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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas State demonstrated determination and tenacity against a top 10 ranked Kansas squad in front of a full house at Allen Fieldhouse; however, the Wildcats were unable to recover from an early double-digit deficit, ultimately losing 84-74 during Saturday’s Dillons Sunflower Showdown.
The Jayhawks (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) surged to a 14-0 advantage despite two timeouts called by head coach Jerome Tang, as the Wildcats failed to convert their initial 7 field goals until junior C.J. Jones’ pull-up jumper marked their first points at the 15:30 mark.
K-State (7-10, 1-5 Big 12) battled back to trim the lead to 6 points (32-26) with 2:45 remaining in the first half, courtesy of a slam dunk by junior Ugonna Onyenso, but Kansas secured a 10-point advantage heading into halftime.
In the second period, the Wildcats found themselves trailing by as much as 15 points before narrowing the gap to 6 points on three separate occasions, including 72-66 after a jumper by junior Brendan Hausen at the 4:01 mark. Despite having two chances following a defensive stop, K-State failed to further decrease the deficit as junior Dug McDaniel and senior Coleman Hawkins both had their shots blocked.
K-State had one last chance down 76-70 with 1:45 to go following a couple of free throws by senior Max Jones, but Hausen’s 3-pointer missed the target, allowing Kansas to secure the victory with a free throw from senior Zeke Mayo and a jumper by senior Hunter Dickinson, extending the lead to 79-70 with 42 seconds remaining. The Jayhawks converted 5 of 6 free throws to conclude the game.
The 10-point defeat was the closest margin at Allen Fieldhouse since a 73-72 loss in 2018.
Three Wildcats reached double digits in scoring, led by Hawkins who posted a points/assists double-double with 15 points and a career-matching 10 assists, along with 7 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. This marks his ninth career double-double, with three occurring at K-State, and it’s his second double-double combining points and assists. He is the first Wildcat player to record a points/assists double-double at Allen Fieldhouse.
In double figures with Hawkins were fellow seniors David N’Guessan (13 points) and Max Jones (11 points). Both McDaniel and Onyenso concluded the game with 9 points, while freshman David Castillo added 6 points on two free throws alongside 2 steals in a season-high 23 minutes.
Dickinson (25 points) and Mayo (24 points) combined for 49 points for the Jayhawks, who achieved their 84 points shooting 55.4 percent (31-of-56), including 46 points in the paint. Additionally, senior Dajuan Harris Jr. contributed 15 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
K-State managed to shoot 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the field, including 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from beyond the arc, and 73.7 percent (14-of-19) from the charity stripe. The Wildcats committed a season-low of 5 turnovers, the fewest since the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Kansas now holds the advantage in the second-longest ongoing rivalry in Division I, having a record of 206-96, which includes 96-35 at home and 54-17 at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks have now secured 19 consecutive victories in the series at home. The two teams have faced each other every season since 1907.
K-State wraps up its two-game road trip on Wednesday, facing No. 25/24 Baylor (11-5, 3-2 Big 12) at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU. The next home game is set for Saturday, Jan. 25 against West Virginia (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) at 5 p.m. CT. Tickets are available for purchase online at kstatesports.com/tickets or by phone at (800) 221.CATS.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
On the game…
“Life presents challenges, and you stand up, trust in yourself and your values, and move forward to the next challenge. Because no one stands still. We don’t have individuals who sulk. These are high-character players. Our previous two practice sessions were the best we’ve had all year, and I expect the upcoming ones to surpass the last. We are dedicated to continuous improvement, and at a certain point, the scoreboard will reflect our efforts. Nonetheless, it does not diminish our strong bond and our shared passion to help one another achieve their fullest potential.”
On the improvement from the last game…
“I felt we executed our strategy effectively in approach during offense, placing them in challenging situations. While I believe we did our part defensively, credit must be given to them. They had players who made shots they typically wouldn’t, and that’s part of the game. However, I appreciated our cohesion. I observed really positive body language out there. I saw players progressing throughout the game, so I was pleased with what I saw. I was not satisfied with the outcome. I haven’t liked the outcomes (in the last five games). We must continue to improve to achieve our goals.”
