A memorable debut for Kansas State basketball, coach Jerome Tang and Keyontae Johnson

MANHATTAN — Jerome Tang soaked in the moment and then got soaked. Keyontae Johnson admitted he was emotional.

It was a memorable night of firsts for the Kansas State coach and player.

The Wildcats' 93-59 blowout victory over Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Monday at Bramlage Coliseum not only marked the K-State head coaching debut for Tang, the longtime former Baylor assistant, but for Johnson it was also his first official game in nearly two years.

Tang and the entire team got an enthusiastic reception from a packed student section when they stepped on the court, and when Tang stepped off the floor and into the winning locker room he received a wet welcome from his players.

"I got doused pretty good," Tang said with a smile. "I kind of wasn't expecting it. I was just thinking about, 'OK, what are three things I need to tell them so they can get out and go celebrate themselves and move on to the next thing,' and then I saw bottles and I was like, 'Oh man, here it comes.'

"I enjoyed it with them."

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Game is first in two seasons for Florida transfer Keyontae Johnson

It was a meaningful moment for the players as well, and especially for Johnson, a Florida graduate transfer who missed the past two seasons because of a heart condition.

"It was great," Johnson said of the celebration. "There was a lot of emotions towards coach Tang and his first and my first game back, so it was just a great feeling. Together, we all admired each other, and it just shows how good of a family we are together.”

The Wildcats were off and running early against an overmatched Rio Grande Valley team coached by former K-State assistant Matt Figger. Markquis Nowell and Ismael Massoud, the only two players left from last year's team, knocked down early 3-pointers, and Johnson had two on the way to a 27-7 lead.

“It was incredible," said Nowell, who finished with 14 points, seven assists and four steals. "The student section did a really good job today of giving us that energy.

"It's just a blessing to be able to play a college game again and alongside these guys. It’s Keyontae’s first game back, and I'm just proud of him and his growth, and coach Tang, so it was really fun.”

Johnson, one of six Wildcats to score in double figures, had 11 points at halftime and 13, plus four assists for the game. It was a long time coming.

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"I'm feeling good, just thanking God every day for giving me the opportunity to get here and play again and just staying patient," Johnson said. "Before the game, I was a little emotional, but I knew the game was going to go, so I had to keep going, just play and lay everything out for my team."

It was emotional for Tang as well.

"It was great to have my family here," he said. "And the lady, Dr. Jennifer Cooper, who was the principal at Heritage Christian (High School) who first hired me, and her husband Royce Cooper, they came to my first game as a college head coach.

"So did David Kelly, who was the pastor of the church, and so to have them here to experience this with me was very special."

Tang's parents were unable to make it because of upcoming doctor appointments but watched the live stream on ESPN+.

"It was just a terrific experience," Tang said.

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Kansas State basketball celebrates first win under Jerome Tang

Tang also was happy for Johnson and all his players who were brought together in the months since he was hired as the head coach in March.

"I told the guys, whether you played well or didn't play well, played a lot or didn't play, nobody should be unhappy tonight because Keyontae Johnson played a basketball game — a real game, an NCAA basketball game — for the first time in two years," Tang said of Johnson, who was medically cleared by K-State less than three months ago after two years of inactivity. "There are several guys on the team that had some tough roads to get here, and this is a second opportunity for them, so we just have to be really excited about that.

"It was really cool for them to recognize that it was my first game here, and the first win here, and wanting to celebrate it. That just shows the character of the guys and that they're willing to think about other people, not just themselves."

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 basketball celebrates Jerome Tang's debut with big win