MBB: K-State falls at No. 18 Texas Tech

(Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics)

LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 18/19 Texas Tech blew open a tight game with a strong start to the second half, as the Red Raiders posted an 82-71 win over Kansas State on Tuesday night in front of a limited capacity crowd of 3,523 fans at the United Supermarkets Arena.

Texas Tech (9-3, 2-2 Big 12) took the momentum from sophomore Terrence Shannon, Jr’s shot at the buzzer to end the first half and carried it into a strong start in the second half, building as much as 17-point lead.

After ending the half on an 8-2 run, the Red Raiders scored 22 of the first 32 points coming out of the locker room to take a commanding 58-41 lead with just 12 minutes to play. Six different players during this pivotal stretch, which included 7 from Shannon, who ended with a game-high 22 points off the bench.

K-State (5-7, 1-3 Big 12) twice closed the deficit to 7 points down the stretch, including after a dunk by freshman Seryee Lewis with 6:11 to play. However, Lewis was whistled for a technical after the dunk, which ignited 6 straight points by Tech and put the game back into double figures at 71-58 just over a minute later.

The Wildcats did close to 78-71 after a 3-pointer by senior Mike McGuirl with just under 40 seconds to play, but the Red Raiders finished it off from the line, making 4 of their last 6 free throws for the 82-71 win.

Texas Tech, which hit on 45.3 percent (24-of-53) of its field goals, did take advantage of its opportunities at the free throw line, outscoring K-State by 21 points (30-9). The Red Raiders converted on 30-of-36 attempts at the line, including 22-of-27 after halftime. The 30 free throws were the most by opponent in head coach Bruce Weber‘s 9-year tenure.

Despite the loss, K-State became the first team to eclipse 70 points in regulation against Texas Tech this season, connecting on 49.1 percent (27-of-55) from the field, including 61.2 percent (19-of-31) from inside the 3-point arc.

Four Wildcats scored in double figures for the second consecutive game led by 17 points each from freshmen Selton Miguel and Nijel Pack, while freshman Davion Bradford and McGuirl chipped in 10 points each. Miguel tied his season-high on 6-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, to go with a game-high 6 assists in 30 minutes, while Pack scored a season-high 17 points on 7-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-7 from long range.

McGuirl had an all-around game with a game-high 8 rebounds to go with 5 assists in nearly 39 minutes. He now has 38 assists in the last 7 games, including his fourth straight game with at least 5 assists.

Shannon was one of three Red Raiders in double-digits with 22 points off the bench on 5-of-9 field goals and a near perfect 11-of-12 effort from the free throw line. Junior Mac McClung and senior Marcus Santos-Silva added 16 and 14 points, respectively.

Due to various reasons, K-State played the game with just 10 available players, including 2 walk-ons. Opening-day starters Kaosi Ezeagu and Montavious Murphy each missed their eighth game of the season, while sophomore reserve Antonio Gordon did not play for the third consecutive game.

The Wildcats have lost 7 in a row to the Red Raiders on the road with their last win coming in 2014.

KEY STRETCH(ES)
Down 17-10 midway through the first half, Texas Tech caught fire from the field, running off a 15-2 run to flip the 7-point deficit into a 25-19 lead and force a timeout by K-State head coach Bruce Weber at the 5:09 mark. During the run, four different Red Raiders scored at least one field goal and went a combined 6-of-6 from the line.

After ending the half on an 8-2 run, which included Shannon’s jumper at the buzzer, Texas Tech continued its momentum to start the second half, scoring 22 of the first 32 points to take a commanding 58-41 lead with just under 12 minutes to play. Six different Red Raiders scored in the stretch, including 7 by Shannon.

K-State was able to cut the deficit to 65-58 on a dunk by freshman Seryee Lewis with just over 6 minutes to play on the strength of a 17-7 run. Five different Wildcats contributed to the run, including 5 points from sophomore DaJuan Gordon.

Texas Tech followed up the 17-7 run by with 6 straight points, which was started by a Lewis technical that pushed the lead back to 13 at 71-58 with 5:13 to play.

PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Freshman Nijel Pack was responsible for nearly half of the Wildcats’ points (15) in the first half, while he finished the game with a team-tying 17 points on 7-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range in nearly 39 minutes. It marked his sixth double-digit scoring game of the year, including his third in the last 4 games.

Freshman Selton Miguel responded to his first scoreless game of the season with perhaps his best all-around game with a season-tying 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting with a team-high 6 assists, 2 rebounds, a steal and a block in 31 minutes. All 5 of his double-digit scoring game have come in the last 8 games.

