Kansas State University Athletics
SE: K-State Knocks Off No. 4 Oklahoma, 87-69, with Strong Defense, Efficient Offense
Jan 17, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
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It started with Barry Brown, a big run and stingy defense. By the end of K-State's 87-69 win over No. 4 Oklahoma on Tuesday, the entire team was storming its raucous student section to celebrate a victory the Wildcats earned together. Â
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"It was great, just trying to celebrate this win as best we can. The student section was loud tonight and we're going to need that every game at home," Brown said, after putting up a game-high 24 points against the Sooners. "It was great going up there, slapping fives, embracing them and just being there."
Brown, tasked with guarding Oklahoma star freshman Trae Young, dominated early on both ends of the floor. The junior scored 16 points in the first 12 minutes of the game, throwing down a few crowd-roaring dunks and frustrating Young into eight first-half turnovers. His hot start prompted K-State's packed student section to start chanting "Barry!" It also helped push K-State's lead to double digits.
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"If you're just watching him, he's one of the best defenders in the Big 12," Dean Wade said of Brown. "He just makes people uncomfortable, can get out in transition, he can shoot it, take it to the basket, is aggressive and finishing. He's playing at the top of the Big 12 right now."
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Brown was far from the only Wildcat locked in defensively, too.Â
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At one point in the first half, K-State held Oklahoma scoreless for about 4:30 of game clock. The Sooners, ranked first nationally in points per game (93.6) coming in, were limited to less than 75 points for the first time all season. Young finished with 20 points, 10 below his season average, and 12 turnovers.
"It was great for our guys. It was a team win," K-State head coach Bruce Weber said. "Team defense was a very important part of it."
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"We thrive on defense," added Xavier Sneed. "We spend a lot of time on our defense. Our coaches did a great job scouting and letting us know what they like to do."
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Wade, who knocked down a three late in the first half, took over in the second. The 6-foot-10 junior scored 16 of his 21 points in the final 20 minutes. He knocked down a fader to start, sank a few treys and even threw down an alley oop to bring the crowd to one of its many frenzies on the night.
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"Shout out to the fans. They were great tonight. They were loud. It was an awesome atmosphere to play in," said Wade, who led K-State's hot-shooting second half that included converting 73.1 percent (19-of-26) from the field. "People were attacking, being aggressive. Being aggressive in general leaves somebody open and it just kind of flows. Once you hit one, you get the momentum going and it just kept rolling."
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While Brown got K-State going and Wade helped close, plenty of their teammates joined along the way toward the Wildcats' sixth-straight win over Oklahoma in Bramlage.
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When Oklahoma went on a run to take the lead late in the first half, Cartier Diarra hit a three to give K-State the lead back. Â
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Sneed opened the second half by cashing a trey, one of his three on the night. He and Diarra then buried back-to-back threes to boost K-State's lead back above double digits. The two Wildcats combined for 19 points in the second half to help keep the Sooners at a safe distance.
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"They've stuck together," Weber said. "You had a heartbreaker at Kansas. They could've easily put their heads down, but they came back tonight and played at a really high level. It was a great team win."Â
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It started with Barry Brown, a big run and stingy defense. By the end of K-State's 87-69 win over No. 4 Oklahoma on Tuesday, the entire team was storming its raucous student section to celebrate a victory the Wildcats earned together. Â
Â
"It was great, just trying to celebrate this win as best we can. The student section was loud tonight and we're going to need that every game at home," Brown said, after putting up a game-high 24 points against the Sooners. "It was great going up there, slapping fives, embracing them and just being there."
ÂSee you at class on Wednesday. ??#KStateMBB #DOOM pic.twitter.com/nYnJdiQNaP
— K-State Athletics (@kstatesports) January 17, 2018
Brown, tasked with guarding Oklahoma star freshman Trae Young, dominated early on both ends of the floor. The junior scored 16 points in the first 12 minutes of the game, throwing down a few crowd-roaring dunks and frustrating Young into eight first-half turnovers. His hot start prompted K-State's packed student section to start chanting "Barry!" It also helped push K-State's lead to double digits.
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"If you're just watching him, he's one of the best defenders in the Big 12," Dean Wade said of Brown. "He just makes people uncomfortable, can get out in transition, he can shoot it, take it to the basket, is aggressive and finishing. He's playing at the top of the Big 12 right now."
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Brown was far from the only Wildcat locked in defensively, too.Â
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At one point in the first half, K-State held Oklahoma scoreless for about 4:30 of game clock. The Sooners, ranked first nationally in points per game (93.6) coming in, were limited to less than 75 points for the first time all season. Young finished with 20 points, 10 below his season average, and 12 turnovers.
ÂWhen talking about defense, this is what #KStateMBB means:
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) January 17, 2018
??16 of the 18 opponents have been held below their season scoring average
??Opponents on average score 11 points less when facing the Cats pic.twitter.com/DoX0VFVHG7
"It was great for our guys. It was a team win," K-State head coach Bruce Weber said. "Team defense was a very important part of it."
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"We thrive on defense," added Xavier Sneed. "We spend a lot of time on our defense. Our coaches did a great job scouting and letting us know what they like to do."
Â
Wade, who knocked down a three late in the first half, took over in the second. The 6-foot-10 junior scored 16 of his 21 points in the final 20 minutes. He knocked down a fader to start, sank a few treys and even threw down an alley oop to bring the crowd to one of its many frenzies on the night.
Â
"Shout out to the fans. They were great tonight. They were loud. It was an awesome atmosphere to play in," said Wade, who led K-State's hot-shooting second half that included converting 73.1 percent (19-of-26) from the field. "People were attacking, being aggressive. Being aggressive in general leaves somebody open and it just kind of flows. Once you hit one, you get the momentum going and it just kept rolling."
Â
While Brown got K-State going and Wade helped close, plenty of their teammates joined along the way toward the Wildcats' sixth-straight win over Oklahoma in Bramlage.
Â
When Oklahoma went on a run to take the lead late in the first half, Cartier Diarra hit a three to give K-State the lead back. Â
Â
Sneed opened the second half by cashing a trey, one of his three on the night. He and Diarra then buried back-to-back threes to boost K-State's lead back above double digits. The two Wildcats combined for 19 points in the second half to help keep the Sooners at a safe distance.
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"They've stuck together," Weber said. "You had a heartbreaker at Kansas. They could've easily put their heads down, but they came back tonight and played at a really high level. It was a great team win."Â
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Come Together.
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) January 17, 2018
Stay Together.
Celebrate Together. #KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/fQHa6yTgAJ
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