Three takeaways from Kansas State's 64-63 loss to Marquette

Marquette forward Justin Lewis (10) drives against Kansas State's Ismael Massoud (25) during the first half  Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
Marquette forward Justin Lewis (10) drives against Kansas State's Ismael Massoud (25) during the first half Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.

MANHATTAN — Kansas State battled back from a seven-point deficit in the second half and had a chance to beat Marquette at the buzzer, but Ismael Massoud's layup on a baseline drive was blocked by Oso Ighodaro as the Golden Eagles escaped with a 64-63 victory in a Big East/Big 12 Battle matchup Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.

For the second straight game, K-State played without starting point guard and leading scorer Nijel Pack, who was not yet cleared to play after suffering a concussion in practice Saturday.

Mark Smith had 17 points and eight rebounds, Massoud 16 points and six boards and Markquis Nowell nearly a triple double, finishing with 11 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for K-State, which fell to 5-3. The loss ended a three-game Wildcat winning streak.

Kam Jones led Marquette (8-2) with 15 points, while Justin Lewis had 14 points nine rebounds and five assists.

Here are three takeaways from K-State's loss:

Wildcats only as good as their defense

Marquette was shooting 64% in the second half at the time of its biggest lead, 61-54. K-State locked down the rest of the way, but the Golden Eagles still finished 53.8% for the half and 41.3% for the game.

K-State shot just 39.1% for the game and was 2 of 15 from 3-point range in the second half. The Wildcats are not going to outscore a lot of teams and need their defense to come through.

Nowell the playmaker

It may be difficult to keep Nowell out of the starting lineup when Pack returns from concussion protocols, presumably Sunday against Green Bay.

Nowell has filled in admirably at the point the past two games, and while he didn't have a stellar shooting night against Marquette 5 of 13, 1-for-7 on 3-pointers), he led the Wildcats with 11 assists and added eight rebounds to his 11 points.

K-State coach Bruce Weber still prefers to bring Nowell off the bench, though starting him at the point could free Pack, the team's best 3-point shooter to play off the ball.

Ish roars back

Massoud, who had been in a serious shooting slump, broke out with 16 points against Marquette.

In the three previous games, the Wake Forest transfer was 3 of 15 shooting, including 0 of 7 from 3-point range.

But he had seven points and six rebounds in the first half, then had seven quick points in a 9-2 Wildcat surge to start the second period. Massoud did struggle down the stretch, but still was productive.

Weber said Tuesday that he was looking for Massoud to work harder to get open shots and he finished 6 of 14, including 2 of 6 from 3-point range

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State basketball falls to Marquette, 64-63