Kansas State University
Nebraska
Balance, Defense Spark Wildcats over Nebraska
Jan 22, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2003
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Matt Siebrandt hit 8 of 9 shots en route to 18 points, leading four Kansas State players who scored in double figures as the Wildcats earned a 77-53 win over Nebraska in a Big 12 Conference men's basketball game played Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum.
The victory evened Kansas State's conference record at 2-2 and lifted the Cats to 11-6 overall. The Huskers fell to 9-8 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12. The win was also Kansas State's ninth straight at home.
Gilson DeJesus added 17 points for K-State, hitting four three-pointers. Pervis Pasco finished with a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, with Jarrett Hart finishing with 13 points off the bench.
Nate Johnson led Nebraska with 13 points, while Jason Dourisseau added 11 points, all in the first half.
The Wildcat defense held the Huskers to just 31 percent from the floor in the game, including 29 percent in the second half. The 24-point win was the largest for the Wildcats in the series since 1987.
Nebraska scored the first basket of the game, but never led thereafter. K-State's largest lead of the first half was at 26-17 with 6:28 to play. The Huskers pulled within 29-28 with 2:01 remaining before Kansas State took a 33-28 lead into halftime.
Hart scored 11 of his points in the first half, while Siebrandt had 10.
Kansas State led 42-34 with three minutes gone in the second half when a seven-point run lifted the Cats to a 15-point lead. The Wildcats' advantage remained in double figures through the rest of the game. Nebraska pulled within 56-45 with 9:33 left, but K-State got a three-pointer from DeJesus and a basket by Frank Richards to extend its lead.
Richards finished with five assists to lead Kansas State, while Johnson led the Huskers with three assists. Pasco helped the Wildcats to a 41-35 edge on the boards, with Johnson and Corey Simms each having six rebounds for Nebraska.
Kansas State plays next at Texas A&M at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with the Wildcats' next home game coming on Feb. 1 against Oklahoma at 12:45 p.m.
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