Angel Rodriguez scored 22 points and Shane Southwell added 18 on the strength of six three-point baskets as 10th-ranked Kansas State bounced back from its worst loss of the season and steamrolled Baylor 81-61 before a sellout crowd of 12,528 Saturday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
The two teams were in a struggle early as Baylor jumped out to a 16-12 advantage in the first half, but K-State outscored the Bears 26-13 the rest of the en route to a 38-29 halftime lead. The Wildcats quickly stretched the lead to 43-29 before Baylor responded with a 12-0 run to cut the margin to 43-41. K-State coach Bruce Weber then called time out to get his players to regroup and they promptly responded with a 14-4 surge to stretch the lead back out to 59-45. The Wildcats never looked back after that as they secured their school-record seventh consecutive 20-win season.
Rodriguez was one of two Wildcats to record a double-double as he added 10 assists to his stellar night and Jordan Henriquez who has been maligned for his inconsistent play at times this season recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds. Rodney McGruder was also in double figures with 10 points. Baylor (16-9, 7-5) was led by A.J. Walton’s 14 points and 13 by Isiah Austin.
Kansas State (20-5, 9-3) will play the second of three straight Monday games this week against West Virginia. The game marks the return to Bramlage Coliseum of Bob Huggins who was the Wildcats’ Head Coach during the 2006-07 season before leaving for his alma mater. Tipoff at Bramlage on Monday night is set for 8 p.m.
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