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Category: Sports

Tiger women tabbed 9th in preseason USTFCCCA Coaches’ Poll

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NEW ORLEANS – With one outdoor meet behind them, the Fort Hays State women’s track and field team has been ranked in the No. 9 spot in the USTFCCCA Coaches’ Preseason Poll released Tuesday (March 20). The Tigers captured 83.50 points in the installment to earn the ranking.

FHSU’s 83.50 points were tabulated from the computer-based system within the poll. The Tigers are one of three MIAA programs to earn a nod in the preseason installment, alongside No. 15 Pittsburg State and No. 20 Emporia State.

Fort Hays State is coming off their first outdoor meet of the 2018 season after a strong showing at the Emporia State Spring Invite this past weekend. The Tigers ended the event with Madison Wolf leading the way with her automatic qualification mark in the javelin at 167 feet, 3 inches. This throw is the top in Division II and would rank eighth in Division I. Close behind is teammate Alexcia Deutscher who ranks No. 2 in Division II with her distance of 157 feet, 9 inches. This mark was good for a provisional for Deutscher. Rohey Singateh also claimed a provisional in the long jump with her length of 19 feet, 2 ¾ inches.

The Tigers are back in action on March 30 when they host the Alex Francis Classic in Hays.

Below are the latest USTFCCCA rankings.

Rank Institution Points
1 SF State 199.72
2 Angelo State 155.66
3 Fresno Pacific 114.90
4 Chico State 95.71
5 Academy of Art 91.25
6 Concordia (Ore.) 90.59
7 UC San Diego 90.24
8 Central Washington 85.52
9 Fort Hays State 83.50
10 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 82.62
11 Cal State LA 82.54
12 Seattle Pacific 81.72
13 Edinboro 75.99
14 Saint Augustine’s 73.41
15 Pittsburg State 72.65
16 Cal State Stanislaus 69.20
17 Western Washington 64.94
18 Azusa Pacific 63.21
19 Point Loma Nazarene 61.20
20 Emporia State 59.50
21 Nova Southeastern 59.30
22 Harding 58.89
23 Saint Leo 58.86
24 Concordia (Calif.) 58.01
25 Alabama-Huntsville 57.84

COLUMN: The truth about sports scholarships

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By BOB GARDENER
Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations
and GARY MUSSELMAN
Executive Director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association

Many parents are trying to live the dream through their sons and daughters – the dream of landing a college athletic scholarship by specializing in a sport year-round. Unfortunately, most of these dreams are never realized. The odds of a sports scholarship paying for even a portion of a student’s college education are miniscule.

The College Board, a not-for-profit organization comprised of 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions, reports that a moderate cost for college students who attend a public university in their state of residence is $25,290 per year. The annual cost at a private college averages $50,900.

Meanwhile, the most recent data from the NCAA reveals that the average Division I athletic scholarship is worth only $10,400. More significantly, the same study shows that fewer than two percent of all high school athletes (1 in 54) ever wear the uniform of an NCAA Division I school.

Even if the dream is realized, parents likely will spend more money for club sports than they ever regain through college athletic scholarships. Thanks to the costs of club fees, equipment, summer camps, playing in out-of-state tournaments and private coaching, youth sports has become a $15 billion-per-year industry.

There is an option, and it’s a financially viable one: Encourage your sons and daughters to play sports at their high school.

In education-based high school sports, student-athletes are taught, as the term implies, that grades come first. The real-life lessons that students experientially learn offer insights into leadership, overcoming adversity and mutual respect that cannot be learned anywhere else. Unlike club sports, coaches in an education-based school setting are held accountable by the guiding principles and goals of their school district. And the cost of participating in high school sports is minimal in most cases.

While there is a belief that the only way to get noticed by college coaches is to play on non-school travel teams year-round, many Division I football and basketball coaches recently have stated that they are committed to recruiting students who have played multiple sports within the high school setting.

In addition, by focusing on academics while playing sports within the school setting, students can earn scholarships for academics and other talents—skill sets oftentimes nurtured while participating in high school activities. These scholarships are more accessible and worth more money than athletic scholarships. While $3 billion per year is available for athletic scholarships, more than $11 billion is awarded for academic scholarships and other financial assistance.

Without a doubt, your sons and daughters will have more fun, make more friends and be better prepared for life beyond sport by participating in multiple sports and activities offered by the high school in your community.

