ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands — In a well-contested match on Friday night, Kansas State emerged victorious against George Washington with a score of 83-71 at the Paradise Jam. David N’Guessan led the Wildcats with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Dug McDaniel contributed 13 points and five assists, bolstering his team’s strong performance.

With this win, Kansas State improves to a 4-1 record and is set to compete against Liberty in a winner-bracket game on Sunday. On the other hand, George Washington, also sitting at 4-1, will head to the consolation bracket for a matchup against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday. This marks the third appearance of the Wildcats in the Paradise Jam, with their last participation dating back to 2018.

The matchup holds special significance for Kansas State’s head coach Jerome Tang and assistant coach Jareem Dowling, both of whom spent a substantial part of their upbringing in the Virgin Islands, making this game a homecoming of sorts.

During the first half, McDaniel scored four consecutive points, helping to fuel a 6-0 run that closed the half with Kansas State leading 46-27. The Wildcats showcased their shooting prowess, hitting 52% of their shots, while George Washington struggled, managing just 25% from the field with 7 of 28.

In the second half, George Washington made a push, launching a 10-point unanswered streak that narrowed the gap to 59-55 with 10:20 remaining. However, Kansas State quickly retaliated with a 3-pointer from Coleman Hawkins followed by a basket from McDaniel, widening the lead back into double digits with just under six minutes left, a margin they maintained to secure the win.

Beyond N’Guessan’s notable performance, Kansas State also saw contributions from Max Jones with 12 points, Brendan Hausen adding 11 points, and Hawkins, who recorded nine points alongside nine rebounds. N’Guessan is distinguished as the sole player for the Wildcats to have scored in double figures throughout the first five games of the season.

George Washington’s efforts included a leading performance from Jacoi Hutchinson, who netted 19 points, along with Rafael Castro’s 12 points and contributions of 10 points each from Gerald Drumgoole Jr. and Christian Jones.

The Paradise Jam features an eight-team lineup, which includes UAB, Illinois State, Longwood, and McNeese competing on the other side of the bracket. Notably, Longwood, McNeese, and UAB all participated in the NCAA Tournament last season, setting the stage for an exciting championship game anticipated on Monday.