Kansas State University Athletics
Kansas State University
17-5, 7-1
Oklahoma State
11-12, 2-7
Defense Pushes Cats Past Pokes
Feb 09, 2008 | Men's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Michael Beasley had 23 points and 13 rebounds for his school-record 19th double-double, helping No. 20 Kansas State beat Oklahoma State for the first time in five years with an 82-61 victory Saturday night.
Jacob Pullen hit four 3-pointers in the first six minutes as the Wildcats (17-5, 7-1 Big 12) built an early 16-point lead. They never let Oklahoma State get all the way back in it, beating the Cowboys for the first time since Feb. 2, 2002, in Manhattan.
Pullen finished 5-of-7 on 3-pointers and had 17 points, and Bill Walker added 14 for the Wildcats, winners of nine straight home games and off to their best start since 1981-82.
Beasley broke Larry Comley's school record for double-doubles, set in 1960-61, and needs three more to tie the NCAA freshman record, set by Syracuse's Carmelo Anthony in 2002-03.
Oklahoma State simply couldn't get shots off. The Cowboys (11-12, 2-7) committed 24 turnovers, took 34 fewer shots and were outrebounded 51-29.
Oklahoma State has lost 19 straight road games - 16 in the Big 12 - and seems to be well on its way to a third straight losing Big 12 season. Terrel Harris had 16 points and James Anderson 14 for the Cowboys, who haven't won a road game since beating Kansas State 63-61 in Manhattan on Feb. 4, 2006.
Kansas State floor leader Clent Stewart returned to Manhattan from his mother's funeral, but the senior guard didn't play, spending the game on the bench in a suit. Vanessa Stewart died of bone cancer on Tuesday and was buried early Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Whether it was having Stewart back or hope that the five-game losing streak to Oklahoma State would end, Bramlage Coliseum was full of energy, the cheers and chants beginning well before the tip.
It carried into the game, with the Wildcats swarming the Cowboys up and down the court, forcing seven turnovers in the first six minutes, including four straight possessions.
Pullen must have felt it, too, because he couldn't seem to miss, hitting four 3-pointers in six minutes, including one with a man in his face that put the Wildcats up 22-10.
That initial euphoria wore off, though, and Oklahoma State clawed its way back by picking up the defensive intensity and working for better shots on offense.
After struggling to get shots off - 11 field-goal attempts in the first 12 minutes - the Cowboys cut the lead to four on Anderson's third 3-pointer. Martavious Adams added a putback at the buzzer, keeping Oklahoma State within 38-33 despite struggling most of the first half.
But the Cowboys started the second half the same way they did the first, failing to get a field goal in the first 3 1/2 minutes to fall behind 46-33. This time, Kansas State pulled away, never giving Oklahoma State a chance to get back in it.
