MANHATTAN, Kan. – Sophomore Selton Miguel led three Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 18 points, as Kansas State used a late first-half run to pull away from Pittsburg State, 78-59, in the team’s lone exhibition game on Thursday night before 5,180 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State was able to break open an early back-and-forth contest with a pivotal 10-1 run over a 3-minute span late in the first half. Moments after Pitt State tied the game at 18-all with just over 8 minutes to play before halftime, sophomore Ismael (Ish) Massoud ignited the 10-1 run with a pull-up jumper. It was followed by a 3-pointer from junior Markquis Nowell, layups by fifth-year senior Mark Smith and Miguel and a 3-pointer by fifth-year senior Mike McGuirl. In all, the Wildcats outscored the Gorillas, 19-8, to end the half to take a 37-26 lead at the break.
The momentum continued to start the second half, as K-State scored the first 6 points to push the advantage to 43-26 and force a Pitt State timeout with 17:39 remaining. The lead never fell below 12 points the rest of the way, ballooning to as many as 24 (73-49) after a dunk by freshman Logan Landers with 5:15 to play.
Miguel came off the bench to lead the Wildcats with a game-high 18 points on 6-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist in nearly 24 minutes. He was joined in double figures by Landers, who had a near double-double with 11 points and 8 rebounds in his debut, and Massoud, the Wake Forest transfer, who posted 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting with 4 rebounds in nearly 29 minutes.
Smith had impressive all-around night in his first night in a Wildcat uniform, as he collected a game-high 13 rebounds, including 11 on the defense end, to go with team-highs in both assists (5) and steals (2) and 6 points.