Field Level Media
Nov 28, 2021
Markquis Nowell had 18 points to lead five players in double figures as Kansas State walloped North Dakota 84-42 on Sunday afternoon in Manhattan, Kan.
Kansas State led by 18 at halftime and pulled away quickly in the second half. It marked the first time in nearly two years that the Wildcats have scored at least 80 points in a game.
Nijel Pack added 16 points for Kansas State (3-2). Mike McGuirl had a season-high 15, along with Kaosi Ezeagu also scored 15, and Mark Smith contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Paul Bruns scored 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting to pace North Dakota (2-5). Bentiu Panoam had 10 points and Mitchell Sueker added eight. Caleb Nero, who came in leading the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game, managed just two points on 1-of-6 shooting.
Kansas State came into the game shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from 3-point range. But the Wildcats shot 60.3 percent (35-of-58) overall, including 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from long range.
The Fighting Hawks shot just 29.3 percent from the field, and they were just 3 of 31 on 3-point attempts (9.7 percent).
Kansas State used a 16-0 run that started midway through the first half to open up a 33-15 lead with 5:17 left in the half. The Fighting Hawks went almost 7 1/2 minutes without a point.
The Wildcats led 38-20 at the half, thanks to going 6-of-13 from long range. They shot 51.7 percent (15-of-29) from the floor, compared to just 30 percent (9-of-30) for the Fighting Hawks, who missed 14-of-15 from 3-point range.
Nowell led the Wildcats with 10 points in the first half. Ezeagu added nine, and Smith chipped in with seven points and seven rebounds.
Bruns (11 points) was the only North Dakota player with more than four points in the half.
--Field Level Media