Kansas State once again used a huge first-half performance to carry itself to victory, as the Wildcats advanced to the semifinals of the Cayman Islands Classic with a 77-57 win over Rhode Island on Monday night before 1,256 fans at The John Gray Gym.

K-State (4-0) will take on Nevada (5-0) in the second semifinal game on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m., CT.
 
The Wildcats, who remained unbeaten under first-year head coach Jerome Tang, scored 44 points in the first half on a blistering 58.1 percent (18-of-31) shooting to build as much as a 21-point lead. On the defensive end, the Rams (1-3) were held to 31.3 percent (10-of-32) shooting, including 12.5 percent (1-of-8) from 3-point range.
 
Although the second half was plagued by sloppy play with a combined 23 turnovers, including 13 by K-State, the lead never dipped below 15 points, and grew to many as 24 in the waning minutes.
 
Junior Nae'Qwan Tomlin led a balanced attack with 15 points, including 13 in the first half, while senior Keyontae Johnson and junior David N'Guessan added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Johnson has now scored in double figures in all 4 games as a Wildcat, while N'Guessan and Tomlin each recorded new season-highs. Tomlin also added 5 blocked shots, which were the most by a Wildcat since Jordan Henriquez-Roberts in 2013.
 
K-State had 20 assists on 28 made field goals, including a sensational performance from senior Markquis Nowell, who was responsible for 12 of those assists to go along with 9 points and 5 rebounds in 27 minutes. The 12 assists tied for the fourth-most in a single game in school history and were the most since Steve Henson collected 12 assists against Oklahoma State on Feb. 25, 1989. The total was one assist shy of Nowell's career-high of 13 that he accomplished twice while playing at Little Rock.
 
Nowell now has totaled 9 career games of at least 10 assists, including 4 at K-State. The 12 assists gave him 499 in his career, as he closes on the distinction of being one of just two active Division I players (Tennessee State's Junior Clay) with 1,300 points, 500 assists and 200 steals.
 
For the game, K-State connected on a season-high 52.8 percent (28-of-53), including 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from 3-point range, and hit on 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the free throw line. More than half (38) of the team's 77 points came in the paint, while the Wildcats once again took advantage of their opponent's turnovers, turning 16 Ram miscues into 21 points. The team has forced their first 4 opponents into 86 turnovers.
 
Rhode Island shot 32.7 percent (16-of-55) from the field, including 16.7 percent (2-of-12) from 3-point range, with a third of its points coming from the free throw line (19). Sophomore Ishmael Leggett led the Rams with 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting and 5-of-7 free throws, while sophomore Brayon Freeman added 11 points from the bench.
 
The winner of Tuesday's second semifinal between K-State and Nevada will play the winner of the first semifinal between Akron (3-1) or LSU (4-0) in the Championship game on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., CT. The Wolf Pack knocked off previously unbeaten Tulane, 75-66, in the first game of the night session, while the Tigers defeated Illinois State, 77-61, and the Zips defeated Western Kentucky, 72-53.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
With score knotted at 2, a 12-0 run jumpstarted the Wildcats, as four different players (Cam Carter, Keyontae Johnson, David N'Guessan and Nae'Qwan Tomlin) contributed to the run, including 5 from Johnson. After the Rams closed to within 18-11, the team responded with 9 straight points, including a 3-pointer from Markquis Nowell, a jumper by N'Guessan and 4 points from Tomlin, for a 27-11 advantage with 10:22 to play.
 
The lead grew to 19 (33-14) after dunks from N'Guessan and senior Desi Sills, while K-State doubled up URI, 42-21, after a 3-pointer from Tomlin with 2:25 before halftime. However, the Rams were able to grab some momentum by finishing with 6 of the last 8 points to close to within 44-27 at the break.
 
K-State built its lead to 20 twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and while URI made several runs to into the deficit, never really threatened as both teams combined for 23 turnovers.
 
PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Junior Nae'Qwan Tomlin led the way with a game-high 15 points on 5-of-8 field goals, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range, and 4-of-5 free throws, to go with 6 rebounds and 5 blocks in 26 minutes. The 5 blocked shots were the most since Jordan Henriquez-Roberts had 5 vs. La Salle on March 22, 2013.
 
Senior Markquis Nowell had a near double-double with season-high 12 assists, 9 points and 5 rebounds in 27 minutes. The 12 assists tied for the fourth-most in a game in school history and were the most by a Wildcat since Steve Henson also dished out 12 against Oklahoma State on Feb. 25, 1989.