FHSU’s Wolf picks up MIAA Athlete of the Week honors

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After not competing at the collegiate level in more than two years, Madison Wolf started the 2018 outdoor season where she left off. The Bennington, Kan. native was named MIAA Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week on Monday (March 19) after winning the javelin throw competition at last week’s ESU Spring Invitational.

Wolf automatically qualified for the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships after a heave of 167-3, besting teammate and runner-up Alexcia Deutscher by more than 10 feet. Sitting in second entering her sixth and final throw, the graduate student hurled the spear more than 11 feet past her previous long throw of the day. Wolf currently tops the performance chart in NCAA Division II and owns the eighth-longest toss across all NCAA ranks so far this season.

Wolf, a three-time All-American in the discipline, will now have the opportunity to make it four All-American honors at this year’s National Championships in May.

FHSU’s Gardner, Dreiling named MIAA Track and Field Athletes of the Week

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State men’s track and field team swept the initial MIAA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week honors, with individuals picking up both the track award and the field honor. Malcom Gardner was named the conference track athlete of the week while teammate Sam Dreiling earned co-field athlete of the week accolades.

Gardner earned the award after placing second in the 200m dash at the season-opening ESU Spring Invitational last Friday (March 16), crossing the line in 20.95. He was the top Division II finisher in the event, defeating all but one of the 51 other competitors in the race. His time was more than four-tenths of a second faster than the NCAA DII provisional mark and would be the fastest time in Division II so far this season had it not been wind-aided.

Less than a week after earning All-American honors during the indoor season, Dreiling opened the outdoor campaign in a strong fashion. The junior won the pole vault competition in Emporia after clearing the 16-4.75 bar on his third and final attempt. He provisionally qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the process and currently sits in fifth on the national performance list.

K-State ends UMBC NCAA run; advances to Sweet 16

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Barry Brown scored 18 points, and Kansas State ended UMBC’s brief, but historic run in the NCAA Tournament with a 50-43 victory on Sunday night.

UMBC became the first 16 seed to beat a No. 1, destroying top-ranked Virginia 74-54 on Friday night. After pulling off the biggest upset in college basketball history, the Retrievers ran out of magic against the Wildcats.

As UMBC coach Ryan Odom emptied his bench with 9.4 seconds left, the crowd gave the Retrievers a standing ovation. The players hugged at midcourt. After the game ended, players walked over to the side of the court and gave their fans an appreciative wave.

The dream had ended.

The Wildcats (24-11) move on to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2010 when they lost in the Elite Eight to Butler. They will face Kentucky on Thursday night.

UMBC had only had two field goals in the final six minutes and shot just 29.8 percent for the game.

UMBC’s scrappy defense forced 18 turnovers, but managed just three points off those. They finished 6 of 22 from 3-point range two nights after lighting up Virginia. And 9 of 18 from the free throw line.

UMBC (25-11) had a chance to take the lead with 5 minutes remaining, but Arkel Lamar was stripped of the ball on a drive to the lane and Xavier Sneed took the ball the length of the floor for a two-handed dunk.

Brown then hit a fall-away jumper.

Sneed, who had eight points, had a monster dunk off an offensive rebound and later knocked down a baseline jumper with a minute left to push the lead to five. Makol Mawien added a dunk on a fastbreak to seal the victory with 45 seconds left.

The Retrievers showed no sign of a letdown early on, jumping out to a 7-0 lead after Kansas State missed its first eight shots — five of those from beyond the arc.

Kansas State didn’t score until the 13:40 mark of the first half, but the Wildcats closed the half on a 17-8 run and led 25-20 at the break despite going 0 for 8 from 3-point range.

BIG PICTURE

UMBC: Chances are people will one day have to Google who won the 2018 NCAA Tournament, but they’ll never forget what Jairus Lyles and the Retrievers pulled off in Charlotte.

Kansas State: Brown defended Lyles extremely well, holding him to 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting. The Wildcats held a 35-28 edge on the boards.

UP NEXT

Kansas State: Will face fourth-seeded Kentucky on Thursday in Atlanta.

Kaasch’s five hits not enough for Tigers in loss to the Bronchos

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HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped game three of the weekend series to Central Oklahoma on Sunday (Mar. 18), 17-10. The Tigers dipped to 9-15 overall and 1-11 in conference play, while the Bronchos moved to 18-8 on the season and 10-2 in MIAA action.

The Tigers were first to strike the scoreboard as they produced four runs in the home half of the first frame. Jason Nicholson led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. He came around to score on a RBI triple that hit the center field wall from Addison Kaasch. Kaasch scored on the next play, when Alex Weiss roped a double to right center. Weiss crossed home plate on an RBI groundout from Ryan Grasser, giving the Tigers the early 4-0 advantage.

