Dean Wade scored 19 points to lead four Kansas State players in double figures in a 74-55 victory over Prairie View A&M Tuesday night, giving Bruce Weber 400 wins as a head coach.
K-State looked lackadaisical for much of the night in front of a half-full crowd in Bramlage Coliseum, trailing with three minutes left in the first half and leading just 35-29 at halftime.
But the Wildcats did manage to hit four-straight three pointers to end the half and head to the locker room with a small cushion, which led to a much better second half.
“We didn’t play up to the level I think our team should play,” Weber said. “Some of it is my fault. We didn’t get them ready to play.”
The game opened up early in the second half when K-State rattled off a 19-4 run which included more hot shooting from long range. Brown hit three in less than two minutes, ending any remaining threat of an upset.
Brown finished with 12 points to compliment Wade’s 19. D.J. Johnson and Kamau Stokes scored 12 and 11, respectively.
As a team, the Wildcats shot 55 percent (11 of 20) from three-point range.
Weber said reaching the 400 win plateau is simply proof of how many years he’s been in the business, which started at Southern Illinois.
“I’m fortunate and blessed to have had the support from my family,” he said. “What we want is for (our next game) Washington State to be No. 401, Colorado State to be 402, and so on.”
K-State has three non-conference games remaining before opening the Big 12 schedule against Texas on Dec. 30. While boasting a quality record at 8-1, the Wildcats aren’t satisfied with their position.
They will get a chance to help their cause, slightly at least, in Kansas City on Saturday when the Wildcats face Washington State at Sprint Center.
“We have a lot to look forward to with some good opportunities, on Saturday and next weekend (against Colorado State in Denver)” Weber said. “Now we just have to keep getting better.”
