Kansas State Postgame Notes

(Photo via William Purnell)

March 09, 2016 | Cowboy Basketball

K-State took a 40-23 lead into the locker room. The 17-point deficit was the Cowboys' second-largest of the year and the largest since going into the break down, 49-30, against the same Wildcats in Manhattan on Jan. 23. Still, Oklahoma State battled back and nearly erased the deficit completely before K-State escaped with the win.
Foul trouble plagued Oklahoma State all game. The Cowboys committed 11 fouls in the first half and 28 overall. Kansas State was in the bonus with 10:14 remaining in the first half and with 12:20 left in the second half. Tavarius Shine, Jeffrey Carroll, Jeff Newberry, Tyree Griffin and Anthony Allen all finished with at least four fouls, with Shine, Carroll fouling out.
Other contributing factors to Oklahoma State falling behind in the first half were turnovers and shaky shooting. The Cowboys committed 11 turnovers and made just seven field goals before halftime.
With 1:43 remaining in the first half, Leyton Hammonds appeared to roll his ankle and crumpled to the ground. The officials stopped the game and he limped to the bench on his own power. He didn't return until midway through the second half.
Tyree Griffin dished out 10 assists in the game, which is the most for a Cowboy at the Big 12 Championship since Doug Gottlieb had 10 against Texas in 1999. Griffin's effort Wednesday marked just the third double-digit assist performance ever for a Cowboy. Griffin's career high is 12 assists. Over the last 10 games, Griffin has distributed 57 assists.
Jeffrey Carroll was particularly aggressive in the first half, as he got to the free throw line eight times and had 10 points at intermission. He finished with 13 points to secure his 12th double-figure scoring game of the year and his first since going for 13 at Kansas on Feb. 15.
Joe Burton knocked down three three-pointers in the game to match a career high.
OSU knocked down seven three-pointers in the game, extending its streak to 515 straight games with at least one three-pointer, dating back to Jan. 13, 2001.
Oklahoma State went with the starting five of Tyree Griffin, Jeff Newberry, Tavarius Shine, Leyton Hammonds and Mitchell Solomon. Wednesday marked just the third time that group of five started together. For Newberry, it was his 32nd start of the year, making him the only Cowboy to start every game this year.
Wednesday's game marked the eighth time Oklahoma State and Kansas State have met in a conference tournament setting. The Cowboys were 4-1 against the Wildcats in the Big Eight Tournament, but K-State has taken all three meetings in the Big 12 Championship, claiming wins in 2010, 2013 and 2016.
Wednesday's defeat moved the Cowboys to 11-1 all-time in the first round of the Big 12 Championship and 23-18 overall in the Big 12 Championship.