Big second half lifts Kansas State basketball past Baylor, 75-65
MANHATTAN — The Kansas State Wildcats have their first Big 12 sweep of the season.
No. 16-ranked K-State rallied from a three-point halftime deficit to dominate the second period Tuesday night on the way to a 75-65 men's basketball victory over No. 10 Baylor at Bramlage Coliseum.
It was the second victory over Baylor for K-State, which improved to 21-7 overall, 9-6 in the Big 12. Baylor fell to 20-8, 9-6 in the league.
K-State trailed 34-31 at halftime, but used a 12-1 run midway through the second period to take control. The Wildcats shot 57.7% in the second half and outscored Baylor in the paint, 42-16.
Keyontae Johnson had 25 points to lead the Wildcats, while Markquis Nowell scored 10 of his 14 points from the free-throw line to go with 10 assists and no turnovers. Cam Carter added 10 points and eight rebounds.
For Baylor, Keyonte George had 23 points and LJ Cryer 16.
Below are comments and analysis from Tuesday's live game blog:
Wildcats trying to hang on
Baylor trims K-State's lead to 69-60 with 59.9 seconds left. But at the 54.3-second ark, Markquis Nowell hits two free throws.
K-State takes double-digit lead to the stretch
Keyonte George, who is keeping Baylor in the game, knocks down his fifth 3-pointer to pull the Bears within 11, 65-54, and Scott Drew uses his final timeout with 3:24 left.
Kansas State is shooting 56.5% in the second half despite missing eight straight 3-pointers.
K-State on a roll to go up 55-44
Kansas State has the Bramlage crowd riled up with a 12-1 run. Cam Carter gets a steal and fast-break dunk to put the Wildcats up, 55-44.
Baylor calls another timeout with 8:16 left. Keontae Johnson has 19 points and Carter 10 for the Wildcats.
Defense sparks six-point K-State run
A defensive rebound and a turnover lead to two fast-break baskets for K-State, which opens a 49-43 lead with 12:19 left on a Keyontae Johnson dunk and Cam Carter layup off a Markquis Nowell assist.
The Wildcats are on a 6-0 run and Baylor calls timeout as the arena erupts.
Keyontae Johnson heats up for K-State
Keyontae Johnson has scored eight of K-State's 10 points to start the second half, including all three field goals.
Not only did Johnson open the half with a 3-pointer, but he has hit two step-back mid-range jumpers, which were his bread and butter early in the season.
K-State takes a 41-40 lead to the 15:00 media timeout.
K-State answers Baylor surge to close within 3 at the half
After Kansas State opened a 10-point lead, Baylor suddenly found the range from 3-point range, knocking down four straight and 6 of 7 during a 21-3 run. The Bears went up 34-26 on an LJ Cryer three and led 34-31 at the break.
Nae'Qwan Tomlin, who picked up two early fouls and was limited to 10 minutes in the half, scored the last five points of the period to cut the halftime deficit to three.
K-State got nine points in the first half from Keyontae Johnson and eight, plus six rebounds from Tomlin. Markquis Nowell was 0 for 6 shooting, but had four assists.
The Wildcats shot 40.6% in the half to 42.9 for Baylor, but made just 3 of 12 3-point tries.
For Baylor, LJ Cryer had 11 points in the half and Keyonte George eight.
Baylor heating up from 3
After missing its first five 3-point attempts, Baylor now has knocked down four straight.
The Bears lead 27-25 with 3:29 left in the half. Jerome Tang puts Nae'Qwan Tomlin back in with two fouls. It's a gamble, but the Wildcats need to get back on track.
A short-lived lead for the Wildcats
Since K-State went up 23-13, Baylor has reeled off 11 straight to lead 24-23.
After a timeout, Cam Carter answers to put the Wildcats in front.
K-State stretching it out
A Keyontae Johnson 3-pointer and Cam Carter fast-break layup forces Baylor to call timeout with Wildcats up 23-13. But Baylor finally hits a 3-pointer and then adds two free throws and it's back to five.
Neither team scoring from perimeter
Kansas State isn't doing itself any favors by jacking up 3-pointers. The Wildcats are 1 of 8 from 3, 8-for-20 overall, but Baylor is 0-for-5 outside the arc.
K-State also is outrebounding Baylor, 14-9, leading to a 7-0 fast-break advantage.
Wildcats has running game going early
Kansas State is rebounding and getting out in transition early, holding a 5-0 edge in fast-break point and leading 16-11 with David N'Guessan going to the free-throw line for two at the end of another break.
With Nae'Qwan Tomlin on the bench after drawing his second foul, the Wildcats will need to run, because he was their best matchup against Baylor's length.
K-State, Baylor even at first media timeout
Kansas State gets to the first media timeout, tied with Baylor at 9-9. The Wildcats are shooting 50%, Baylor 66.7, but neither team has made a 3-pointer yet.
That's a good sign for the Wildcats, since Baylor is the far superior 3-point shooting team.
Here are your starting lineups
For the second straight game, Desi Sills starts at guard for Kansas State in place of forward David N'Guessan. He's joined by the usual foursome of Markquis Nowell, Cam Carter, Keyontae Johnson and Nae'Qwan Tomlin.
The starting five for Baylor are Flo Thamba, Keyonte George, LJ Cryer, Adam Flagler and Jalen Bridges.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Big second half lifts Kansas State basketball past Baylor, 75-65
