged ahead by as many as 26 points before halftime. The 42 first-half points were the most the team has scored in Big 12 play this season, while 18 points were the fewest allowed in an opening half all season.
Despite scoring 11 of the first 13 points out of halftime, West Virginia (13-6, 4-4 Big 12) never closed the deficit below double figures in the second half, as the Mountaineers dropped their third in a row to the Wildcats and their fourth straight at Bramlage Coliseum. WVU outscored K-State, 42-31, after halftime but the 24-point halftime deficit was too much to overcome.
Five Wildcats scored in double figures including 15 points from junior Dug McDaniel, who also added a game-high 6 assists and 2 steals. Senior David N’Guessan scored 14 points on 5-of-8 field goals and 4-of-4 free throws to go with a career-best 4 blocks, while fellow senior Max Jones had a solid all-around game with 12 points, a team-tying 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Senior Coleman Hawkins added 11 points to go with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, a block and a steal and junior C.J. Jones registered double figures in Big 12 play for the first time with 10 points.
K-State is now 11-0 under Jerome Tang when 5 or more players score in double figures.
K-State finished the game shooting 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the field, including 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from 3-point range, and 68.2 percent (15-of-22) from the free throw line. The Wildcats scored 17 fast-break points and outscored the Mountaineers, 15-5, from the bench.
WVU shot 36.8 percent (25-of-68) from the field, including just 19.0 percent (4-of-21) from 3-point range, while making 6 of 8 attempts from the line. The Mountaineers outscored the Wildcats, 42-36, in the paint and held a 19-12 advantage in second-chance points.
Big 12 Player of the Year candidate Javon Small led all scorers with 22 points, including 13 in the second half, while connecting on 7-of-16 field goals and 5-of-6 free throws. He was joined in double figures by teammates Toby Okani (13 points) and Sencire Harris (12 points).
K-State concludes its homestand on Wednesday with a visit from Oklahoma State (10-8, 2-5 Big 12) at 7 p.m., CT on CBS Sports Network. The Cowboys won the first meeting, 79-66, on Jan. 7.Tickets can be purchased online at kstatesports.com/tickets or by phone (800) 221.CATS.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
On the first five minutes of the game…
“We were locked in. Guys were in attack mode. I thought we got to the paint, and defensively we made it difficult for them. I don’t know if we’ve gone on a 17-0 run this year at all, offensive runs have been few and far between. So, to have one of those (runs) made it great.”
On Dug McDaniel’s offensive aggression…
“He’s one of the guys on the team that can create his own shot and make tough shots. And today, because of how we knew they were going to play us, I needed him to think score-first. We need Dug to be aggressive offensively, and that’s probably on me, that I have to give him more freedom, and more license to do it so that he feels comfortable. I know he’s trying to please me, and trying to please his teammates, and get people involved, but we do need his scoring, and I was happy with how he approached it today.”
On the belief in the locker room following a rough stretch of games…
“There’s a story in the Bible where a disciple told Jesus, Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief. I shared that with the guys and said, before we can win, we have to believe we can win, and it’s okay to have some doubts. But when you have a group around you where someone might have a low belief or falter, somebody else can pick you up. That’s what being a team is all about. So that was one of the things in going through this (rough stretch), and even leading up to this, that we had to build our belief system.”
On if he feels like there has been a weight lifted from the team after the win…
“Yeah, there’s definitely a weight lifted. Losing sucks, and even though we saw that we were getting better and getting closer, it doesn’t satisfy. But what’s really important now is, can we keep getting better after a win, can we go on the road and get one? So, there’s a lot of room for improvement for us and things we can challenge ourselves for. But I’m excited to see what happens Monday, and how we take care of business tonight and tomorrow, so we can come in on Monday and get after it. I’m going to be one on Monday because I’m not going to let them be satisfied.”
FIRST HALF
K-State enjoyed a fast start to the game, scoring 14 of the first 16 points just after the first media timeout at the 15:36 mark. Five different players scored in the opening sequence, including back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Max Jones and junior Brendan Hausen.
The run continued as a running layup by junior C.J. Jones and a corner 3-pointer from junior Dug McDaniel increased the lead to 19-2 and forced a timeout by WVU head coach Darian DeVries with 12:17 in the half. McDaniel was responsible for 7 points in the opening run.
The Mountaineers were able to chip away at the deficit, closing to within 28-14 just after the next media timeout with 7:23 to play. However, the Wildcats answered back with a 3-pointer from Hausen and a pair of free throws from McDaniel to go up 33-16 at the final media timeout.
