Kansas State holds off Montana State to maneuver on in NCAA event

Markquis Nowell had 17 factors and 14 assists, and No. 3 seed Kansas State held off 14th-seeded Montana State 77-65 Friday night time for its first NCAA Tournament win since knocking off Kentucky in 2018 to succeed in the Elite Eight.

The two Wildcat packages will meet once more in a rematch on Sunday within the second spherical of the NCAA Tournament on the Greensboro Coliseum. Kentucky, the sixth seed, defeated No. 11 Providence 61-53 within the earlier recreation.

Nowell and fellow third-team Associated Press All-American Keyontae Johnson, who had 18 factors and eight rebounds, proved an excessive amount of for the Bobcats to deal with.

RaeQuan Battle had 26 factors on 9 of 17 capturing for Montana State (25-10), which had its eight-game win streak snapped.

Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) reacts throughout the second half of a first-round faculty basketball recreation in opposition to the Montana State within the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Kansas State (24-9) led Montana State 34-28 on the break. The Wildcats stretched the result in 13 with 11 minutes remaining when Desi Sills scored on a layup off an inbounds cross underneath his personal basket after a botched defensive task.

Montana State went to a 1-3-1 protection, which disrupted the Wildcats for a short while, and helped reduce the result in eight earlier than Nowell buried a deep 3-pointer from the left wing and Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored off a lob to push the lead again to 13.

Montana State would not stop, although, with Darius Brown pulling down a 3 with 2:44 left.

David N’Guessan #3 and Markquis Nowell #1 of the Kansas State Wildcats have a good time throughout the second half in opposition to the Montana State Bobcats within the first spherical of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Fieldhouse at Greensboro Coliseum on March 17, 2023, in Greensboro, North Carolina.

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But Tomlin, who completed with 13 factors, answered with one other dunk off after Nowell threaded the needle together with his 14th help, essentially the most ever by a Kansas State participant in an NCAA Tournament recreation.

David N’Guessan added two technical foul free throws after which scored on an inside layup. Sills punctuated the win with a breakaway left-handed dunk giving the Wildcats a 16-point lead.

BIG PICTURE

Montana State: The Bobcats had been on the lookout for a greater exhibiting after shedding by 35 factors within the opening spherical of final yr’s event to Texas Tech, they usually received it. The Big Sky champions confirmed they might compete on the NCAA Tournament stage however, in the long run, did not have the scale to compete with the Wildcats. Montana State was outscored 48-30 within the paint.

Kansas State: The Wildcats had some considerations coming into the event after back-to-back losses to West Virginia and TCU. It was a wrestle at instances, however the Wildcats completed with a flurry to seal the win.

 Desi Sills #13 of the Kansas State Wildcats celebrates with teammates throughout the second half in opposition to the Montana State Bobcats within the first spherical of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Fieldhouse at Greensboro Coliseum on March 17, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

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Kansas State beat Kentucky 61-58 on March 22, 2018, for its first win over the Wildcats in 10 tries.