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Markquis Nowell is a baller.
The Kansas State point guard battled through an ankle injury and just so happened to be the best player on the court while doing it, putting up 20 points and setting an NCAA tournament record with 19 assists as 3-seed Kansas State beat 7-seed Michigan State in overtime, 98-93, during Sweet 16 action on Thursday.
NCAA March Madness @MarchMadnessMBB
Markquis Nowell is showing OUT 😤#MarchMadness @KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/J6Rhq6bqsU
NCAA March Madness @MarchMadnessMBB
NOWELL CONTINUES TO DISH IT OUT 😮#MarchMadness @KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/HL7kIaoC8a
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
“He knew it was good!”
Markquis Nowell with the TURNAROUND THREE 😳🎯 pic.twitter.com/IyZbOV3lFL
NCAA March Madness @MarchMadnessMBB
MARKQUIS NOWELL ARE YOU KIDDING? 😱#MarchMadness @KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/35LynKFSFo
NCAA March Madness @MarchMadnessMBB
MARKQUIS NOWELL. ABSOLUTELY UNREAL.#MarchMadness @KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/iuih64m4Ex
Oh, and he had five steals and just two turnovers, too. Tip your cap, America—Nowell just offered one of the most impressive showings you’ll ever see.
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This game had a bit of everything—drama, a constant pendulum of lead changes, heroic performances and an overtime session that it absolutely deserved and that more than lived up to the standard set by the first 40 minutes.
Nowell was a huge reason for that, as he continued to dish out brilliant dimes and come up with key buckets while leading Kansas State to its first Elite Eight appearance since 2018.
And college basketball Twitter was absolutely loving the gritty performance:
Mina Kimes @minakimes
Legitimately one of the most entertaining performances by a college player I can remember. Absolute fireworks show.
Dick Vitale @DickieV
Can’t believe the incredible ball handling skills & hoops IQ of MARQUIS NOWELL 5’7 of @KStateMBB He is best player in America under 6′!
Andy Katz @TheAndyKatz
Markquis Nowell is a baller. Wow. What a game he is having here on this stage. Native New Yorker @TheGarden for @KStateMBB.
Seth Davis @SethDavisHoops
I am going full-blown man crush on Markquis Nowell.
10 assists and 1 turnover in the first half!!!
We are all witnesses.
Rich Hofmann @rich_hofmann
I had not heard of Markquis Nowell until last week. He is now unquestionably my favorite basketball player walking the earth.
Ross Tucker @RossTuckerNFL
Markquis Nowell out here trying to become my favorite college basketball player ever.
Rodger Sherman @rodger
If you don’t love Markquis Nowell I do not want to talk about basketball with you
Troy Renck @TroyRenck
Nowell is the truth. #Denver7
Nowell wasn’t alone, with Keyontae Johnson chipping in 22 points and six boards. That spoiled excellent efforts from Michigan State’s Joey Hauser (18 points, six boards) and A.J. Hoggard (25 points, six assists).
Regardless of the outcome, Nowell was going to be the story. When the smallest player on the court has the biggest impact—while battling through injury, no less—he’s naturally going to draw the focus. It was the sort of performance that March legends are made of, and the sort of showing that makes the NCAA tournament one of the truly special events in all of sports.
As for Kansas State’s, fending off the March magic of Tom Izzo means they’ll be waiting on either Tennessee or FAU in the Elite Eight, with a berth in the Final Four at stake. The Wildcats haven’t reached a Final Four since 1964.
If Nowell has more brilliance in him, that streak is going to come to an end. Don’t bet against him.
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