Kansas State holds off No. 16 Cincinnati behind Coleman Hawkins

Field Level Media|published: Mon 30th December, 21:42 2024

Dec 30, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Coleman Hawkins (33) and guard Dug McDaniel (0) celebrate during the first half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Coleman Hawkins had 20 points and 10 rebounds as Kansas State knocked off No. 16 Cincinnati 70-67 on Monday night in Manhattan, Kan.

The Wildcats (7-5, 1-0 Big 12) also got 17 points from Dug McDaniel and 13 from David N'Guessan.

Dan Skillings Jr., who was 3-for-15 from 3-point range entering Monday, was 4-for-8 from deep against Kansas State to lead the Bearcats with 18 points. Dillon Mitchell had 15 points and 11 boards, and Jizzle James supplied 11 points.

After Cincinnati (10-2, 0-1) tied the score at 31 early in the second half, McDaniel scored six straight points for the Wildcats. Kansas State soon extended the lead to nine points, as it did in the first half, but as they too did before the break, the Bearcats responded.

James converted a three-point play with 6:08 left. He then fed Mitchell for a game-tying layup, making it 56-56. N'Guessan then scored a three-point play of his own to give Kansas State a 59-56 lead. Two free throws by Hawkins gave the hosts a five-point edge before Skillings hit a 3-pointer.

Kansas State stretched its advantage to 63-59, but the Bearcats cut it to 63-61 with a tip-in by Aziz Bandaogo. Max Jones hit a short jumper with 46 seconds left to give the Wildcats a four-point lead.

James found Bandaogo for an alley-oop lay-in, but Hawkins hit the front end of a one-and-one with 23 seconds left. The Wildcats got the offensive rebound after Hawkins missed the second foul shot, and C.J. Jones was fouled and hit both of his attempts from the charity stripe.

Bandaogo dunked with eight seconds to play, but C.J. Jones sealed the win with two more free throws.

Kansas State led 9-3 with 15:36 remaining in the first half, causing Cincinnati coach Wes Miller to burn his first timeout. The Wildcats extended the lead to 12-3 before Cincinnati started chipping away.

Skillings hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Bearcats their first lead at 27-26 with 2:34 left in the opening period. But the Wildcats ended up taking a 31-29 lead into halftime.

Hawkins led the Wildcats with 12 points before intermission, while Mitchell had eight for Cincinnati.

--Field Level Media