Hot start and suffocating defense carries K-State to win over UCF

From K-State Athletics

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State held UCF to a season-low 52 points, including just 19 points in the first half on 21.6 percent shooting, as the Wildcats opened Big 12 play with a decisive 77-52 win over the Knights on Saturday night before 9,698 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.

K-State (11-3, 1-0 Big 12) led by as many as 35 points in the second half, as the Wildcats built upon their 16-point halftime advantage with a 25-6 run out of halftime. The Knights (9-4, 0-1 Big 12) never got closer than 23 points the rest of the way in playing their first Big 12 game.

The 25-point margin of victory was the largest in a Big 12 opener in more than 25 seasons since a 111-56 win over Missouri on Jan. 3, 1998, while it was the largest such margin in a Big 12 game under head coach Jerome Tang. In addition, the 52 points were the fewest allowed in a Big 12 game under Tang and were the fewest in a Big 12 opener since surrendering 44 to No. 25 Texas Tech on Jan. 11, 2003.

K-State has stepped up defensively in the last 5 games, allowing just 57.8 points per game.

Four Wildcats scored in double figures led by a game-high 25 points from senior Tylor Perry, who scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half on 5-of-9 field goals, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Juniors Arthur Kaluma (14 points) and Cam Carter (12 points) and senior Will McNair Jr. (11 points) also registered double figures, while senior David N’Guessan collected a career-high 14 rebounds.

K-State shook off any idea of a slow start, scoring the game’s first 12 points, including the first 7 points before UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins took his first timeout at 17:20 mark. The Knights got their first points in a Big 12 game on a 3-pointer by junior Darius Johnson at the 16:22 mark as part of a 7-2 run that cut the deficit in half. However, the Wildcats responded with 9 straight points to push the lead back out to double figures (23-7) en route to a 16-point advantage at the half.

Behind the sharp shooting Perry, K-State scored 25 of the first 31 points out the halftime break to push the lead to 60-25 with 12 minutes to play. Perry was responsible for 15 of the 25 points during the pivotal run, all coming from the 3-point line. UCF made a run to close to within 71-48 just before the final media timeout with less than 3 minutes remaining.

K-State connected on 43.1 percent (25-of-58) from the field, including 37.5 percent (9-fo-24) from 3-point range, and made 18 of its 23 attempts from the free throw line. The Wildcats also held a 40-36 edge on the glass, including 13 offensive rebounds which led to 16 second-chance points. The team, which ranks top-40 in rebounding nationally, has outrebounded 10 of 14 opponents.

In addition to the double-digit scoring night for Perry, Kaluma, Carter and McNair Jr., the Wildcats got a boost from redshirt freshman guard Dorian Finister, who finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a season-high 18 minutes off the bench.

UCF was held to more than 26 points under its season scoring average (78.6 ppg.) and 16 points under its previous season-low of 68 points against Ole Miss on Dec. 10. The Knights hit on just 33.8 percent (22-of-65) from the field, including 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from 3-point range.

Only one Knight player – junior Darius Johnson – scored in double figures, as he registered 10 points on 3-of-8 field goals, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, to go with 3 steals. The Big 12’s No. 2 scorer – junior Jaylin Sellers (18.6 ppg.) – was held to just 8 points on 3-of-13 shooting.

K-State is now 56-55 all-time in conference openers dating back to Missouri Valley play in 1914, including 13-15 in the Big 12 era. The Wildcats have now won 3 of their last 4 conference openers, including the last 2 under Tang.

You know the moves pic.twitter.com/I4UpJpExA1

— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) January 7, 2024

K-State begins a 2-game road trip on Tuesday night as the Wildcats visit West Virginia (5-9, 0-1 Big 12) for 6 p.m., CT tipoff at the WVU Coliseum.

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