TEMPE, Ariz. – David N’Guessan emerged as a key player for Kansas State, contributing 22 points to help his team secure a tightly contested 71-70 victory over Arizona State on Tuesday night. N’Guessan’s successful free throws with just under a minute remaining were crucial in the closing moments of the game.
Following N’Guessan’s free throws, Alston Mason of Arizona State converted his own pairs at the foul line, narrowing the deficit to just one point at 71-70 with 41.7 seconds left on the clock. Kansas State guard Dug McDaniel attempted a three-pointer that didn’t find its mark, allowing Arizona State’s BJ Freeman to grab the rebound and initiate an offensive push.
Freeman, however, lost control of the ball, which found its way to teammate Jayden Quaintance. Quaintance then attempted a dunk but was fouled in the process with only 4.1 seconds remaining. In an unexpected twist, Quaintance missed both free throws, hitting only the back rim, leading to McDaniel securing the rebound. He then passed the ball ahead, allowing Kansas State to run out the remaining seconds of the game.
With this victory, Kansas State improved their season record to 11-11 overall and 5-6 in the competitive Big 12 Conference, marking their first four-game winning streak of the year. In addition to N’Guessan’s standout performance, Max Jones added 15 points, primarily scoring 10 of them in a strong first half. Brendan Hausen contributed 12 points, while Coleman Hawkins also made an impact with 11 points, six rebounds, and seven assists.
On the other side, Mason was the standout for Arizona State, netting 20 points. His teammates, Basheer Jihad and Freeman, added 15 and 14 points respectively, while Quaintance pulled down 10 rebounds alongside his three points. A notable moment in the game occurred when Adam Miller received a Flagrant 2 foul with 7:54 left in the second half due to an interaction with McDaniel.
The matchup had a dramatic start as Arizona State surged ahead with an impressive 15-0 run. Kansas State countered well, however, finishing the first half strong with a 22-6 run to take a narrow lead of 35-32, capped by a three-pointer from Jones. Kansas State built on that momentum, starting the second half with a 13-3 run, extending their lead to 48-35, as Arizona State struggled to find their rhythm, managing just one field goal out of 12 attempts during that stretch.
Next up, Kansas State will return home to face off against No. 16 Kansas on Saturday. Arizona State is set to travel to Oklahoma State for their game on Sunday.
