Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell returns with flourish after nasty ankle injury

Surely, entering the second half, Kansas State Wildcats coach Jerome Tang’s goal was to play his captivating point guard Markquis Nowell all 40 minutes of the team’s back-and-forth battle with the Michigan State Spartans.

After all, the NYC-born Nowell was built to be a showman in this particular setting, and exceeded all expectations in first-half action with 10 assists. The tournament record? 18, from UNLV’s Mark Wade in the 1987 Final Four.

Unfortunately, Nowell’s magic was briefly halted early in the second quarter when he fell awkwardly on his ankle and spent several minutes on the ground, rolling over and testing his own extremities.

Eventually, Nowell made it back to the bench without putting any weight on the offending ankle. Would he return? Almost certainly. How effective would he be? Impossible to tell, but only an optimist’s optimist would’ve predicted a repeat of his earlier performance.

Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell makes spectacular circus shot after ankle injury

Well … about that …

Turned out, Mr. New York City (his Twitter handle, not mine) had a little more pep in his step than anticipated.

After checking in to thunderous applause, Nowell sprinted around the perimeter and put up a running, circus shot banker after a broken play that splashed. Minutes later, down 60-57, he found a wide-open teammate under the basket thanks to a trademark dime.

How much magic does Nowell have left in his one good leg? Apparently, more than enough to grit out the remainder of his highlight reel.

With Michigan State pursuing and pulling slightly ahead, he’ll need to summon every remaining ounce of New York City iconography to get to this particular finish line.