Kansas State University Athletics
Kansas State University
1-0
North Dakota State
0-1
Wildcats Nudge Past Bison, 70-61
Nov 20, 2004 | Men's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Jeremiah Massey had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Kansas State overcame a sluggish start to beat North Dakota State 70-61 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Cartier Martin added 13 points and Fred Peete finished with 10 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats, who shot just 24 percent (8-for-33) in the first half against a Division II team that is starting a transition to Division I this season.
Kansas State missed its first six field goal attempts and nine of its first 10. But the Wildcats' timely 3-point shooting after the half, and their edge at the free throw line, helped them avoid the upset.
Kansas State was 1-for-7 from long range in the first 20 minutes, but hit 5 of 8 tries in the second. The Wildcats also shot 14-for-21 from the line, to just 3-for-6 for the Bison.
North Dakota State led by as many as seven points in the first half, was up 29-23 at the break and took its biggest lead 31-23 on Myron Green's runner 13 seconds into the second half.
But Kansas State finally began to hit its stride, and Massey scored six points in an 8-0 run that put the Wildcats ahead for good, 44-41, with just over 10 minutes to go.
Brandon Smith's free throw got the Bison within 44-42, but Lance Harris' 3-pointer started a 17-6 run that gave Kansas State a 61-48 lead with 3:35 left.
Clent Stewart hit two 3s in that run, and Martin also hit one.
After that, North Dakota State could never get closer than nine points.
Andy Kelchen led the Bison with 15 points. David Erbes added 14 points and Green finished with 11.
Friday night's game was the first of eight against Division I opponents this year for North Dakota State.