Central Oklahoma answered right away with two runs in the second inning, then the Bronchos proceeded to take the lead in the third frame with a six-run offensive explosion that chased Tiger starter Ben Ramberg from the mound. Tanner Smith came on in relief and picked up two ground outs, only allowing one runner to score.

FHSU stormed back into the lead in the fifth inning, Smith shut the Bronchos down in the fourth and fifth frames, taking a 10-8 lead. Dayton Pomeroy started the inning by destroying a baseball through the crisp, cool western Kansas air over the left center wall, good enough for his team-leading eighth long ball of the season. Jordan Wilkerson got in on the action with a RBI double, scoring Cody Starkel from second. Then Nicholson added a couple more RBI to the scoresheet with a single up the heart of the defense, bringing around Wilkerson and Ryan Grasser. Kaasch earned his first double of the afternoon, plating Nicholson in the process. Kaasch crossed the plate on a Weiss RBI double through the right side.

The Bronchos quickly matched that six-run frame from the Tigers with a six-run inning of their own. UCO regained the lead for good after 5.5 innings, 14-10. UCO tacked on a run in the seventh and a pair of runs in the eighth, making it 17-10 as the Tigers were shut out the rest of the way.

Addison Kaasch had a big day at the plate after reaching base in all six trips to the batter’s box. Kaasch finished the game with one triple, three doubles, a single and a free pass to first. Starkel went 3-for-4 on the afternoon, while Nicholson reached base safely in half of his at-bats (3-for-6).

Smith (1-4) was charged with the loss in the contest. Austin Lambright earned the victory for the Bronchos. The Tigers weren’t able to capitalize in the game as they stranded 12 runners as opposed to the Bronchos six men left on base. There was not a shortage of runs in the clash between the Tigers and Bronchos as the teams combined for 27 runs on 33 hits in the contest.

FHSU will be back in action Tuesday (Mar. 20) as they travel over to Topeka, Kan. to take on Washburn in a mid-week conference clash. First pitch from Falley Field is set for 5 p.m.

Royals sign reliever Grimm to $1.25M contract for 2018

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SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Royals signed right-handed reliever Justin Grimm to a $1.25 million, one-year deal Sunday that includes up to $300,000 incentives after he was released by the Chicago Cubs last week.

The 29-year-old Grimm was 1-2 with a 5.53 ERA in 50 appearances last season.

The club also announced that pitchers Miguel Almonte, Sam Gaviglio and Trevor Oaks, catcher Cam Gallagher and infielder Ramon Torres have been optioned to Triple-A Omaha.

The roster moves leave the Royals with 46 players in major league camp.

Kansas holds off Seton Hall to reach Sweet 16

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Udoka Azubuike had practiced once in the last 11 days because of a lingering knee injury, and the mammoth Kansas forward’s three-minute stretch in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament was about as underwhelming as his herky-jerky free-throw stroke.

He managed to go 22 minutes against Seton Hall on Saturday night.

The Jayhawks needed all of them.

Azubuike stood toe-to-toe with the Pirates’ bruising Angel Delgado, and he drew enough attention on offense to spring his high-scoring guards for open looks. The result was a 28-point performance from teammate Malik Newman, 16 more from Svi Mykhailiuk, and a gritty 83-79 victory that pushed the top-seeded Jayhawks to their third consecutive Sweet 16.

“If ‘Doke wasn’t able to come back from his injury, we don’t win,” coach Bill Self said. “I was hoping for 20 minutes. That was what I was hoping. And he could have played more.”

Lagerald Vick added 13 points for Kansas (29-7), which converted every crucial play down the stretch to advance to the semifinals of the Midwest Region. The Jayhawks will face the winner of Sunday night’s game between Auburn and Clemson next week in Omaha, Nebraska.

Delgado finished with 24 points and 23 rebounds in a virtuoso effort for the No. 8 seed Pirates (22-11), who snapped a four-game NCAA Tournament skid in the opening round. But he was less effective when Azubuike was in the game, a matchup that often sounded like battleships colliding.

“It stinks, basically, to leave like this,” Delgado said, “because we had so much expectation. We wanted to win every game, be the best team in the tournament.”

Khadeen Carrington finished with 28 points, many of them on 3-pointers in the closing minutes, and Myles Powell added 14 as the pair of guards tried in vain to keep Seton Hall alive.

