MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State (8-19, 4-14 Big 12) knocked off Iowa State (2-21, 0-18 Big 12), 61-56, Saturday afternoon in the Big 12 regular-season finale at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats, who led by as many as 12 points in the second half, held off a number of Cyclone comeback attempts en route to their fourth league win of the season.
The Cyclones battled throughout the game, but ultimately poor shooting doomed the Cyclones, connecting on just 36 percent of their shots.
Solomon Young did his best to keep the Cyclones within striking distance, tallying 18 points, including 12 in the second half. Jalen Coleman-Lands chipped in with 19 points and Javan Johnson grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds to help ISU hold the rebounding edge at 41-28.
Mike McGuirl was one of the three Wildcats in double-digit scoring, leading the way with 17 points.
The Wildcats went into the break with a 33-25 lead. KSU’s largest lead was 10 points, but the Cyclone backcourt combo of Coleman-Lands and Tyler Harris provided firepower for the visitors, combining for 14 first-half points.
KSU opened the second half making just 1-of-9 shots from the field and the Cyclones crept back after being down by 12 points. A 10-1 run trimmed the KSU lead to 38-35 with 13:34 left in the game. Young and Johnson each had buckets and Jaden Walker buried four charity shots in the run.
However, a quick 7-0 run by KSU got the lead back up to double-digits (45-35) with under 10 minutes remaining.
Iowa State will face Oklahoma in the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship on Wednesday (March 10) in Kansas City, Mo.
