NEW YORK (PSF) - The Sweet Sixteen matchup between Kansas State and Michigan State will be remembered as the “Markquis Nowell game”. The 5’8 guard is small for a basketball player, but is one of the best players in the country. He proved it in a game in his hometown, on a bad ankle injured earlier in the game, all while setting the all-time assist record for a single NCAA Tournament game with 19.

Kansas State defeated Michigan State 98-93 in overtime. The game was back and forth throughout, and a Tyson Walker layup tied the game at the end of regulation for Michigan State to send it into overtime. With the game tied at about one minute remaining, Nowell made an incredible pass to Keyontae Johnson for a reverse alley-oop slam. This assist tied Nowell for the assist record with 18.

Then with 17 seconds left, Kansas State had minimal time left on the shot clock. They were up one point and needed to get a shot up quick. Nowell, as the inbounder, found his childhood friend Ismael Massoud for a two-point jumper that pushed the lead to three. That 19th assist gave Nowell the record outright.

Michigan State needed a quick two or a three to tie. Kansas State played great defense, and it was none other than Nowell who came up with the steal and clinched the game with a layup at the other end as time expired. The game was easily one of the best that we’ve seen thus far in March Madness.

Nowell finished with an unbelievable statline: 20 points, 19 assists, five steals and three rebounds. Johnson was the leading scorer for Kansas State with 22 points along with six rebounds. Massoud added 15 points off the bench, which included several big-time shots.

In the loss for Michigan State, AJ Hoggard led the way with 25 points, six assists and two blocks. Joey Hauser added 18 points and six rebounds. Walker had 15 points and five assists.

This unprecedented season for Kansas State continues into the Elite Eight. The team picked to finish last in the Big 12 Conference at the beginning of the season is now just one game away from the Final Four.