The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
10-17, 4-10
Kansas State
17-10, 6-8
Men's Basketball falls at home to Kansas State, 64-61
02.18.2017 | Men's Basketball
Yancy records team-high 13 points off the bench, but K-State uses tip-in with 1.6 seconds left to secure the win.
AUSTIN, Texas – Senior guard Kendal Yancy recorded a team-high 13 points in 30 minutes off the bench, but a tip-in basket from D.J. Johnson with 1.6 seconds remaining gave Kansas State a 64-61 victory over Texas on Saturday afternoon at the Frank Erwin Center. Senior forward Mareik Isom also had his finest game to date as a Longhorn, contributing 8 points on 3-of-3 shooting (2-of-2 threes), 4 rebounds and 2 blocks in 16 minutes.
Yancy and Isom helped pace the Longhorns (10-17, 4-10 Big 12) to a 23-6 advantage in bench scoring. Freshman forward Jarrett Allen added 12 points while hitting 6-of-8 free throws and tied a career high with three steals.
Wesley Iwundu led Kansas State (17-10, 6-8 Big 12) with 16 points and seven rebounds. The Wildcats shot 53.5-percent (23-of-43) from the field and sank 53.3-percent (8-of-15) of its shots from long range, both of which marked season highs against the Longhorns this season.
The Wildcats got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 12-4 lead and forcing the Longhorns to take an early timeout with 16:10 remaining. Texas stormed back and tied the score at 16-16 following a 3-pointer from Eric Davis Jr. at the 10:28 mark.
Texas took a 31-30 lead with 4:14 left following an 11-3 run over a stretch of 2:48, but Dean Wade hit a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats back ahead 33-31 with 3:43 remaining in the half. Yancy tied the game at 36-36 with a layup, but Iwundu's 3-pointer at the 1:13 mark sent the Wildcats into the locker room ahead 39-36 at half.
Texas finished the half shooting 50-percent (13-of-26) from the field and 66.7-percent (6-of-9) from deep, while Kansas State hit 76.2-percent (16-of-21) of its shots from the floor and 87.5-percent (7-of-8) from three.
After conceding the first five points of the half to the Wildcats, Kerwin Roach Jr.'s layup cut the Kansas State lead to 44-38 at the 16:57 mark. Trailing 48-39 with 13:49 remaining, a flagrant 2 foul on K-State's Austin Budke against Allen gave the Longhorns some momentum. Allen hit 1-of-2 free throws, and Isom knocked down a 3-pointer to trim the margin to 48-43 at the 12:28 mark.
Another free throw from Allen was followed by a jumper from Isom to cut the deficit to 48-46 at the 10:47 mark. Kansas State ended a 5:18 scoreless drought with a three from Kamau Stokes, keeping his team ahead 51-46 with 8:31 remaining.
The three from Stokes would be the only field goal the Longhorns would allow over a span of 13:22, holding the Wildcats to a 31.8-percent (7-of-22) shooting percentage in the second half. A Yancy jumper trimmed the deficit to 55-54 with 4:26 remaining, and following a pair of free throws from Stokes, Andrew Jones hit a deep three to tie the score at 57-57 at the 3:32 mark. The Longhorns shot a season-high 57.1-percent (8-of-14) from three-point range.
Stokes answered with a jumper to put the Wildcats back up by two, but Jones answered back with a dunk to tie the score at 59-59 with 1:34 left. Both teams traded baskets on the next two possessions, and the score remained tied 61-61 with 19 seconds remaining and K-State in possession.
The Longhorns forced a missed jumper by Stokes, but Johnson was there for the offensive rebound and putback and was fouled while converting the shot. He converted the free throw for the final margin of victory.
Texas continues Big 12 Conference play on Monday, Feb. 20 at No. 9/12 West Virginia. Tip is set for 8 p.m. Central at WVU Coliseum, and the game will be televised nationally as part of ESPN's "Big Monday" package.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
Kansas State 64, Texas 61
February 18, 2017
Austin, Texas (Frank Erwin Center)
Attendance: 11,318
Team Notes
- K-State improved to 19-15 in the all-time series against Texas. UT dropped to 9-7 all-time against the Wildcats in games played in Austin.
- The Longhorns fell to 487-117 all-time in home games at the Frank Erwin Center. The Horns dropped to 215-34 at the Erwin Center in the last 15 seasons (since start of the 2002-03 season). Texas fell to 10-5 this season and 24-8 at home in the Shaka Smart era.
- UT has had 14 of its first 27 contests decided by 5 points or less. The Longhorns are 5-9 this year in games decided by 5 points or less. Texas is 3-7 this year in games decided by 3 points or less.
- All 7 of UT's Big 12 Conference home contests this year have been decided by 4 points or less (4-3 record).
- Texas registered a 23-6 advantage in bench scoring.
- UT allowed a team opponent season-high FG percentage against K-State (.535, 23-43). Previous: 51.7% (30-58) at TCU (Feb. 4).
