Why Jerome Tang found it hard to celebrate Kansas State basketball's overtime win at Baylor
WACO, Texas — Jerome Tang loved watching Kansas State get off to its best start in more than 60 years and the program’s best Big 12 start in a decade. He also liked seeing point guard Markquis Nowell do something no other Wildcat had ever done.
But everything else surrounding K-State's 97-95 overtime victory over No. 16-ranked Baylor at the Ferrell Center, where he spent the previous 19 years as an assistant coach, was not nearly as enjoyable.
"This was not fun," Tang said of the Wildcats' third straight victory over a ranked team to start the Big 12 Conference. "It wasn't fun before and it wasn't fun after. It was fun during.
"The game of basketball is fun, and watching young men compete and do it at a high level, that's fun. But before and after, and somebody's got to win and lose, it's not fun. I love Scott (Drew, Baylor coach), and it's never a good Saturday when Scott loses."
More:Kansas State basketball tops No. 16 Baylor in overtime, 97-95: Three takeaways
Tang, who was hired by Drew when he arrived at Baylor, knew it would be an emotional night. There was the pregame appreciation video and a standing ovation from Bears fans, and then an embrace with Drew as Tang was presented with his Big 12 championship ring from last season.
"I'm thankful for the Baylor fans and their welcome," Tang said. "That was really cool. And then it turned out to be one heck of a basketball game. So credit to both teams."
Indeed, the game turned out to be a classic, featuring 20 lead changes — 15 in the first half — and eight ties, including 47-47 at halftime and 86-all at the end of regulation. There was a big 3-pointer from forward Ismael Massoud that put the Wildcats ahead 96-95 with 31.6 seconds left and a missed 3-pointer by Caleb Lohner at the buzzer that could have won it for Baylor.
With the victory, K-State improved to 14-1, its best start since the 1958-59 season. The Wildcats also are 3-0 in the Big 12 for the first time since 2012-13, and their current 10-game winning streak matches one by the 2013-14 team.
More:Point guard Markquis Nowell has helped lead Kansas State to blazing start in the Big 12
And then there was Nowell, K-State's 5-8 super-senior point guard, who has been on fire of late. His 32 points and 14 assists marked the first time ever a Wildcat had at least 30 and 10 in the same game and the first time any Division I player had accomplished the feat since Oklahoma's Trae Young in 2017 against TCU.
Nowell started conference play on Dec. 31 with 23 points and 10 assists in an 82-76 overtime victory over No. 24-ranked West Virginia, and then topped that with a career-high 36 points to go with nine assists on Tuesday night at No. 6 Texas.
Nowell, who had 18 points and eight assists at halftime, also is the first Wildcat to put together back-to-back 30-point games since Michael Beasley had four in a row in 2008. But he was quick to share the credit.
After all, Keyontae Johnson had a big game with 24 points and nine rebounds, and Massoud played his best game of the season off the bench with 13 points, including the game winner.
More:Kansas State basketball put on scoring clinic in 116-103 victory over No. 6 Texas
"We just have great chemistry," Nowell said. "Every single one of my teammates, on and off the court, we build that chemistry, and we stay at each other's place, and we hang around with each other outside of basketball.
"So that just leads to on-court chemistry, but man, this is about my teammates. Everybody played well. I'm just really lost for words."
Drew, who came out on the short end of the first meeting with his former assistant, was not at a loss for words about Nowell or Tang.
"Coach Tang has done a great job with their chemistry, their grit and toughness," Drew said. "Nowell is an unbelievable player, through three (conference) games, averaging what he's averaging.
"If you're going to lose, coach Tang is someone I would want to lose to. He's done a remarkable job in a short period of time, and I love him like a brother."
More:Kansas State basketball rolls to record-breaking victory at No. 6 Texas: Three takeaways
And that is also why Tang found himself in tears after what should have been a thrilling victory for his Wildcats. In the other locker room, Drew's team had just dropped to 10-5 on the season and 0-3 in the Big 12.
Tang was asked if he was glad it was over.
"Yes, I am," he said. "I was in the back crying.
"I couldn't celebrate with our guys."
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 beats Baylor in coach Jerome Tang's homecoming
