It's New York, New York, for Kansas State after win vs. Kentucky clinches Sweet 16 berth
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Kansas State is New York bound.
The No. 3-seeded Wildcats used a 13-2 run to grab the lead late and held on the rest of the way Sunday for a 75-69 victory over Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA Tournament East Regional at the Greensboro Coliseum.
With the win, the Wildcats (25-9) advance to the Sweet 16 starting Thursday at New York's Madison Square Garden. Kentucky's season ended at 22-12.
For K-State, senior guard and New York native Markquis Nowell led the way, scoring 23 of his team-high 27 points in the second half to earn a trip home. He also had nine assists.
The Wildcats also got 13 points from Keyontae Johnson, and 12 each from from Desi Sills and Nae'Qwan Tomlin.
K-State's pivotal run started after Kentucky had gone up 60-56 on a Lance Ware dunk, and included 3-poniters from Nowell, Ismael Massoud and Keyontae Johnson. Nowell also had four free throws, including two that made it 69-62 with 37 seconds left.
The Wildcats shot 56% in the second half and made 5 of 9 3-pointers after missing all 12 from outside the arc in the first half.
Below are updates and observations from the game's live blog:
K-State leads 67-62 after 11-2 run
Kansas State goes on an 11-2 run with 3-pointers from Markquis Nowell, Ismael Massoud and Keyontae Johnson to lead 67-62 with 39.2 seconds left.
The Wildcats are 5 of 9 from 3-point range in the second half after going 0-for-12 in the first.
K-State hanging in, down 60-59
Markquis Nowell's third 3-pointer got Kansas State back within a point and a Kentucky turnover gives the Wildcats the ball back with 3:20 left, trailing 60-59.
Nowell now has 19 points, 15 in the half, to lead K-State. He also has seven assists. Oscar Tshiebwe with 23 points and 18 rebounds for Kentucky.
Fouls piling up for K-State
Kansas State leads Kentucky, 51-50, with 7:20 left, but Kentucky will be in the double bonus from here on out.
The Wildcats are going to the free-throw line with a chance to take the lead.
K-State survives Kentucky run and storms back to tie it at 43-43
After Kentucky scored 13 straight points to lead by eight, K-State stormed back to tie it with an 8-0 run and we're now even at 43-43 with 11:52 left.
Nae'Qwan Tomlin has 12 points, Desi Sills 10 and Markquis Nowell nine, including the Wildcats' only 3-pointer, which came 26 1/2 minutes into the game.
Are the wheels coming off for K-State?
Kentucky shut K-State out for roughly 3 1/2 minutes before Desi Sills stopped the bleeding.
But Kentucky has the ball following the media timeout, leading 39-33.
Kentucky turns tables with 9-0 run
After Nae'Qwan Tomlin scored first for Kansas to start the half, Kentucky has run off nine straight points, almost all in transition, and leads 35-31, forcing K-State to call timeout with 17:27 left.
The Wildcats have turned the ball over twice and Kentucky cashed in with fast-break baskets, which was K-State's formula for success in the first half.
Defense sparks K-State run to end the half
Kansas State finally found an answer to its offensive woes to close the half: get out and run.
Thanks to 11 Kentucky turnovers, the Wildcats closed the half on a 12-4 run to lead 29-26 at intermission.
K-State missed all 12 of its 3-point attempts, but everything else came near the basket, allowing the Wildcats to make 12 of 17 shots inside the arc and finish the period at 41.4% overall. Kentucky shot just 29.4% and was 2 of 11 from 3.
Kentucky dominated on the boards, outrebounding K-State, 26-17, with 11 at the offensive end. But K-State outscored its Wildcat counterparts in transition with a 9-3 advantage in fast-break points.
Nae'Qwan Tomlin picked up just one foul in nearly 16 minutes and leads K-State with eight points, while Keyontae Johnson has six. Tomlin also has six rebounds and Markquis Nowell four points and five assists, including an alley-oop for a Tomlin dunk as the halftime buzzer sounded.
Oscar Tshiebwe as 11 points and 11 rebounds for Kentucky, with Cason Wallace adding six points.
Kentucky continues to lead, 22-19
Kansas State is defending at an elite level, but not rewarding itself at the other end.
The Wildcats are now 8 of 23 but have missed all 11 3-pointers.
Defense allowing K-State to stay close
Kansas State's offensive struggles continue, but Kentucky isn't shooting much better.
K-State trails 17-11 with 7:58 left in the half, but Desi Sills is going to the foul line. The Wildcats are 5 of 17 from the floor for 29.4% and have missed all seven 3-pointers.
Kentucky is shooting 36.8% and has six turnovers.
Kentucky gaining separation
Defense has kept K-State in the game so far, forcing five Kentucky turnovers, but the Wildcats have made just 3 of 12 shots and missed all seven 3-pointers to trail 14-7 with 11:28 left in the half.
Cason Wallace is going to the line to try to complete a three-point play when action resumes.
Kentucky is 6 of 16 shooting, including 1 of 6 from three, but has outrebounded K-State, 12-7.
K-State struggling on offense
Kentucky leads Kansas State, 6-3, at the first media timeout, primarily on the strength of Oscar Tshiebwe's work on the offensive boards.
K-State already had three steals on defense, but has missed five of its first six shots, including several layups.
Here are your starting lineups
For Kansas State, there is no change in the starting lineup, with Markquis Nowell, Cam Carter and Desi Sills at the guards, joined by forwards Keyontae Johnson and Nae'Qwan Tomlin.
Kentucky counters wit guards Antonio Reeves and Cason Wallace, plus forwards Jacob Toppin, Chris Livingston and Oscar Tshiebwe.
K-State looking all right in white
As the higher seed, No. 3 Kansas State will again be dressed in the all white uniforms with purple and lavender trim. Kentucky, presumably, will be in all blue.
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: Kansas State beats Kentucky to advance to NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16