STAT OF THE GAME
30-9 – Texas Tech outscored K-State by 21 points at the free throw line, knocking down 30-of-36 attempts, including 22-of-27 in the second half, while K-State was perfect on its 9 attempts.

IN THEIR WORDS
K-State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On the game…
“I put on the board, the first thing I wrote (in the locker room in pregame), was the start. I thought our start was better. We talk about growing and progressing. You can’t improve unless you grow and progress. I thought we made some steps forward on some things. Obviously, our offense was much better. Our guys did a good job of reading their defense. It’s one of the better defenses in the country. We made good passes, good reads and basketball plays, which was really positive. One-on-one defense and toughness are the areas I worried about. We got beat off the dribble, more often than not, especially in the second half. We also got out-toughed for a few rebounds. Obviously, I’m disappointed in the technicals. Our guys have to be more mature. They’re freshmen. It’s habits they’ve had. We have talked about it in practice. Obviously, they made mistakes, and they learned from them. Now you can’t have it again. We have to be better if we’re going to make progress as a team.”

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

K-State is now 5-7 on the season, including 1-3 in Big 12 play… The Wildcats is now 1-1 on the road.
K-State is now 24-19 all-time against Texas Tech, including 17-18 in the Big 12 era… The Red Raiders now hold a 14-7 record in Lubbock, including a 12-4 mark at United Supermarkets Arena… The Wildcats have lost 7 in a row to the Red Raiders on the road with their last win coming in 2014.
The Wildcats’ starting lineup consisted of senior Mike McGuirl, sophomore DaJuan Gordon, freshman Nijel Pack, freshman Selton Miguel and freshman Davion Bradford… The lineup is now 4-2 on the season… McGuirl, Gordon and Pack have started all 12 games this season… McGuirl has the longest current active start streak at 17 games.
It marked the seventh straight game that three Wildcat true freshmen have started.
K-State played with just 10 available players, including 2 walk-ons.

Team Notes

K-State scored its 71 points on 49.1 percent shooting (27-of-55), including 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from 3-point range, while connecting on 9 of its free throw attempts… The 71 points were the most scored against Texas Tech in regulation… The team shot 61.3 percent (19-of-31) inside the 3-point arc.
K-State scored 30 points in the paint for the second straight game.
Four Wildcats (Miguel, Pack, Bradford and McGuirl) all scored in double figures… It marked the third time this season, including the second straight game, that four players registered double digits.
Texas Tech scored its 82 points on 45.3 percent (24-of-53) shooting, including 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from 3-point range, while connecting on 30-of-36 from free throw line.
Texas Tech had a 28-10 advantage from the bench, including 22 points from Terrence Shannon, Jr.
Texas Tech held a 33-27 advantage on the boards, including 12 offensive rebounds… The 12 offensive rebounds led to 15 second-chance points compared to just 6 for K-State.
Texas Tech held a 36-31 lead at halftime on the strength of 52 percent (13-of-24) shooting… Six different Red Raiders had at least one field goal, while they combined to go 8-of-9 from the free throw line…K-State shot 50 percent (12-of-24) from the field, including 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from 3-point range.
K-State is now 0-6 on the season when leading at the half.

Player Notes

Freshman Nijel Pack scored a season-high 17 points on 7-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range, with 2 assists, a rebound and a steal in a season-high 38 minutes… Pack scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half, in which, he went 6-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3… He has now scored in double figures in 6 games this season, including the second time in a Big 12 contest.
Freshman Selton Miguel matched his season-high with 17 points on 6-of-12 field goals, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and hit on all 3 of his free throw attempts… He also added a season-high 6 assists to go with 2 rebounds, a steal and a block in 30 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 5 career games with all 5 double-digit scoring games coming in his last 8 outings.
Freshman Davion Bradford scored 10 points on perfect 4-of-4 field goals to go with a 2-of-2 effort from the free throw line to go with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 18 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 4 games this season, which have all come in the last 7 outings.
Senior Mike McGuirl scored 10 points on 3-of-12 field goals, including 2-of-7 from 3-point range, with a game-high 8 rebounds and 5 assists in nearly 39 minutes… It marked his 18^th career double-digit scoring game, including his team-leading eighth this season… It was his fifth time leading in rebounding, including his second this season… He now has 38 assists in the last 7 games.

WHAT’S NEXT
K-State returns home to Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday, as the Wildcats play host to Oklahoma State (7-3, 1-3 Big 12. The Cowboys won both meetings in 2019-20, including a 64-59 win in Manhattan on Feb. 11, 2020.