AUSTIN, TX. (KSNT) - Having lost six of its last seven games, K-State men's basketball direly needed a win at Big 12 foe Texas Monday night.
The Wildcats made a push late, but free throws kept the Longhorns just enough away. Texas finished with a 62-56 victory.
K-State got out to a slow start offensively, but so did Texas. Despite never leading and only scoring 22 points in the first half, the Wildcats stayed within striking distance, down just 27-22 at the break.
A 9-4 run, capped with a David N'Guessan dunk, to start the second half got K-State within 33-31 with 14 minutes to play. Texas responded with a 13-4 run to take a double-digit lead for the first time in the game.
Down ten with 3:22 to play, freshman Dai Dai Ames received a Flagrant 2 foul for a hit on the head attempting to block a Longhorn layup in transition. Ames, who started the game, was ejected after.
Shortly after, a four-point-play on an Arthur Kaluma and-one made it an eight-point game.
K-State was able to get within four with 48 seconds remaining. Texas missed the front end of a one-on-one, but a Tylor Perry missed layup kept the Wildcats in a two-score game.
Free throws were enough to put Coach Tang's team away, as the Longhorns pulled through with a 62-56 victory.
Kaluma led the way for the Wildcats with 15 points. Perry added 13 and N'Guessan 12 off the bench.
The loss moves K-State's record to 15-11, 5-8 in Big 12 play. The Wildcats return for a home matchup with No. 25 BYU on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m.