- K-State hit 76.2% (16-21) from the floor in the opening half, but the Longhorns held the Wildcats to 31.8% (7-22) FG shooting in the second half. KSU converted 7-of-8 (.875) from three-point range in the first half and 1-of-7 (.143) in the final 20 minutes.
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 20th time this season (27 games) and 13th time in Big 12 play (14 games).
- Tied his career high in steals (3).
- Set UT career and season highs in points (8), rebounds (4), field goals made (3-3), 3-pointers made (2-2), blocked shots (2) and minutes (16).
- He entered today's game having played 24 total minutes in 8 contests.
- His 7 assists were one shy of his career high (8 vs. Oklahoma on Jan. 23, 2017).
- Reached double figures in scoring (13 points) for the sixth time this season (23 games) and 19th time in his career (121 games).
- His 30 minutes played were the most since he saw a career-high 37 minutes of action in the season opener against Incarnate Word (Nov. 11).
Postgame Quotes
Texas Head Coach Shaka Smart
On the difference between the first and second half: I told the guys at halftime that you've got to make them miss. We went to the 1-3-1. Guys played with good energy and intelligence and did a good job finishing those possessions. There was one possession after the jump ball, where we allowed (Kamau) Stokes to get loose.
On senior forward Mareik Isom's performance and effort: He was by far the hardest-playing guy on the floor. I thought it really helped us, gave us energy. It also should be something that our guys notice and see that he's playing with a different level of energy compared to everyone else on the court. That's a positive when it comes to Mo, so the rest of our guys should see that and understand that we have another level as well.
On Texas' energy levels: The second half was kind of choppy when that flagrant foul occurred. I think it created a level of spunk after that, but I think to start the game our defensive energy, the level of commitment to the little things we have to do just wasn't where it needed to be. I think in a game like this, a lot of it just comes down to how much we want to win, how much we want to do the things that go into it. We didn't do enough of those things in the first half.
On senior forward Mareik Isom possibly earning more time on the court: If he plays like that. He was just really, really active flying around. If we get five guys playing like that, that's the way we envision playing and that should be somewhat of a signal to the guys that they can give more.
Texas Senior Forward Mareik Isom
On his year and this game: Really, it's just kind of keeping your head down and keep working. I've been through a lot this year, but I didn't want to let it get me down. Every day I wanted to make sure I did everything I could and gave positive energy to my teammates and did whatever my coaches needed me to do to try and help us get a win.
On how long it has taken him to be 100% after injury: I still feel it a little bit now to be honest, but it's to the point now where I'm a lot more functional than I was at first when I was first coming back.
On if he felt his best during today's game: This is the best I've felt playing a game here as far as moving and being active, being able to jump and slide and stuff like that. It was a good feeling to be out there and feel like I wasn't limited by my foot at all.
On momentum shift after Jarrett Allen foul: I really wasn't thinking about that. It was a team score and then we were working to get a team stop. Things were kind of rolling from there. I was just happy we were playing with energy and keeping ourselves in a close game.
Texas Senior Guard Kendal Yancy
On if the team is hitting a wall: Some of our younger guys are a little tired. I still think they are responding very well. I think they are fighting through it. They have a big role. They really don't have any other choice but to respond, and I think they understand that.
On handling close losses: It's really hard, especially for the seniors. We have to be able to respond after losses and be able to win the next game because there's still hope. Any hope we can find we'll take it and run with it.
On postgame locker room speeches: We just talked about the last couple minutes and things we worked on in practice. We need to be able to get stops and scores.
Kansas State Head Coach Bruce Weber
On winning in the last seconds: At the time I said somebody make a play. It might be a tip that makes a difference in the game, and you've got to give D.J. [Johnson] a lot of credit. One, for playing because he hasn't practiced much, and for giving a lot of effort and making a huge play with the free throw to get the win.
On how badly Kansas State needed the win: There was no doubt it was a necessary win and for our guys – I feel so good for them. I feel great for Wesley Iwundu. I think in this last stretch, he has really made a decision to be committed to K-State, having us be successful and to have a great finish to his career. He did a lot of everything. He made shots in the first half and second half. He didn't get as many points, but he rebounded and defended. The seniors made big plays. I'm happy for Barry [Brown]. He had five turnovers and some struggles at times, but he finally got a little floater to go. That was huge. We didn't do a very good job on that last defensive possession when they got the layup. They made some great shot-clock threes and twos, but our guys kept believing, kept the faith, kept grinding and the good thing happened for us.
On the strength of the finish compared to other games for Kansas State this season: Again, Barry makes the play down the stretch, D.J. gets the tip-in, but we've found a way to win a few games. Every game they (Texas) play it's been very close and they've beaten some really good teams here. They beat Oklahoma State here and they beat Iowa State here, so he's done a nice job. Jarrett Allen is handful and our guys had to do it by committee. Everybody fought him, but for the most part I thought they defended pretty well. They made some tough shots, some threes in the first half and I'm sure they're saying that about us.
