ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – (13/12) K-State overcame a difficult shooting performance in the first half to race past Middle Tennessee, 74-48, in the second annual Bill Snyder Basketball Classic on Saturday at Civic Arena. This is the second straight season K-State has started a season with an 11-1 record.
K-State featured three in double figures on Saturday, led by senior center and All-America candidate Ayoka Lee with 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
Joining Lee with 15 points each were Temira Poindexter and Jaelyn Glenn. Poindexter added six rebounds, while Glenn tallied five 3-pointers and added four rebounds and three steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– K-State (11-1) shot 17.9 percent (5-of-28) from the field in the first half, as Middle Tennessee (7-4) held a one-point halftime lead, 26-25.
– The Wildcats pushed back into the lead for the first time since the first quarter, with an 11-0 run midway through the third quarter. A layup from Lee and a three-pointer from Taryn Sides highlighted the run to build a 41-31 lead with 4:55 remaining in the stanza.
– K-State closed out the third with an 11-4 run to build a 52-38 advantage entering the fourth. The Wildcats shot 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the field in the third quarter, including 83.3 percent (5-of-6) from long range.
– The Wildcats used a 16-4 run in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter to end any chances of a Middle Tennessee comeback. K-State would win the final frame, 22-10.
– K-State shot 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the field, but ended the evening at 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from long range.
– The Wildcats held Middle Tennessee to 28.3 percent (17-of-60) shooting, including 27.8 percent (5-of-18) from behind the 3-point line.
– K-State made a season-high 21 free throws and shot 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the charity stripe.
QUICK FACTS
– K-State leads the series with Middle Tennessee, 3-1. The Wildcats are 16-13 against current members of Conference USA.
– K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 655-371 (.638), including a mark of 201-136 (.596).
– K-State owns a record of 259-96 (.730) as an AP ranked team. K-State is 21-3 (.875) all-time when ranked 13th in the nation.
– The Wildcats are 249-103 (.707) in games played in the month of December, including an active 12-game winning streak dating back to the start of December 2023. Under Mittie, K-State is 48-18 (.727) in games during the 12th month.
TEAM NOTES
– K-State’s starting five consisted of guards: Zyanna Walker, Jaelyn Glenn and Serena Sundell; forward Temira Poindexter and center Ayoka Lee. This was the 10th time this lineup has started together this season. This was the 124th career start for Lee, the 115th career start for Sundell, the 111th career start for Jaelyn Glenn, the 99th career collegiate start and 11th at K-State for Poindexter and the 12th career start for Walker. With her 124th career start at K-State, Lee moves into sole possession of fourth in program history for career starts.
– K-State improves to 55-3 (.948) over the last four seasons when holding foes to 60 points or less.
– K-State has scored 20-or more points in a quarter 29 times this season, including the third and fourth quarters on Saturday. Since the start of the quarter-system in 2015-16, the Wildcats are 143-62 (.698) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter of a game.
– K-State shot 50.0 percent or better in a quarter twice on Saturday (third and fourth). The Wildcats have 29 quarters this season of 50.0 percent or better shooting.
– Over the last four seasons, K-State is 53-3 (.946) when holding the advantage on the glass.
PLAYER NOTES
– Lee tallied her 113th career game with 10 or more points. Lee has scored in every game of her career (124 games).
– Lee hauled in seven rebounds on Saturday. Lee’s career total for rebounds stands at 1,177, improving upon her own school record for career rebounds. Lee is seventh in Big 12 history for career rebounds.
– Lee registered four blocks on Saturday. This was her 32nd career game with four or more blocks and the 85th career game with two or more blocks.
– With her 15 points on Saturday, Glenn improved her career total to 977 points. She needs 23 points to become the 46th player in program history to score 1,000 or more career points at K-State. This was her 46th career game with 10 or more points.
– Glenn buried five 3-pointers on Saturday. This was her seventh career game and second this season with four or more made 3-point field goals and her 55th career game with two or more connections from long range. With her effort on Saturday, Glenn improved her career total to 180 and moved into ninth on the K-State career 3-point field goals made list.
– Glenn pulled in four rebounds on Saturday. This improves her career total to 524 and moves her into 29th on the K-State career rebounds list.
– Poindexter reached double figures for the seventh time this season and the 87th time in her career.
– Poindexter connected on three 3-pointers on Saturday. This was her 61st career game with two or more made 3-pointers.
– Sundell’s 11 assists on Saturday improved her career total to 620. This was her seventh career game with 10 or more assists and her 74th career game with five or more assists.
– Sides connected on two 3-point field goals on Saturday. This marks her 18th career game with two or more connections from long range.
UP NEXT
K-State returns to Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday, December 18, as the Wildcats host New Mexico State at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, visit kstatesports.com/tickets or call 800-221-CATS.
The post #13 K-State Uses Strong Second Half to Down MTSU appeared first on News Radio KMAN.
