Kansas State University Athletics
Kansas State University
5-3
Cleveland State
5-5
Wildcats Sail Past Vikings
Dec 05, 2006 | Men's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Cartier Martin scored 21 points and four other players reached double figures as Kansas State broke a two-game losing streak with a 93-60 victory over Cleveland State on Tuesday night.
David Hoskins added 17 points for the Wildcats (5-3), who shot a season-high 61.5 percent (32-for-52) from the field.
Akeem Wright scored 13 points, Jason Bennett added 11 and Lance Harris finished with 10 for Kansas State, which took control early and led 50-23 at the half.
Kansas State held the Vikings (5-5) without a field goal for more than 7 minutes to open the game.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, hit eight of their first 10 shots and 13 of their first 20. They opened up their first 20-point lead, 27-7, when Martin scored off the glass just before the midpoint of the first half.
Kansas State, which won despite being outrebounded 45-28, shot 67 percent (16-for-24) from the field for the half. They put together an 11-0 run, capped by Bennett's dunk, to lead 45-18 with just under 2:30 left before the break.
The Wildcats' speed in transition and aggressiveness in attacking the basket also earned them repeated trips to the line. They drew 28 fouls and hit 25-of-35 free throw attempts.
Martin got to double figures faster than Cleveland State's entire team. His two free throws with 9:39 left in the half gave him 11 points, 17 seconds before the Vikings' Carlos English hit a 3-pointer to cut the Wildcats' lead to 29-12.
Cleveland State missed its first eight shots before Joe Davis connected from the baseline with 12:21 left in the first half.
J'Nathan Bullock, who came in leading the Vikings with 14.8 points per game, was held to eight points Tuesday night on 1-for-12 shooting. He was 0-for-9 before converting a 3-point play with just over 13 minutes left in the game.
The Vikings did not have a double-digit scorer for the first time this year. Patrick Tatham and Tristan Crawford also had eight points for Cleveland State.
The Vikings also hurt themselves with 22 turnovers - 16 in the first half - which the Wildcats converted into 29 points.
