Kansas State basketball guard Max Jones’ clutch plays help preserve win in Big 12 opener

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MANHATTAN — Kansas State basketball forward Coleman Hawkins had a night to remember and point guard Dug McDaniel’s return to the starting lineup clearly provided a spark that the Wildcats had been missing.

Cincinnati coach Wes Miller called it “pretty special for them.”

But when it came down to preserving K-State’s impressive 70-67 victory over Miller’s No. 17-ranked Bearcats in Monday night’s Big 12 opener at Bramlage Coliseum, nobody came up bigger than guard Max Jones.

Hawkins and McDaniel may have combined for better than half of the team’s scoring, but it was Jones’ timely basket and hustle offensive rebound in the final minute that allowed the Wildcats (7-5, 1-0 Big 12) to snap a three-game losing streak and start conference play on the right foot.

First, with the Wildcats clinging to a two-point lead, Jones made a nifty move in the lane to free himself for a short jumper that made it 65-61 with 47.7 seconds left.

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Kansas State guard Max Jones (2) gets a shot off against Cincinnati’s Jizzle Jones (2) during the second half Monday night at Bramlage Coliseum.

“It definitely felt good, because that was my only points of the second half,” Jones said. “We definitely needed that bucket, so whatever we need for the team.”

Then, after Cincinnati had pulled back within a basket, Hawkins went to the foul line at the 23-second mark and made the first free throw, but missed the second. Jones leaped for the rebound and tipped the ball to C.J. Jones, who was fouled and knocked down both shots for a five-point advantage.

“I was definitely just trying to get the ball back to us,” Max Jones said. “We have a thing called Crashers Club, and I control-tipped it out, and it just felt good to make that play for the team.”

Nobody was more pleased with the hustle play than Hawkins, who made all three of his other free…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kansas-state-basketball-guard-max-143226773.html

Author : The Topeka Capital-Journal

Publish date : 2024-12-31 14:32:00

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