From K-State Athletics
Kansas State extended its winning streak in Big 12 play to five games, as the Wildcats held No. 14/13 Texas Tech to a season-low 45 points on 32.7 percent shooting in earning a 58-45 victory in front of 11,134 fans on a snowy Tuesday evening at Bramlage Coliseum.
The 5-game winning streak in league play is the longest for the Wildcats (15-4, 5-2 Big 12) since rattling off 6 in a row from Feb. 18 to March 5, 2013 and the second such streak under head coach Bruce Weber.
K-State has won 3 straight against ranked teams since dropping a 63-57 decision at No. 11/11 Texas Tech on Jan. 5 and has now posted at least 3 wins over Top 25 opponents in each of the last 3 seasons.
In a battle of two of the best defensive teams in the country, the Wildcats lived up to their billing, holding the Red Raiders (15-4, 4-3 Big 12) to their lowest point total (45) under head coach Chris Beard and the lowest since scoring 44 in a loss against Loyola Chicago on December 22, 2014. The team was held to a season-low 32.7 field goal percentage (16-of-49), including just 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from 3-point range.
The 45 points were the fewest surrendered a conference opponent under Weber and the fewest since holding No. 23 Texas Tech to 44 points on January 11, 2003. The Wildcats have now held 12 of 19 opponents to 60 points or less, while three of the last four opponents (Iowa State, TCU and Texas Tech) have been held to its season-low.
On the offensive end, K-State connected on a Texas Tech opponent-high 46.3 percent (19-of-41) from the field, including 54.5 percent (12-of-22) in the first half, as the Wildcats used a 10-2 run near the end of the first half to break open a tight game, in which, they led for 33 minutes.
Seniors Barry Brown, Jr., and Dean Wade both scored in double figures, as Brown, who scored in double figures for the sixth consecutive game, led the way with 15 points on 6-of-11 field goals, while Wade added 13 points on 3-of-6 shooting. Brown also added a game-high 7 rebounds to go with 3 steals.
The Red Raiders were led by sophomore Jarrett Culver, who produced 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the field, while grabbing a team-high 7 rebounds.
The win snapped a 3-game skid in the series and extended the Wildcats’ series lead to 24-16.
