K-State Upsets #16 Cincinnati in Big 12 Opener

The Kansas State Wildcats sorely needed a win to open Big 12 Conference play after losing their last three non-conference games. Thanks to Coleman Hawkins and Max Jones, they got it.

Hawkins posted a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds and Jones made a clutch shot and secured an important offensive rebound in the final seconds as the Wildcats upset the #16 Cincinnati Bearcats at Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday night.

Jones’s fadeaway jumper with 46 seconds left pushed the K-State lead to 65-61. After a Bearcats basket, Coleman Hawkins went to the free throw line and made the first free throw but missed the second. Jones saved the possession by tapping the loose ball out to C.J. Jones, who was fouled and made both his free throws to give the Wildcats a comfortable five-point advantage.

Dug McDaniel added 17 points in the winning effort for the Wildcats, who improved to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12. The win moves K-State to 10-2 against Top 25 ranked opponents at Bramlage Coliseum in Jerome Tang’s three years as head coach. They travel to Fort Worth to take on TCU on Saturday.