It was 71-66 with 53 seconds left when Devonte Graham made two free throws for Kansas. Carrington kept answering for the Pirates, but the Jayhawks were unflappable at the foul line.

“I think it was the four-minute timeout, Coach told us in the huddle we were in the bonus. Just get down there, keep getting fouls,” said Newman, the MVP of last week’s Big 12 Tournament. “I was able to hit them quick and I was able to get to the line and make my free throws.”

Kansas led just 31-26 at halftime, when Delgado had already piled up 12 points and 12 rebounds, and was forced to make some significant adjustments in the locker room.

On defense, Self called for double-teams on Delgado whenever he got the ball down low, especially when Azubuike was sitting on the bench. On offense, he had his guys throw it to Azubuike on the block or rely on Mykhailiuk — by nature a 3-point specialist — to slash to the basket.

Together, they helped the Jayhawks stretch their lead to double digits.

Delgado kept the Pirates in the game, though. Azubuike went to the bench with four fouls with about 9 minutes left, and coach Kevin Willard instructed his own guys to go right back to their center.

Delgado was so effective that Self gambled by putting ‘Doke right back in the game.

“He was the best player in the game,” Self said. “He was a man. We knew he was good. And not having Doke in there more hurt us, because physically he was able to get the best of us.”

Seton Hall closed to 63-59 with 3:22 to go, but Newman answered with a 3-pointer and a pair of foul shots, and the poised Jayhawks never allowed the Pirates to come all the way back.

“I thought it was an extremely well-played game,” Willard said. “I thought the kids left everything on the floor for both teams. I’m proud of the way my guys kept fighting back. You just have to give Kansas credit. They made a lot of big shots late.”

SELF’S RECORD

Self improved to 35-13 in the NCAA Tournament with Kansas, highlighted by a national title in 2008. That breaks a tie with his predecessor and current North Carolina coach Roy Williams for the most tourney wins in school history. Williams was 34-14 with the Jayhawks.

BIG PICTURE

Seton Hall was often rattled by a crowd that gave Kansas a hometown advantage. The game was played about 2 hours south of the Jayhawks’ campus in Lawrence, and about 90 percent of the 15,000-plus at Intrust Bank Arena cheered on the home-state school.

Kansas survived without much production from Graham, who scored 29 against Pennsylvania in the first round. He took a wicked shot to the head from a teammate late in the first half, and wound up with eight points on 1-for-7 shooting.

UP NEXT

The Jayhawks are headed to Omaha for the regional semifinals. They’ll play the winner of Sunday night’s matchup between fourth-seeded Auburn and No. 5 seed Clemson.

Tiger baseball drops two to UCO

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HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against MIAA foe Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon (March 17) at Larks Park. The Tigers dip to 9-14 overall and 1-10 in league play, while the Bronchos are now 17-8 on the year and 9-2 in league action.

Game One: Central Oklahoma 6, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers had plenty of opportunity to score in game one, matching the Bronchos in hits, 8-8. But the FHSU offense could not come up with the timely hits UCO managed, stranding 10 runners on base in the opener. Fort Hays State loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning, but a double play and a strikeout brought the rally to a screeching halt.

After the Bronchos took a 2-0 lead on a second inning home run, Fort Hays State closed within one when Addison Kaasch singled home Ryan Grasser.

The potent Broncho offense added two more home runs later in the contest while the Tigers were unable to put another run up on the board through the final seven innings.

Sam Capps (1-2) took the loss for FHSU after allowing six runs on eight hits over five innings of work. The senior struck out four batters on the afternoon. Austin Weiser came out of the bullpen to tame the Bronchos, allowing only two baserunners on walks through four innings of relief.

Kaasch collected three of the eight Tiger hits, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI. Clayton Basgall collected the lone extra-base hit for FHSU, doubling down the left field line in the seventh inning.

Game Two: Central Oklahoma 17, Fort Hays State 6
Fort Hays State fell behind early and could not recover in the nightcap, falling by a final score of 17-6. The Bronchos swatted three home runs before rattling off six hits in the second inning to quickly lead 9-0.

Cody Starkel gave the Tigers their first run with a solo home run to right, closing the gap to 9-1 in the home half of the second. Fort Hays State added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings before pushing across three in the seventh, but UCO tacked on eight runs over the final four innings to secure the win.

Dayton Pomeroy drove in two runs and scored two more, finishing 2-for-4 with two doubles. Starkel added a second RBI later in the game, while Alex Weiss added an RBI on a 2-for-5 effort at the plate.

