Guard Tylor Perry hit a game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime and Kansas State held on in the extra session to defeat visiting North Alabama 75-74 Saturday afternoon in Manhattan, Kan.
David N’Guessan capped an early scoring burst in overtime with a dunk to make it 73-65, and then Cam Carter scored K-State’s final points on a breakaway dunk with seven seconds left to build a four-point lead.
It was the Wildcats’ second straight win in overtime, improving head coach Jerome Tang’s record in extra time to 8-0.
The Wildcats (6-2), who were 18.5-point favorites, led for just 3:01 in regulation but 4:46 of overtime.
Perry’s big shot was his only make from 3-point range of the day (1 of 6). He finished with 16 points and six assists.
The Lions were paced by Jacari Lane, who had a double-double with 19 points and 11 assists. Detalian Brown scored 19 points with six 3-pointers and Tim Smith Jr. scored 15 points with three 3-pointers.
North Alabama (4-4) shot 10 of 28 (36 percent) from the 3-point line.
Kansas State had five players in double figures, including Carter, who had 14 points, four rebounds and two steals. Arthur Kaluma chipped in 12 points despite shooting just 1 of 10 from the field, while reserve forward Jerrel Colbert recorded 10 points and eight rebounds, and N’Guessan scored 12.
The Lions built a 13-point lead early in the second half on back-to-back buckets from Lane and Brown, but the Wildcats responded with a 10-0 run, keyed by two baskets and three free throws from Colbert.
A breakaway dunk by Carter tied the score at 37-37 with 13:50 left, and then the Wildcats went ahead for the first time in the second half 46-44 on a pair of Perry free throws with 9:58 to play.
The lead was short-lived, as Brown answered with a 3-pointer, sparking a 9-0 run for the Lions and an eventual 53-46 lead.
From there, the Lions mostly held the Wildcats at arm’s length until Perry’s tying shot.
The Wildcats fell behind 12-4 early and trailed 31-23 at the half.
The Lions were without leading scorer KJ Johnson, who rolled an ankle in practice this week.
–Field Level Media