On what changed after falling behind 14-0…
“I believe we simply adapted to the atmosphere. You can prepare for it and inform individuals, but if you haven’t experienced it, it can be overwhelming. It indeed is if you haven’t been there before. Thus, I felt like they were playing at full speed, and we were not yet. Once we settled in and found our rhythm, things calmed down. We can’t afford to start like that because it’s a typical occurrence on the road. You have to calm down and adjust.”
On David Castillo’s play in the last 2 games…
“I believe over the past couple of games, he hasn’t allowed whether the ball went through the hoop or not to impact his energy, effort, and concentration. Thus, he is growing beyond that challenge and is becoming more comfortable, gaining more experience during Big 12 contests against strong opponents. The game is beginning to slow down for him. However, he could likely explain that better than I can. I have faith in him, and I’m grateful he’s part of our team.”
FIRST HALF
Kansas initiated the game with a speedy start, scoring the first 7 points, including an opening 3-pointer from Zeke Mayo, prompting an early timeout from head coach Jerome Tang at the 17:51 mark. The timeout did not disrupt the momentum, as the Jayhawks scored 7 additional points, forcing Tang to call a second timeout fewer than 2 minutes later with the Wildcats down 14-0.
Junior C.J. Jones halted the 0-of-7 start with a pull-up jumper on the next possession, marking K-State’s first points. Kansas then added 6 of the next 8 points to extend the lead to 16 before baskets by junior Dug McDaniel and Jones reduced the gap to 20-8 at the second media timeout.
The Wildcats continued to battle through the adversity,scoring 7 of the subsequent 11 points to reduce the difference to 24-15, leading to a timeout called by head coach Bill Self at the 8:19 juncture. The Jayhawks reacted to the timeout by tallying 5 consecutive points to extend their lead back to 14. Nevertheless, the guests launched a 7-0 run to narrow it down to 32-24, which resulted in another timeout by Self with 3:14 remaining before halftime. During this surge, senior Coleman Hawkins made the Wildcats’ inaugural 3-pointer, breaking a 0-of-11 shooting drought.
The run escalated to 9-0 following the timeout with a dunk from junior Ugonna Onyenso, bringing K-State closer at 32-26, but Kansas countered with 7 uninterrupted points to gain a 13-point lead with just over a minute left before the break. A 3-pointer by senior Max Jones reduced the gap to 39-29 at halftime.
K-State worked through its initial offensive challenges, shooting 44.8 percent (13-of-29) from the floor, while trailing slightly in points in the paint at 20-16. Six players contributed to the scoring in the first half, with both senior David N’Guessan and Hawkins scoring 7 points each.
Mayo led all scorers with 14 points in the first half.
SECOND HALF
A couple of free throws from N’Guessan trimmed the deficit to single digits on the opening possession, but Kansas opted to dominate the paint with Hunter Dickinson, executing a 10-4 run that extended the lead to 51-36, prompting a timeout by Tang at the 15:27 mark.
An old-fashioned 3-point play from Onyenso closed the gap to 53-43 with just over 14 minutes remaining; however, the Jayhawks answered with 4 consecutive points, widening their lead to 59-47 at the second media timeout at the 11:56 mark. A 3-pointer from freshman David Castillo narrowed the score to 61-52, but Kansas scored 4 of the next 6 points to push the lead into double digits once more at 65-54 at the third media timeout at the 7:21 mark.
A second 3-pointer from Castillo sparked an 8-2 run that got K-State closer at 70-64, leading to a timeout by Self with 4:39 remaining in the contest. The margin remained at 6 points at the final media timeout with 3:43 left.
Kansas converted from the charity stripe on back-to-back 1-and-1 chances, restoring the double-digit lead to 76-66 with 2:27 to go. Yet, K-State responded as Hawkins and Max Jones each converted their free throws, closing the gap to 76-70 with 1:45 left.
