The Kansas State Wildcats (21-9, 9-6) and Jacob Pullen won’t have to worry about playing in the NIT tournament. Kansas State picked up one of their biggest wins of the season after taking down the 8th-ranked Texas Longhorns (24-6, 12-3) 75-70 on the road and all but locked up a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Pullen turned in a magnificent second half performance after being held to four points in the first half. Even though he went down mid-second half after falling awkwardly on his wrist. He was able to play through the pain and lead Kansas State to victory.
Pullen finished with 20 points for the fifth straight game and is just 79 points away from the all-time school record held by Mike Evans.
Sophomore forward Rodney McGruder finished with a team-high 22 points and five rebounds on 4-6 shooting from downtown. McGruder continued to nail tough corner three-point baskets in the second half to keep the Wildcats ahead.
Senior forward Curtis Kelly also ended in double-figures on the night before fouling out. Kelly finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
More impressive was freshman guard Shane Southwell. Southwell finished with eight points, five rebounds, four assist, three blocks and two steals. His defense on Texas star Jordan Hamilton was amazing and deserves praise. Not to mention, Southwell went to line with the game on the line and nailed two crucial free-throws to give the Wildcats cushion late.
This win puts the Wildcats at fourth place in the Big 12 standings and if the season ended today, Kansas State would receive a first round bye in the conference tournament. Additionally, the Wildcats showed their ability to win on the road in a hostile environment like the Frank Erwin Special Events Center in front of 16,734 fans.
Texas has now dropped three of their last four games to unranked opponents, and lost their first-place lead in the Big 12 standings.
Three players were in double-figures for the Longhorns led by freshman Tristan Thompson, who had a career day against Kansas State. Thompson turned in a game-high 26 points, 10 rebounds along with three assist and three blocks.
Hamilton had a rough night scoring 14 points and grabbed nine boards but shot 5-18 from the field. J’Covan Brown, after making two desperation three’s with under one minute in the game, finished with 11 points off the bench for the Longhorns.
The Wildcats continue to surge heading into March and their tournament hopes have been solidified with a huge win on the road. Kansas State still has to finish strong, with a Senior Night tilt against the Iowa State Cyclones (15-14, 2-12), before heading to Kansas City for the Big 12 tournament.
