Harlem Product Takes K-State To Elite 8

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

It was a homecoming every New York City kid has dreamed of. It is not often that March Madness makes its way through the New York City area. When it does and you’re playing in the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, in the Sweet 16 for a chance to advance to the elite 8, you don’t want to waste the opportunity. #3 seed Kansas State’s diminutive guard Markquis Nowell from Harlem did not let this chance pass him by. At the end of the night, which required overtime, Nowell finished with 20 points and 19 assist in the 98-93 win over the #7^th ranked Michigan State Spartans. Nowell set a NCAA record for most assist in a game. Think of all the great college players who have participated in the NCAA tournament. The names are endless. Nowell accomplished something none of them ever did. 

 

K-State scored the first 5 points of the game and neither team would go up by more than 4 until Nowell drained a 3-pointer with 2:58 giving the team a 35-28 lead. The scrappy Spartans responded as guard AJ Hoggard scored the next 5 points cutting the lead to 38-35. The Wildcats finished the first half on a 5-2 run and a 43-38 lead. 

 

 

Although the Spartans shot well from 3-point land (57% 5 of 9) they shot poorly from the inside the arc (40% 12 of 30). They did not miss from the free throw line making all 9 attempts. Forward Joey Hauser led them with 10 points. On the flip side, Kansas State shot well from the floor connecting on 16 of 26 shots (61.5%) while connecting on 7 of 12 3-pointers (58%). Forward Keyontae Johnson paced the team with 14 points. The second half would be described by Newell as a “Rocky fight tonight”. He wasn’t kidding.

 

The Wildcats looked to send a message early in the second half, taking the biggest lead of the night 49-41 with 17:38 left after guard Desi Sills basket. Michigan State responded by going on a 9-1 run tying the game at 50 after forward Malik Hall hit a jump shot. With both teams sticking and moving, the lead would not go higher than 3 until K-State’s forward Ismael Massoud 3-pointer put them up by 5 at 75-70 with 5:36 remaining. Forward Nae ‘Quan Walker’s lay-up puts them up by 7 but 4 seconds later, Spartans guard Tyson Walker gets them off the canvas with a 3 of his own putting them back in the game at 77-73.

 

With 3:08 left, Massoud connects on another 3 and the lead goes to 5 (80-75) when Michigan State closed out the second half on a 7-2 run sending the game into the first overtime game of the tournament. From that point on it was all Nowell as Kansas State outscored the Spartans 16-11.

 

Markquis Nowell scored 4 points and added 4 assists, none bigger than when the game was on the line. With the game tied at 92 and 1:10 left, Nowell, at the top of the key, lofts a pass towards the basket. Johnson, starting from the right baseline, catches the ball in the air slamming it down with both hands with his back to the rim. The play getting loudest roar from the sold out crowd. The Spartans never recovered. Said Nowell of the play, “I mean, it was just a basketball play between me and Keyontae. We knew how Michigan State plays defense. They play up high and Keyontae just told me, we got eye contact and he was like lob, lob. I just threw it up and he made a great play.”

 

There are 1,371 miles between Harlem and Kansas State. They say you can’t go home again. Don’t tell that to Markquis Nowell. Not only did he come home, he made history. “Man, l just want to give all the honor and glory to the man himself for giving me this platform to showcase my talents and my gifts,” he began after the game. “Today was a special one, man. I’ve got to give a lot of credit to my teammates for battling, for fighting through adversity when we was down. I can’t even explain how I’m feeling right now. I just know that I’m blessed and I’m grateful.”