Despite their strong efforts, the Wildcats could not get any closer; a free throw from Mayo and a jumper from Dickinson extended the Jayhawks’ lead to 79-70 with 42.6 seconds remaining. Kansas sealed the game by hitting 5 of 6 free throw attempts in the closing moments.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
The Jayhawks (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) surged to a 14-0 advantage despite two timeouts called by head coach Jerome Tang, as the Wildcats failed to convert their initial 7 field goals until junior C.J. Jones’ pull-up jumper marked their first points at the 15:30 mark.
K-State (7-10, 1-5 Big 12) battled back to trim the lead to 6 points (32-26) with 2:45 remaining in the first half, courtesy of a slam dunk by junior Ugonna Onyenso, but Kansas secured a 10-point advantage heading into halftime.
In the second period, the Wildcats found themselves trailing by as much as 15 points before narrowing the gap to 6 points on three separate occasions, including 72-66 after a jumper by junior Brendan Hausen at the 4:01 mark. Despite having two chances following a defensive stop, K-State failed to further decrease the deficit as junior Dug McDaniel and senior Coleman Hawkins both had their shots blocked.
K-State had one last chance down 76-70 with 1:45 to go following a couple of free throws by senior Max Jones, but Hausen’s 3-pointer missed the target, allowing Kansas to secure the victory with a free throw from senior Zeke Mayo and a jumper by senior Hunter Dickinson, extending the lead to 79-70 with 42 seconds remaining. The Jayhawks converted 5 of 6 free throws to conclude the game.
The 10-point defeat was the closest margin at Allen Fieldhouse since a 73-72 loss in 2018.
Three Wildcats reached double digits in scoring, led by Hawkins who posted a points/assists double-double with 15 points and a career-matching 10 assists, along with 7 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. This marks his ninth career double-double, with three occurring at K-State, and it’s his second double-double combining points and assists. He is the first Wildcat player to record a points/assists double-double at Allen Fieldhouse.
In double figures with Hawkins were fellow seniors David N’Guessan (13 points) and Max Jones (11 points). Both McDaniel and Onyenso concluded the game with 9 points, while freshman David Castillo added 6 points on two free throws alongside 2 steals in a season-high 23 minutes.
Dickinson (25 points) and Mayo (24 points) combined for 49 points for the Jayhawks, who achieved their 84 points shooting 55.4 percent (31-of-56), including 46 points in the paint. Additionally, senior Dajuan Harris Jr. contributed 15 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
K-State managed to shoot 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the field, including 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from beyond the arc, and 73.7 percent (14-of-19) from the charity stripe. The Wildcats committed a season-low of 5 turnovers, the fewest since the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Kansas now holds the advantage in the second-longest ongoing rivalry in Division I, having a record of 206-96, which includes 96-35 at home and 54-17 at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks have now secured 19 consecutive victories in the series at home. The two teams have faced each other every season since 1907.
K-State wraps up its two-game road trip on Wednesday, facing No. 25/24 Baylor (11-5, 3-2 Big 12) at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU. The next home game is set for Saturday, Jan. 25 against West Virginia (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) at 5 p.m. CT. Tickets are available for purchase online at kstatesports.com/tickets or by phone at (800) 221.CATS.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
On the game…
“Life presents challenges, and you stand up, trust in yourself and your values, and move forward to the next challenge. Because no one stands still. We don’t have individuals who sulk. These are high-character players. Our previous two practice sessions were the best we’ve had all year, and I expect the upcoming ones to surpass the last. We are dedicated to continuous improvement, and at a certain point, the scoreboard will reflect our efforts. Nonetheless, it does not diminish our strong bond and our shared passion to help one another achieve their fullest potential.”
