Kansas State (2-2) hung around with No. 14 Illinois (3-2) most of the evening in the third-place game of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, and even held a three-point lead early in the second half. But a 12-3 run gave the Ilini a 53-45 advantage midway through the period, and K-State could never quite make it a single possession contest again, as they fell 72-64.
Down 68-55 with only 4:15 to play, K-State got a long two-point bucket from Luke Kasubke, followed by a traditional 3-point play, two Nowell free throws and two more from Nijel Pack to close within 68-62 with 2:15 remaining.