Kansas State point guard Markquis Nowell had a huge game against Michigan State in the Wildcats’ 98-93 overtime win to advance to the Elite Eight.
Nowell set the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament single-game assists record with 19 on two impressive assists in the final minute of overtime. It was Nowell’s pass to Keyontae Johnson with about 57.7 seconds left that really sent social media into a frenzy.
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Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) drives around the defense of Michigan State forward Malik Hall during the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the East Region of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023. New York (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Nowell was driving the ball down the floor and appeared to be arguing with his coach, Jerome Tang. As the two appeared to be brawling back and forth, Johnson was lurking in the right corner. Nowell timed Johnson perfectly and the forward pulled down an alley-oop dunk.
Alley-oop was a record-tying assist.
While it may have been a fake, Tang told Sports Illustrated that it wasn’t a fake.
It put the Wildcats up by two points, and then with about 15 seconds left, Nowell found Ismael Massoud in the corner to put Kansas State up by three points.
Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson (11) drives during the second half of the Sweet 16 college basketball game against Michigan State in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
KANSAS STATE MOVES TO ELITE EIGHT, EPIC PERFORMANCE AFTER BEAT OF MICHIGAN STATE IN SWEET 16
Nowell would finish the Spartans with a steal in the closing moments and a card. He finished with 20 points along with 19 assists.
The star sprained his ankle early in the second half and looked like he could be out for a long time. But he managed to play through the pain and even hit a circus three-pointer.
Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell reacts after playing in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Michigan State in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
He got help from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who also struggled with ankle problems on the big stage.
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Kansas State is in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2108. The Wildcats will look to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1964 this weekend.
Ryan Gaydos is the editor-in-chief of Fox News Digital.