Three takeaways from Kansas State's win over Arizona State at the Big 12 Tournament

Kellis Robinett, The Wichita Eagle on Mar 11, 2025

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas State basketball players said they felt like they had “new life” as they prepared for the Big 12 Tournament.

It’s been a mostly disappointing season for the Wildcats, but this was an opportunity for them to go out on a high note. If they could beat Arizona State in the opening round of the competition, there was a feeling that anything could happen next.

They were eager for the challenge, and it showed as they defeated the Sun Devils, 71-66, on Tuesday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

With the win, No. 10 seed K-State (16-16) advances to the second round of the Big 12 Tournament, where it will play No. 7 seed Baylor at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. No. 15 seed Arizona State (13-19) is one and done.

The Wildcats played with an extra spring in their step against the Sun Devils.

They led by as many as 14 and then held on for a crucial victory thanks to a season-high 26 points and eight rebounds from Coleman Hawkins to go along with 14 points and five assists from Dug McDaniel.

Here are takeaways from the action:

Hawkins saved his best for the Big 12 Tournament

The first basket of this game came from Hawkins, and it was an omen for things to come.

Hawkins, a senior forward who began his college basketball career at Illinois, swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Wildcats an early lead, and he kept scoring as the night went on.

His previous career high with K-State was 20 points. He shattered that number with 26 points against the Sun Devils.

It was obvious before the opening tip that he was motivated to have a big game. Hawkins has been playing with a massive brace on his right knee as he recovers from a fractured fibia that he suffered more than three weeks ago during a game at Utah. But he is feeling healthier now. That much was clear when he took the floor with tights on his right knee instead of a brace.

Hawkins moved at full speed and knocked down shots with confidence.

The K-State forward hasn’t been known as much of a scorer this season. His forte is doing a little bit of everything. He is one of the best passers on the entire roster.

But he put the offense on his proverbial shoulders for this game as he made four shots from 3-point range and attacked the paint for the rest of his points. Hawkins was aggressive from the opening tip, and it paid off with his best statistical game of the season.

K-State busted out of its 3-point shooting slump

The Wildcats have not been hot from beyond the arc.

In fact, they have been extremely cold.

K-State only made three of 18 shots from distance against Cincinnati and followed that up with a 2-of-21 showing against Iowa State. Those putrid numbers made it difficult for the Wildcats to consistently score. Something had to change in that area if they wanted to go on a run at the Big 12 Tournament.

But 3-point shooting wasn’t a problem for K-State against Arizona State.

The Wildcats drained their first five shots from beyond the arc. Hawkins got the good vibes going by making the first two of the game. Then Brendan Hausen made one before Hawkins sank another. Max Jones ended the hot streak with another make to give K-State an early 15-4 lead.

K-State went on to make eight of 18 shots from beyond the arc as a team.

That was three more than they made in their past two games combined.

Blessing in disguise?

David N’Guessan was unusually quiet in this game.

Kansas State’s best overall player was held to five points in just 17 minutes of action.

The senior forward didn’t look like himself. He missed a dunk, he grabbed only four rebounds and he was in foul trouble the whole way.

Maybe that will turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Wildcats.

Now that they found a way to win without a stellar night from their best player, he will have fresh legs when he takes the court against Baylor in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.

N’Guessan was only on the court for 17 minutes against the Sun Devils. That should allow him to play as many minutes as necessary against the Bears.