On the improvement from the last game…
“I felt we executed our strategy effectively in approach during offense, placing them in challenging situations. While I believe we did our part defensively, credit must be given to them. They had players who made shots they typically wouldn’t, and that’s part of the game. However, I appreciated our cohesion. I observed really positive body language out there. I saw players progressing throughout the game, so I was pleased with what I saw. I was not satisfied with the outcome. I haven’t liked the outcomes (in the last five games). We must continue to improve to achieve our goals.”
On what changed after falling behind 14-0…
“I believe we simply adapted to the atmosphere. You can prepare for it and inform individuals, but if you haven’t experienced it, it can be overwhelming. It indeed is if you haven’t been there before. Thus, I felt like they were playing at full speed, and we were not yet. Once we settled in and found our rhythm, things calmed down. We can’t afford to start like that because it’s a typical occurrence on the road. You have to calm down and adjust.”
On David Castillo’s play in the last 2 games…
“I believe over the past couple of games, he hasn’t allowed whether the ball went through the hoop or not to impact his energy, effort, and concentration. Thus, he is growing beyond that challenge and is becoming more comfortable, gaining more experience during Big 12 contests against strong opponents. The game is beginning to slow down for him. However, he could likely explain that better than I can. I have faith in him, and I’m grateful he’s part of our team.”
FIRST HALF
Kansas initiated the game with a speedy start, scoring the first 7 points, including an opening 3-pointer from Zeke Mayo, prompting an early timeout from head coach Jerome Tang at the 17:51 mark. The timeout did not disrupt the momentum, as the Jayhawks scored 7 additional points, forcing Tang to call a second timeout fewer than 2 minutes later with the Wildcats down 14-0.
Junior C.J. Jones halted the 0-of-7 start with a pull-up jumper on the next possession, marking K-State’s first points. Kansas then added 6 of the next 8 points to extend the lead to 16 before baskets by junior Dug McDaniel and Jones reduced the gap to 20-8 at the second media timeout.
The Wildcats continued to battle through the adversity,scoring 7 of the subsequent 11 points to reduce the difference to 24-15, leading to a timeout called by head coach Bill Self at the 8:19 juncture. The Jayhawks reacted to the timeout by tallying 5 consecutive points to extend their lead back to 14. Nevertheless, the guests launched a 7-0 run to narrow it down to 32-24, which resulted in another timeout by Self with 3:14 remaining before halftime. During this surge, senior Coleman Hawkins made the Wildcats’ inaugural 3-pointer, breaking a 0-of-11 shooting drought.
The run escalated to 9-0 following the timeout with a dunk from junior Ugonna Onyenso, bringing K-State closer at 32-26, but Kansas countered with 7 uninterrupted points to gain a 13-point lead with just over a minute left before the break. A 3-pointer by senior Max Jones reduced the gap to 39-29 at halftime.
K-State worked through its initial offensive challenges, shooting 44.8 percent (13-of-29) from the floor, while trailing slightly in points in the paint at 20-16. Six players contributed to the scoring in the first half, with both senior David N’Guessan and Hawkins scoring 7 points each.
Mayo led all scorers with 14 points in the first half.
SECOND HALF
A couple of free throws from N’Guessan trimmed the deficit to single digits on the opening possession, but Kansas opted to dominate the paint with Hunter Dickinson, executing a 10-4 run that extended the lead to 51-36, prompting a timeout by Tang at the 15:27 mark.
An old-fashioned 3-point play from Onyenso closed the gap to 53-43 with just over 14 minutes remaining; however, the Jayhawks answered with 4 consecutive points, widening their lead to 59-47 at the second media timeout at the 11:56 mark. A 3-pointer from freshman David Castillo narrowed the score to 61-52, but Kansas scored 4 of the next 6 points to push the lead into double digits once more at 65-54 at the third media timeout at the 7:21 mark.
A second 3-pointer from Castillo sparked an 8-2 run that got K-State closer at 70-64, leading to a timeout by Self with 4:39 remaining in the contest. The margin remained at 6 points at the final media timeout with 3:43 left.
