Students gobble up free tickets for Kansas State women's basketball NCAA Tournament game

MANHATTAN — Kansas State Athletics director Gene Taylor had a couple of objectives when he authorized a student ticket giveaway for the Wildcats' NCAA Women's Tournament games this weekend at Bramlage Coliseum.

Judging by the response, it was a win-win.

"Two things. We're rewarding the students for their support all year, and they bring so much energy to the arena," Taylor said Thursday of the decision to buy 1,000 tickets and distribute them to the K-State students. "We felt like if we could help them save a little money in their pocket, they'd come out, and it looks like they have, too.

"It's just what they bring. They bring so much energy to the building."

Several hundred students showed up at Bramlage on Tuesday to claim their free tickets, and Taylor said that last he had heard there were only about 50 left.

K-State's players, who greeted the students with boxes of doughnuts, were blown away by the response.

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"That was a really cool thing that we had so many students come in so early to pick up their free student tickets," senior guard Gabby Gregory said. "And then going on campus and just handing out fliers and different things, just to get the students excited.

"We talk to a lot of students. They were like, 'Yeah, we already got our tickets, but thank you,' and we're like, 'Wow, you already did?' "

K-State coach Jeff Mittie also appreciated the turnout.

"We've had (the players) out a little bit early in the week on campus with students," he said. "We had them in line, I think it was Tuesday morning when the student (tickets) opened up and there was roughly 300, 400 waiting in line for tickets.

"You've got to appreciate those moments because it's not like that everywhere."

As of Thursday evening, where were about 1,100 tickets left for the public. Bramlage has a listed capacity of 11,010.

"Really good, which is what we were hoping for," Taylor said of the ticket sales. "When you host an even like this, it's a big deal.

"It's great for our team, obviously, and it's great for our community, and they are showing it by purchasing tickets."

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State women's basketball gives free tickets to K-State students