By Jackson Schneider
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Following Kansas State's historic loss to Fort Hays State on Tuesday, many were unsure how Bruce Weber and the Wildcats would respond.
After falling behind 7-0 in the opening minutes, K-State would hit their stride, opening up a 14-0 run to claim an early advantage that they would ride all the way to halftime.
A big part of that first half lead was freshman Selton Miguel, who hadn't scored more than 10 points in a game in the first five contests, lead the team in scoring with 12 points in the opening stanza.
In the second period, Milwaukee would force a rally of their own, battling back from multiple K-State leads. K-State would hold a seven point advantage with 40 seconds remaining, but it wasn't over yet.
On a night where the young Wildcats relied heavily on their newcomers and freshmen, it would be a freshman mistake that nearly cost them a victory.
Nijel Pack, who finished the contest with an impressive stat line of 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, would go to the free throw line with less than two seconds to go. After missing the first shot, Pack would intentionally miss the second shot to try and run off the final seconds, but the shot wouldn't draw iron, allowing Milwaukee an inbound pass and a last ditch effort at pulling off the upset.
The long inbound pass would be intercepted by Mike McGuirl and the Wildcats would snap their two-game losing streak and escape with a 76-75 win over the Panthers.
Kansas State will be back in action again on Tuesday night in Ames, Iowa to open Big 12 play against the Iowa State Cyclones.
For full postgame comments from Kansas State Head Coach Bruce Weber and players, click the links below.
POSTGAME AUDIO
POSTGAME STATS
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