Ryan Ruder (2-4) took the loss after allowing five runs over 1.1 innings of work on the mound. Roger Kruse came on to silence the Broncho bats for three innings, holding UCO scoreless from the third through the fifth innings. The junior struck out six batters over 4.1 innings of relief, giving up three earned runs on six hits.

The Tigers will look to return to the win column on Sunday (March 18) when FHSU and UCO battle in game three at 1 p.m.

Hertel not returning as TMP-Marian coach or teacher

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After 33 years at TMP-Marian as a teacher and coach, Joe Hertel will not be returning next year. Hertel’s wife Cindy, through Facebook, made the announcement late Friday.

Hertel took over as head basketball coach in 1985 for the legendary Al Billinger and was an English teacher at the school. He compiled a 467-274 record during his tenure with the Monarchs and guided them to the state tournament nine times including this past season.

Hertel’s teams made four state title game appearances and won the 3A state championship in 2005 and the 4A title in 2007.

Cindy Hertel’s Facebook post:

“I am posting for Joe, who is not on FB: To my students, players and b-ball managers, I am humbled by your support and privileged to have been a part of your life. I value every one of you, and your success is my success. To my students’ parents… thank you for understanding that while I am not Mr. Social 😊, I am totally committed to helping your child in any way I can. Sometimes that means hard conversations. Your posting here means you support my expectations and also have high expectations for your child. I know he/she will be a success because of you. To my colleagues and friends… I’m am honored to know you. Thank you for seeing the real me. Teachers and coaches, keep fighting the good fight. To my family… this whole thing is a testament to the importance of family, right? To my Lord… I would do it again.

After 33 years of teaching at TMP, Joe was told today that his teaching and coaching contracts will not be renewed next year. He was not given a reason and is “allowed” to finish the school year, which clearly says he has done nothing unethical. Ask TMP graduates if he prepared them for college. Ask his players if he was fair and demanded their best. Yes, he is passionate. Yes, he is direct. Yes, he has high standards. Yes, he loves his Catholic faith. And, TMP, if you are going to treat him this way, you don’t deserve him. P.S. You will find someone to take his spot, but you won’t replace him.”

FHSU softball splits doubleheader with Lindenwood

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HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State earned a split in its doubleheader with Lindenwood on Saturday at Tiger Stadium. Lindenwood scored eight runs in the first inning of Game 1 and held on from that point for an 8-6 win, but the Tigers took Game 2 by a score of 7-2 to salvage the split. FHSU moved to 7-19 overall, 3-5 in the MIAA, while Lindenwood went to 14-12 overall, also 3-5 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Lindenwood 8, Fort Hays State 6
Fort Hays State starting pitcher Hailey Chapman struggled with command in the first inning, getting just one out before turning the ball over to Carrie Clarke, who could not get an out against the four batters she faced. Megan Jamison stopped the rally by getting the last two outs of the first, but not before Lindenwood plated all eight of its runs in the game. Chapman was charged with three runs and Clarke with four.

Jamison went on to have one of her best outings of the season in the pitching circle, holding the Lions scoreless for the next six innings. By the end of the game, she allowed just one run on four hits in 6.2 innings of work. She struck out five.

The Tiger offense began to gain momentum in the middle innings, scoring one in the third, two in the fourth, and three in the fifth. Grace Philop put the Tigers on the board in the third with an RBI single. In the fourth, Bailey Kennedy had an RBI double and Tess Gray followed with an RBI single. In the fifth, Gray cleared the bases with a three-RBI double. The Tigers had runners reach second and third in the seventh, but a groundout ended the game.

Lindenwood starter Marina Esparza went 4.2 innings in the circle for Lindenwood, allowing all six runs (two earned). She still picked up the win as Sam Dean came in to earn the save over 2.1 innings of work, allowing just two hits.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 7, Lindenwood 2
Like Game 1, Lindenwood did all of its scoring in the first inning. The Lions plated two runs to gain an early 2-0 lead, but that was all they would get against Sierra Rodriguez, who threw a complete game in the circle for FHSU.

The Tigers started their comeback in the second inning when Bailey Kennedy scored on a wild throw from the Lindenwood centerfielder. Kennedy moved to third on a Sara Breckbill single, but then came in to score after the throw sailed wide of home and to the backstop.

In the third inning, the Tigers jumped in front on a Bailey Boxberger three-run homer to centerfield. Later in the inning, Breckbill had an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2. The Tigers added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth when an error helped extend the inning. Grace Philop had an RBI groundout and Terran Caldwell followed with an RBI single.

