Nov. 25, 2002 – The Kansas State Wildcats were unable to overcome an early 12-0 deficit to University of Toledo and thus lost their second game of the season, 58-50, at the University of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam tournament on Sunday night.
The Rockets (1,1) made five of their first eight attempts to start the game and never relinquished the lead. The way the Rockets began the game caught the Wildcats by surprise. "Their start amazed me," K-State coach Jim Wooldridge said.
The look of disappointment was very evident on the faces of the Wildcats players and entire coaching staff after the humbling defeat.
"We played good defensively but not so well offensively," Wooldridge said. "We made a lot of silly mistakes on offense."
The Wildcats caused the Rockets to commit 25 turnovers but also committed 24 turnovers themselves. Gilson DeJesus who led the Wildcats with 14 points echoed his coach’s statements. "We played good defense but struggled on offense," he said.
"We did not get good shots off today and we committed too many turnovers," Wooldridge said. "We just did not make good decisions with the basketball. I think that Gilson played well but we need more players to do the same."
"I was surprised at the way we started but I think that we played really well, the best we have played thus far," Rockets head coach Stan Joplin said.
The Rockets missed only three of their 23 free throw attempts in the game. Nick Moore had 19 points to lead the Rockets. Keith Triplett had 11 points and Sammy Villegas added 10 points.
DeJesus had 14 points and Pervis Pasco scored eight points for the Wildcats (0-2). Tim Ellis and Jarrett Hart each had seven points.
The Wildcats will try to regroup as they play the loser of the Michigan-Virginia Tech game for fifth place in the tournament.
The Wildcats players watched the Michigan-Tech game attentively after the disappointing loss, and they will try to get it together for Monday’s consolation game.
The Wildcats coaching staff, who scouted the BYU Cougars on Friday night, were at it once again as they too watched the game and took notes from the sideline.
Virginia Tech defeated Michigan, 65-53, in the second game of the evening at the Paradise Jam tournament.
The Hokies (1-1) used a 15-1 run in the closing minutes of the second half to extend a one point lead to 15 points. The Wolverines (0-2) shot a dismal 27 percent for the game and even worst from behind the three-point arc, 17 percent.
"We feel good about our performance tonight, especially after the loss to St. Bonaventure Friday night," Hokies head coach Ricky Stokes said. "We defended well and rebounded good, and I think those two things were the difference in the game."
Terry Taylor had 23 points for the Hokies. Carlos Dixon added 20 points.
Graham Brown had 14 points for the Wolverines. Daniel Horton and Bernard Robinson each added 12 points.
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