MARKQUIS Nowell poured in a career-high 36 points that included six 3-pointers and a 12-for-12 showing at the free-throw line as Kansas State dominated throughout in an easy 116-103 win over No. 6 Texas on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in a Big 12 Conference dustup in Austin, Texas.
The Wildcats (13-1, 2-0 Big 12) put together a near-perfect first half, after which they led by 18 points. Texas rallied after halftime, pulling to within 82-72 on Sir’Jabari Rice’s three-point play with 9:12 to play and got its deficit to seven points on another Rice bucket and free throw two minutes later.
However, Kansas State never let the Longhorns cut further into its lead, expanding its advantage to 103-88 on Nowell’s 3-pointer with 2:43 remaining before cruising to the finish line. Keyontae Johnson added 28 points for the Wildcats, who have won seven straight games.
Tyrese Hunter’s career-high 29 points led the Longhorns (12-2, 1-1). Marcus Carr added 27 points, Rice tallied 16 and Timmy Allen contributed 10 in the loss, which snapped a six-game winning streak. Texas allowed 58 points in the first half, more than they had surrendered in five entire games this season.
In other games, it was Kansas 75, Texas Tech 72; Alabama 84, Ole Miss 62; Tennessee 87, Mississippi State 53; Pitt 68, Virginia 65; Wisconsin 63, Minnesota 60; and Fresno State 71, New Mexico 67.
Kansas 75, Texas Tech 72
Dajuan Harris had a career-high 18 points on 5-of-5 shooting from 3-point range as the Jayhawks defeated the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas.
Texas Tech (10-4, 0-2 Big 12) had a chance to take the lead in the final minute, but was unsuccessful. The Red Raiders, who saw their saw 29-game home winning streak snapped, were led by Kevin Obanor with 26 points. Pop Isaacs had 18, and Jaylon Tyson had 10.
Kansas (13-1, 2-0) had three other players score in double figures, including Jalen Wilson with 16 points. KJ Adams Jr. added 14 and Gradey Dick had 11. Kevin McCullar, who starred for Tech for the past three seasons, was held to seven points. He was booed every time he touched the ball.
Alabama 84, Ole Miss 62
Brandon Miller scored 17 points to lead a balanced scoring attack, and the Crimson Tide routed Ole Miss in a Southeastern Conference game in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Mark Sears added 16 points, Jaden Bradley scored 14, Jahvon Quinerly had 11 and Noah Clowney 10 for the Crimson Tide (12-2, 2-0 SEC), who shot 46 percent (29 of 63) from the floor, 45 percent (9 of 20) on 3-pointers and 68 percent (17 of 25) on free throws.
Jaemyn Brakefield scored 14 points, Daeshun Ruffin added 13 and Theo Akwuba had 11 to lead the Rebels (8-6, 0-2), who lost for the sixth time in eight games and fell to 0-2 in road games this season. Alabama opened a 21-point halftime lead and was never threatened in the second half. — Field Level Media