Rodriguez settled in over the final six innings and in the end, finished with two runs allowed on seven hits and a walk. She struck out three.

Stormee Galka went the distance for Lindenwood in the circle, allowing seven runs (two earned) on 10 hits. She struck out one.

The Tigers head to Colorado for a pair of midweek doubleheaders on Tuesday (Mar. 20) and Wednesday (Mar. 21). The Tigers are at Metro State on Tuesday and Colorado Christian on Wednesday. The Tigers play another pair of conference doubleheaders in Hays next weekend when they host Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist.

Upset-minded UMBC turns attention to No. 9 Kansas State

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — No. 9 seed Kansas State (23-11) vs. No. 16 seed UMBC (25-10)

Second round, South Region; Charlotte, North Carolina, Sunday approximately 7:45 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: No. 16 UMBC became the story of the NCAA Tournament when it stunned No. 1 Virginia on Friday night, routing the nation’s top-ranked team 74-54 in the biggest upset in college basketball history. The Retrievers, a 20 1/2-point underdog coming into the game, became the first 16 seed to beat a 1 in March Madness. They will face a ninth-seeded Kansas State team that never trailed against Creighton, earning a wire-to-wire victory to reach the round of 32 for the first time since 2012.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS: Apparently Las Vegas is expecting a letdown from the America East Conference champions, who enter the game as a 10-point underdog against the Wildcats.

INURY UPDATE: Dean Wade, Kansas State’s leading scorer, did not play in the first round game because of a stress fracture. It’s possible, although not necessarily likely, that he could see limited time against UMBC if he feels well enough to play, according to coach Bruce Weber.

STOPPING LYLES: The Wildcats will have their hands full trying to stop Jairus Lyles, who scored 23 of his 28 points against Virginia in a near flawless second half. Lyles was 9 of 11 from the field after halftime with three 3-pointers and was 7 of 9 from the foul line. He sliced and diced his way through the nation’s top-ranked defense with ease, getting to the basket six times for layups. Lyles also hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Vermont in the America East Conference championship game.

THE DEFENDER: Look for Kansas State to put Barry Brown, one of the nation’s top on-ball defenders, on Lyles. Brown held Creighton’s leading scorer Marcus Foster to five points on 2 of 11 shooting in the first round. Foster came in average 20.3 points per game but didn’t score until the 10:30 mark of the second half.

No Wade, no problem. K-State defeats Creighton in NCAA opener

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Barry Brown scored 18 points and ninth-seeded Kansas State posted a 69-59 wire-to-wire victory over No. 8 Creighton on Friday night despite playing without leading scorer Dean Wade.

Mike McGuirl added 17 points and Kamau Stokes had 11 as the Wildcats won a first-round NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2012.

Wade had been expected to play after suffering a stress fracture in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament, but never got on the floor. His teammates picked him up, particularly on defense.

Creighton came into the game ranked 10th in scoring in Division I at 84.3 points per game, but the Wildcats (23-11) limited the Bluejays to 59 points, tying their season low. Creighton (21-12) shot just 33.8 percent from the field, including 26 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

Leading scoring Marcus Foster was held scoreless in the first 28 1/2 minutes and finished with five points on 2-of-11 shooting against his former team.

Foster was booted off the Kansas State team after the 2015 season for multiple violations of team rules, but said earlier this week this game was more about advancing than any type of revenge. He took responsibility for his mistakes, saying it was something that he needed to go through to grow up.

But Foster was never found his rhythm. He didn’t score until making a driving baseline layup with 10:30 left in the game.

The Wildcats jumped out to 10-2 lead behind Kamau Stokes, who scored the game’s first seven points. They never trailed.

Creighton cut the lead to two after Mitch Ballock scored seven straight points for the Bluejays to open the second half. But Kansas State stayed ahead and McGuirl completed a four-point play after being fouled on a baseline jumper to give the Wildcats an 11-point lead with 7:13 remaining in the game.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas State: The Wildcats showed great tenacity on defense. They also shot well from long distance, making 9 of 19 3-pointers.

Creighton: It was another disappointing NCAA Tournament appearance for the Bluejays, who simply couldn’t make any shots when the needed to. Along with Foster, Kyyri Thomas only managed nine points. Mitch Ballock had 16 points and eight rebounds to lead Creighton.

UP NEXT

Creighton: Will face the winner of No. 1 Virginia and No. 16 UMBC on Sunday.

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