AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Kansas State ranks among the best in college basketball on defense, so the Wildcats are not generally cited for lack of toughness.
But thats what their coach, Bruce Weber, did after a 67-47 loss to Texas in the Big 12 opener on Jan. 2. Nevermind that two Kansas State starters, Dean Wade and Kamau Stokes, missed the game with injuries.
The first game we were so soft, Weber said. I dont care whos in the game. it obviously makes a difference offensively, but it shouldnt defensively.
Weber didnt question his Wildcats grit after the rematch.
Barry Brown and Xavier Sneed each scored 16 points, and No. 18 Kansas State beat Texas 71-64 Tuesday night for its ninth straight Big 12 victory.
Three other Wildcats scored in double figures, Wade with 12 points, and Stokes and Makol Mawien with 11 apiece.
A lot of positive things, Weber said. No doubt.
Kerwin Roach led Texas with 17 points – and six turnovers — and Courtney Ramey added 10.
Kansas State (19-5, 9-2 in Big 12) converted nearly 55 percent of its field goal attempts, including 56.5 in the second half. The Wildcats limited Texas to 30 percent shooting in the second half after the Longhorns hit 55.6 in the first half.
The Wildcats accomplished that by shifting from their staple, man-to-man defense, to a zone for parts of the second half.
The Longhorns (14-11, 6-6), who scored 24 points in the paint in the first, had just eight after the break, the zone defense making it more difficult for them to access the basket. Instead, Texas launched 11 3-pointers, hitting two. Roach scored only three in the second half after hard drives to the basket produced 14 points on layups and free throws in the first half.
Our guys have been pretty good against zone of late, Texas coach Shaka Smart said. But it got our guys on their heels.
The Wildcats made runs of 8-0 and 9-0 in the second half before seven minutes were gone, the latter giving them a seven-point lead. Even so, they could not shake Texas. A long 3-pointer by Stokes with 4:30 left gave them their second seven-point lead of the half.
Texas, trying to cut the deficit to two with 3:02 left, used too much of the 30-second shot clock, Jaxson Hayes basket ruled to be too late after the officials went to replay.
Sneed, a junior, and Brown, a senior, combined to make four free throws during the final 1:26.
Were an experienced team, Brown said. Experience allowed us to stay poised.
