Nowell dishes 19 helps, K-State relocate to Elite 8
NEW YORK CITY– On Wednesday, Markquis Nowell was asked about Michigan State’s defense against elite guards so far in the NCAA tournament. The Kansas State star began his action with what appeared like a bold statement.
“I figure out how the game is going to go,” Nowell said.He didn’t lie.The 5-foot-8 guard from Harlem, N.Y. supported his words Thursday night, creating among the greatest specific performances in NCAA competition history leading Kansas State to a 98-93 overtime victory over Michigan State to advance to the Elite Eight.Nowell set a tournament record with 19 assists, likewise scoring 20 points and racking up five steals. And he did it after sustaining what seemed a severe sprained ankle midway through the 2nd half.”That guy didn’t come here to be injured in his last college game,”Kansas State coach Jerome Tang said.Nowell could have filled a whole” One Shining Moment”reel with highlights
from Thursday’s game. The consistent weaving through the Michigan State defense like a cab driver through New york city City traffic, the passes to cutting colleagues that nobody else in Madison Square Garden could see coming.In the lead-up to the game, Nowell mentioned another former New york city point player as somebody he saw maturing, Kemba Walker. Nowell’s efficiency versus Michigan State restored memories of Walker’s gone through the 2014 NCAA tournament leading UConn to the national title.(Of course, that run came through an East Regional held at MSG, too. )Editor’s Picks
1 Associated There was the series that right away followed Nowell’s return from injury: A 3-pointer while dropping to beat the shot clock buzzer, knocking the ball away from Malik Hall on a dunk effort and assisting a simple basket at the other end for Cam Carter.There was Nowell’s
stepback jumper over Hall with 1 minute, 4 seconds left in guideline, after which Nowell jogged back on defense yelling,”This is my city! “And there was the defining play of Kansas State’s win, an alley-oop pass to a cutting Keyontae Johnson, who completed with a reverse dunk to give the Wildcats a 94-92 lead they would not give up. As Nowell brought the ball up the floor, he looked over at the crowd and yelled”watch this,”prior to appearing to phony an argument with Tang about the play-call.”Dang, I’ve got to enjoy what I say,”Nowell stated with a smile.
“It was simply a basketball play in between me and Keyontae,”he added.”We understood how Michigan State plays defense. They play high up. We got eye contact, he was like,’lob, lob. ‘I just threw it up and he made a terrific play. “Nowell did miss a deep 3-pointer at the end of guideline that enabled Tyson Walker to force overtime and another at the end of overtime. But he redeemed himself, stealing the ball from Walker on Michigan State’s final belongings and going back the other way to seal the game with a layup at the buzzer.Thursday’s game was the very first overtime tilt of this year’s NCAA tournament, featuring 16 lead modifications and 14 ties
. Neither team ever led by double-figures.” It was like a’Rocky’ fight, “Nowell said.The first half offered us a sign of what was to come, with Nowell assisting on 7 of
Kansas State’s first 11 shots– likewise making a basket of his own. However Michigan State’s guards depended on the difficulty, with A.J. Hoggard( 25 points ), Tyson Walker( 16 points )and Jaden Akins (14 points )making plays of their own at the other end.Kansas State opened up a nine-point lead at the start of the 2nd half, however Nowell landed awkwardly on a shot with 15:31 left in the 2nd half.
He was down for several minutes, getting at his ankle, and he required aid from 2 staffers to get to the bench. Nowell could not put weight on his right leg, but he got his ankle retaped on the bench.” It was like a’Rocky’ fight, “Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell stated of his team’s 98-93 win in overtime versus Michigan State. AP Photo/Adam Hunger While getting retaped, Nowell leapt out of his seat at one point to yell something to his colleagues on the floor. After evaluating out his ankle for a couple minutes on the sideline and enjoying Michigan State go on a 9-2 run, Nowell walked straight to the scorer’s table to check back into the game with 13:11 staying.”I simply wished to do it for my colleagues,”he stated.”I enjoy being out there with these people, and I wasn’t going to let a little injury like this, that happens on the basketball court all the time, stop me from playing in the Sweet 16 and advancing to the Elite 8. “”He’s our beginning point guard,” Johnson stated.”His IQ, his feel for the game, he brings everybody self-confidence, and when he came back, I felt like it simply– everyone seen how he was attempting to fight through his injury, and we just wanted to fight back for him
.”Johnson completed with 22 points of his own, while Ismael Massoud had 15 points– including multiple big shots at the end of regulation and in overtime. Nowell set them up, however his teammates kept knocking them down.”We’re at our best when we’re sharing the ball, passing the ball around the perimeter and different men is getting into double figures in the scoring category,”Nowell stated.”I would not have 19 helps if they didn’t make any shots.”Nowell is now averaging 21.3 points, 14 assists and 3.7 takes in three NCAA tournament games, turning the ball over only 11 times. He’s the star of the tournament so far and Thursday night was his declaration efficiency– in his home town, under the brightest lights in the sport.On Wednesday, Tang stated Nowell opting to go back to Kansas State after last spring’s training modification was essential in the Wildcats’successful first season under his watch. “We’re not here without Markquis Nowell remaining,”he said.And they’re certainly not 40 minutes from the Final 4 without Nowell’s historical revealing Thursday night.