How an unusual technical foul from Jerome Tang sparked Kansas State’s victory at OSU
There was a bizarre moment during Kansas State’s 73-68 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday that left everyone inside Gallgher-Iba Arena asking for an explanation.
Why in the world did Jerome Tang pick up a technical foul seconds after K-State forward David N’Guessan made a fastbreak layup that gave the Wildcats much-needed points and momentum midway through the second half of an important Big 12 basketball game?
His timing seemed off.
K-State had just shaved the lead down to 53-49 with back-to-back buckets. Sending Oklahoma State to the free-throw line with 10 minutes, 49 seconds remaining seemed ill-advised. And it felt even more foolish when Caleb Asberry stretched the lead to 55-49 with a pair of makes at the foul line.
We have seen Tang challenge officials during other games this season, such as when he went out of his way to get a technical foul during a road loss against Kansas. But that happened in the first half of that game, and it followed a call that went against his team. Everything was different this time.
So why did Tang choose then of all times to do something bold?
“I felt like there were some ticky-tack calls that went their way that resulted in and-ones,” Tang said, “and there were some physical plays that didn’t go our way. That didn’t result in what I wanted.”
What did he say to the officials?
“I was too demonstrative,” Tang said after the game. “But that was it. I didn’t say anything. I made sure to say that on the radio so my mom heard that. I didn’t say nothing that would have gotten me the technical. But I was demonstrative. I was demonstrative on purpose.”
Turns out, there was a method to his madness.
After seeing a number of physical calls (and no-calls) go against K-State, Tang decided enough was enough. He didn’t care if a technical foul sent Oklahoma State to the free-throw line. He had a point to make and a team to motivate. His strategy worked. The Cowboys sank both free throws to pull ahead 55-49, but then the Wildcats responded with a 10-2 run to take the lead. And they never gave it back. They finished the game on a 24-13 run and celebrated their first road win in more than a month.
“I believe that it inspired our guys to play a little bit harder, to fight a little harder,” Tang said. “And I felt like it impacted the way the refs called the game.”
Indeed, K-State looked like a different team from that point on. So did the officials.
The Wildcats responded by making several important clutch plays to improve their record to 22-7 and clinch a winning record in Big 12 play at 10-6. Markquis Nowell showed leadership on his way to 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Keyontae Johnson drained a trio of three-pointers on his way to 17 points. Ismael Massoud came off the bench to hit a huge three that gave his team a 65-60 lead. Desi Sills converted a contested layup that kept Oklahoma State at arm’s reach.
K-State wilted in the second half of recent goad games, but that was not the case here.
This time, the Wildcats finished with a bang. Tang’s technical foul set the stage for their late run.
“It was just a momentum boost for us,” Johnson said. “We always preach that we need to get on a roll. Coach Tang just wanted to get a little fire under us and make us go out there and play harder. That is what we did down the stretch.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2023 at 5:23 PM with the headline "How an unusual technical foul from Jerome Tang sparked Kansas State’s victory at OSU."