The free throws by McDaniel ignited an 11-0 run, as K-State led 42-16 before a timeout by head coach Jerome Tang with 1:15 to go. WVU was able to score the final points of the half with a jumper to cut the lead to 42-18 at the break.
The Wildcats connected on 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from the field in the opening half, including 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from 3-point range, as McDaniel led all scorers with 11 points to go with 5 assists. The Mountaineers shot just 24.1 percent (7-of-29) in half, including 1-of-10 from long range.
SECOND HALF
West Virginia started hot out of halftime, scoring 11 of the first 13 points to cut the deficit to 44-29 and forced a timeout by Tang with 16:00 remaining. A jumper by senior Coleman Hawkins and a 3-pointer from Max Jones pushed the lead back to 20 at 49-29 right after the first media timeout.
An old-fashioned 3-point play by senior David N’Guessan gave the Wildcats a 54-36 lead, but the Mountaineers were able to pick McDaniel on consecutive possessions for easy layups and cut the deficit to 54-40 at the second media timeout at the 10:49 mark.
A free throw from Hawkins sparked a response out of the timeout, as K-State scored 8 of the next 10 points to push the lead back to 20 points at 62-42 and forced a WVU timeout at the 5:36 mark. The Mountaineers continued to battle, closing the deficit to 64-49 at the final media timeout.
WVU pulled to within 66-54 after a 3-pointer from Javon Small with 1:38 to play, but that would be closed it would get, as K-State matched them the rest of the way to end its 6-game skid.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State (8-11, 2-6 Big 12) snapped a 6-game losing streak with a 73-60 win over No. 23/23 West Virginia on Saturday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
- The 6-game losing streak was the longest under head coach Jerome Tang.
- K-State is now 437-151 all-time at Bramlage Coliseum, including 176-121 in league play.
- K-State is now 135-298 vs. Top 25 opponents, including 7-10 vs. the AP No. 23 team.
- K-State is now 52-74 vs. Top 25 teams at Bramlage Coliseum, including 48-71 vs. ranked Big 12 opponents.
- West Virginia still leads the all-time series, 16-13, including 15-12 in the Big 12 era… K-State improved to 9-4 all-time in the series at Bramlage Coliseum, including 4 straight wins.
- 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 ninth time and the eighth straight game… Hausen, M. Jones, Hawkins and N’Guessan have now started the first 19 games… All 19 of Hausen’s career starts have come at K-State.
- Hawkins now has 101 career starts (Illinois/K-State), M. Jones now has 100 career starts (Tampa/Cal State Fullerton/K-State), N’Guessan now has 58 career starts (all at K-State) and McDaniel now has 61 career starts (Michigan/K-State).
TEAM NOTES
- K-State scored its 73 points on 47.3 percent (26-of-55) shooting, including 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from 3-point range, while hitting on 68.2 percent (15-of-22) from the free throw line.
- The 73 points were the second-most in Big 12 play and the most in a league win.
- The 42 first-half points were the most scored in Big 12 play, which came on 53.3 percent (16-of-30) shooting, including 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from 3-point range.
- The 16 first-half points by West Virginia were the fewest allowed in any half this season.
- The 24-point halftime lead was the second largest of the year and the highest in Big 12 play.
- K-State outscored WVU, 17-8, in fast-break points… The 17 fast-break points were the second-most this season, including the most in Big 12 play.
- K-State held a 40-36 edge in rebounding… Although WVU scored 19 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Five Wildcats scored in double figures led by 15 points from junior Dug McDaniel… He was joined in double figures by senior David N’Guessan (14 points), senior Max Jones (12 points), senior Coleman Hawkins (11 points) and junior C.J. Jones (10 points).
- McDaniel scored his 15 points on 5-of-13 field goals, including 1-of-3 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 free throws, to go with a game-high 6 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in 32 minutes… He now has 46 career double-digit scoring games, including 9 at K-State.
- N’Guessan scored his 14 points on 5-of-8 field goals, including 0-of-2 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 free throws to go with 4 blocks and 2 rebounds in 29 minutes… He now has 42 career double-digit scoring games, including a team-leading 17 this season… The 4 blocks were a career high.
- Max Jones scored his 12 points on 5-of-7 field goals, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, to go with a team-tying 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal in 28 minutes… He now has 75 career double-digit scoring games, including 10 this season.
- Hawkins scored his 11 points on 3-of-11 field goals, including 0-of-1 from 3-point range, and 5-of-10 free throws to go with a team-tying 7 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block in 30 minutes… He now has 56 career double-digit scoring games, including 11 this season.
- C.J. Jones scored his 10 points on 4-of-6 field goals, including 1-of-1 from 3-point range and 1-of-2 free throws to go with 6 rebounds and an assist in 28 minutes.
