MANHATTAN — No. 14 Kansas State (19-7, 7-6 Big 12) returns from a tough two-game swing to entertain No. 18 Iowa State (17-8, 8-5) Saturday afternoon at Bramlage Coliseum .
K-State went on a two-game losing streak, while Iowa State beat TCU at home on Wednesday, 70-59. The Cyclones beat K-State, 80-76 in their first meeting January 24 in Ames.
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Intentional foul causes Iowa State to run
After Kansas State finally tied the game at 17 on a fast break layup by Keyontae Johnson, Iowa State used an unusual foul call on the Wildcats to spark a seven-point snap.
On a triple miss by Jaren Holmes, K-State’s Desi Sills was called for an intentional foul while blocking, leading to two free throws and a jumper for Jaz Kunc. A 3-pointer by Gabe Kalscheur extends the Cyclone lead to 24-17 with 3:56 left in the half.
Both defenses blocked to start the game
Neither team is finding anything easy on the attacking side in the first 12 and a half minutes.
Iowa State leads 15-13, but is shooting just 33.3%, including 1 of 8 from 3-point range. K-State is slightly better at 38.5% and 2-of-5 on threes, but the Wildcats have now turned the ball over five times.
Wildcats Respond Iowa State Run, Trail 12-10
After Iowa State had 10 straight points, including a three-point play by Jaz Kunc and a three-pointer by Gabe Kalescheur, K-State came back with five straight points and trimmed the Cyclone lead to 12-10 with 11: 39 left. the goal.
The Wildcats got a much-needed three-pointer off guard Cam Carter, who hadn’t scored in the previous two games. Wildcats 4 of 9 shooting and Iowa State 5 of 11.
A slow start to Bramlage
Kansas State and Iowa State got off to slow starts, with neither team shooting well as we’re tied 5-5 with 15:18 left in the half. K-State is 2-of-5 and has missed both of its 3-point attempts, while Iowa State is 2-of-7, 0-of-2 from three-point range.
Each team has four rebounds, and Iowa State has two turnovers to one by K-State, an encouraging sign for the turnover-prone Wildcats.
Lineup change for Kansas State
Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang makes a change to his usual starting lineup for the game, going with senior guard Desi Sills in place of forward David N’Guessan. The rest of the lineup – Markquis Nowell, Cam Carter, Keyontae Johnson and Nae’Qwan Tomlin remain the same.
N’Guessan hadn’t scored in either of his previous two games, but was limited to two minutes with illness Tuesday in Oklahoma. Carter also went two games without scoring.
K-State sports all-white indoors
Kansas State, which has favored its lavender uniforms both home and on the road as of late, is dressed in white for today’s game against Iowa State.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett Network. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
