KSU Snaps 31-Game Drought With Four Point Victory

Jan. 14, 2006

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LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas State defeated the University of Kansas, 59-55, Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse to end a 31-game losing streak to the Jayhawks. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for KU and drops its record to 10-5 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play.

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Kansas looked in control of the game in the first half and early in the second. The Jayhawks took a 26-18 lead at the half helped by a 12-0 run midway through the stanza that gave KU a 12-point edge.

Sophomore Sasha Kaun’s dunk gave the Jayhawks a 12-point lead with 17:05 left in the game. After the flush, Kansas State started to chip away at KU’s lead. The Wildcats used a 10-2 run to pull within a point of KU with less than six minutes to play.

A layup by Cartier Martin and a jumper by Clent Stewart gave KSU a 50-47 lead with 4:16 remaining. Sophomore Russell Robinson tied the game at 50 with a 3-pointer on KU’s next possession. Stewart responded with two free throws and Martin put in a jumper to give KSU a four-point lead, its largest of the game.

A runner by freshman Brandon Rush pulled the Jayhawks to within three points with 55 second left. With nine seconds remaining, Akeem Wright knocked down the second of his two free throws, giving KSU a 59-55 victory and its first against KU since 1994.

The Wildcats only committed four turnovers in the second half after 15 in the first. KSU shot 57.1 percent in the second half to KU’s 25.9.

Freshman Mario Chalmers poured in a career-high 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting and added four assists and four steals. Rush notched 12 points and Robinson 11. Kaun came off the bench to score eight points and pull down nine boards.

The Jayhawks will return to action on Monday, Jan. 16, against border rival Missouri, in Columbia, Mo. The game will be televised at 6 p.m as a part of ESPN’s Big Monday.