Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell, the duo that powered Kansas State’s 2023 Elite Eight run, squared off Thursday night in NBA Summer League action — and it came down to the final buzzer.
Nowell’s Milwaukee Bucks slipped past Johnson’s Denver Nuggets, 90–89, in a tightly contested matchup in Las Vegas.
Johnson logged 12 minutes off the bench for Denver, finishing with three points (1-for-3 FG), two rebounds, and two assists.
Nowell, who continues to showcase his playmaking, had seven assists, one rebound, and just one turnover in 14 minutes for the Bucks.
Boo Buie vs Markquis Nowell right now. Imma cry 🥲 pic.twitter.com/AWBLpCUaSa
— Christian Odjakjian (@OdjHoops) July 11, 2025
The matchup reunited two of the key figures from Kansas State’s breakout season under head coach Jerome Tang.
That 2022–23 team, picked to finish last in the Big 12, surged to a third-place finish and reached the Elite Eight with wins over Montana State, Kentucky, and Michigan State.
Nowell delivered one of the most iconic performances in NCAA Tournament history during that run, notching a tournament-record 19 assists—along with 20 points and five steals—despite suffering a second-half ankle injury in the win over Michigan State. Johnson added 22 points in that game.
Since leaving Manhattan, both have continued their professional growth in the G League.
Johnson averaged 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across 34 games last season with the Greensboro Swarm (Charlotte Hornets affiliate). Nowell played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston Rockets), where he averaged 17.3 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 33 games.
Meanwhile, Kansas State is entering reset mode for the 2025–26 season, Tang’s fourth year at the helm.
After two straight years without an NCAA Tournament berth, the Wildcats return just three scholarship players: point guard David Castillo and forwards Mobi Ikegwuruka and Taj Manning.
K-State went to work in the transfer portal, landing MAC Player of the Year Nate Johnson (Akron), Bowling Green’s Marcus Johnson (16.2 PPG), and Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty, a second-team All-American.
Other newcomers include UNC Wilmington guard Khamari McGriff, Omaha wing Abdi Bashir, international signees Elias Rapieque and Andrej Kostic, and 6-foot-11 JUCO big man Stephen Osei, who is expected to redshirt.
The Wildcats finished last season 16–17 overall and 9–11 in Big 12 play, tying for ninth in the conference.