Kansas converted from the charity stripe on back-to-back 1-and-1 chances, restoring the double-digit lead to 76-66 with 2:27 to go. Yet, K-State responded as Hawkins and Max Jones each converted their free throws, closing the gap to 76-70 with 1:45 left.
Despite their strong efforts, the Wildcats could not get any closer; a free throw from Mayo and a jumper from Dickinson extended the Jayhawks’ lead to 79-70 with 42.6 seconds remaining. Kansas sealed the game by hitting 5 of 6 free throw attempts in the closing moments.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State (7-10, 1-5 Big 12) was defeated by No. 9/10 Kansas, 84-74, on Saturday afternoon during the Dillons Sunflower Showdown at Allen Fieldhouse.
- The ongoing 5-game losing streak marks the longest since Jerome Tang took over as head coach.
- K-State is currently 0-5 in away games, including a 0-3 record in Big 12 road match-ups… The team has now endured 14 consecutive losses in road games.
- Kansas holds a 206-96 advantage in the all-time series, with a 96-35 record at home and 54-17 at Allen Fieldhouse… The Jayhawks have now secured 19 consecutive victories in the series at home.
- K-State utilized a starting lineup consisting of junior Dug McDaniel, junior Brendan Hausen, senior Max Jones, senior Coleman Hawkins, and senior David N’Guessan for the seventh time and the sixth consecutive game… Hausen, M. Jones, Hawkins, and N’Guessan have all started the first 17 contests… All of Hausen’s 17 career starts have been with K-State.
- Hawkins currently has 99 career starts (including time at Illinois/K-State), M. Jones has 98 career starts (including Tampa/Cal State Fullerton/K-State), N’Guessan has 56 career starts (all at K-State), and McDaniel has 59 career starts (including Michigan/K-State).
TEAM NOTES
- K-State scored 74 points with a shooting accuracy of 45.8 percent (27-of-59), including 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from beyond the arc, while successfully converting on 73.7 percent (14-of-19) of free throw opportunities.
- This marked the fifth occasion in 6 Big 12 games where the team shot below 30 percent from 3-point distance.
- K-State registered a season-low 5 turnovers, which are the fewest since their game against Michigan State in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
- K-State capitalized on 10 Kansas turnovers, achieving a 13-5 advantage in points from turnovers.
- Kansas had a 35-25 edge on the boards, including 12 offensive rebounds that translated to a 17-8 lead in second-chance points.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Three Wildcats reached double figures, led by senior Coleman Hawkins with 15 points, followed by senior David N’Guessan with 13 points, and senior Max Jones with 11 points.
- Hawkins recorded his 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting, including 1-of-7 from 3-point range, and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe, along with a career-matching 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block while playing all 40 minutes… He now has 55 career games with double-digit scoring, including 10 at K-State.
- This marks Hawkins’ ninth career double-double, with three occurring at K-State… It is his second double-double in points/assists, following his triple-double against Syracuse on Nov. 29, 2022, while he was at Illinois… This was the 27th points/assists double-double ever recorded in school history, and the first by a Wildcat at Allen Fieldhouse.
- N’Guessan achieved his 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 0-of-1 from 3-point territory, and 3-of-4 at the free throw line, in addition to 5 rebounds over 20 minutes… He now boasts 40 career games scoring double digits, leading the team with 15 this season.
- Jones gathered his 11 points through 3-of-9 shooting, featuring 2-of-7 from 3-point range and 3-of-4 from the free throw line, along with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal across 32 minutes… He now has 74 career games with double-digit scoring, of which 9 have been with K-State.
- Junior Ugonna Onyenso achieved his Big 12 personal best with 9 points, shooting 4-of-4 from the field and 1-of-1 from the charity stripe, along with 2 rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench.
- Freshman David Castillo played a season-high 23 minutes, recording 6 points, 2 steals, and an assist… This ended a streak of 18 consecutive misses from 3-point land with his consecutive 3-pointers in the latter half.
How to follow the ‘Cats: For comprehensive information on K-State men’s basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and stay tuned to the team’s social media platforms on X, Instagram and Facebook
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