Kansas State hadn’t beaten a number one opponent since 1994–before tonight, that is.

Kansas State came into the game with a chance to knock off the top-ranked team in the nation at Bramlage Coliseum. The sold-out crowd of 12,528 saw K-State win the first-ever battle between two top-10 teams in the 21-year-old arena. The Wildcats opened the game with stellar defense and countered with big plays on the offensive end of the court.

Martavious Irving entered the game early after Denis Clemente rolled his ankle while driving to the basket. He made some solid defensive plays and had a respectable night overall for the Wildcats.

The game was very sloppy early on but that improved as it progressed.

Kansas State pressured the Longhorns early and knocked them out of their offensive rhythm. The first fourteen points by the Wildcats came in the paint, with five different players making a shot. In the first half, 33 of the Wildcats’ points came from inside the three point line, 30 of them came in the paint and 19 came from the bench. The Wildcats played very good help defense and were very aggressive on both ends of the floor.

Kansas State forced Texas to play into their game-plan as they made the Longhorns force the action. Texas was impatient on offense and forced early shots. In the first half the Wildcats went to the bucket and played solid defense, focusing especially on Dexter Pittman, Damion James and Avery Bradley. The trio combined for just 9 points in the first half and 26 points overall in the game.

Ending the first half, Kansas State went on a 13-6 run lead by Jamar Samuels. Kansas State forced the Longhorns into 11 turnovers. In contrast, the Longhorns didn’t even take 11 shots in the first half. The Wildcats outplayed the Longhorns in every aspect of the game and lead 36-26 at the break. The Wildcat front-court battled on the glass and held the same momentum throughout the second half of the game.

The Wildcats allowed six points with not even a minute into the second period. The Wildcats didn’t make a second half shot until three minutes in. But after a dismal start to the second half, the Wildcats got it going after Luis Colon swished a nifty shot on the baseline. The Wildcats followed Big Lou’s basket by scoring on the following two possessions. The Wildcats played tough all night long.

At the five-minute mark, the Wildcats lead 58-52 after Rodney McGruder dunked the ball over Dogus Balbay and converted the three-point play. Kansas State dominated the Longhorns all night and forced them into key turnovers to march to their 14th straight victory at Bramlage Coliseum.

The Wildcats out-rebounded the Longhorns by 8 and forced 19 turnovers. Texas is typically known for its depth but their bench only produced 21 total points. One player on Kansas State bench nearly outscored the whole Texas bench.

Jamar Samuels lead the way for all scorers with 20 points off the bench to help lift the Wildcats to victory. This marks just the third time in school history that Kansas State has beaten a number-one ranked opponent.

Next up for K-State is 13-4 Oklahoma State. The game is in Manhattan and tip-off is 3pm.