College Basketball

Oklahoma State's rough season ends with loss to K-State

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:07 p.m. ET

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Freshman forward Dean Wade scored a career-high 20 points, Justin Edwards added 17 and Kansas State beat Oklahoma State 75-71 on Wednesday night in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament.

Wesley Iwundu added 14 points for the eighth-seeded Wildcats (17-15), who built a big lead on the No. 9 seed Cowboys (12-20) in the opening minutes before holding them off down the stretch.

Kansas State advanced to play No. 1 seed Kansas in Thursday's quarterfinals.

Jeffrey Carroll and Joe Burton scored 13 points apiece for Oklahoma State, which lost its 20th game for the first time since the 1971-72 season. And that could create an uncomfortable few days for coach Travis Ford, who still has three years and $7.2 million remaining on his 10-year contract.

The pressure has been mounting on Ford all season, despite a rash of injuries -- including season-enders to star guard Phil Forte and standout freshman Jawun Evans -- that robbed him of his intended lineup.

Tyree Griffin finished with 11 points and Leyton Hammonds had 10 for the Cowboys, who lost in the first round of the tournament for the first time to finish the season with seven consecutive defeats.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats wiped away the memory of a loss to TCU as the No. 8 seed a year ago.

Kansas State jumped on the Cowboys right from the start Wednesday night, using a 10-0 run and a 9-0 run minutes apart to build a double-digit lead. It eventually swelled to as many as 18 points when Iwundu knocked down a jumper and then hit a pair of foul shots in the closing minutes of the first half.

Kansas State still led 40-23 at the break.

The Cowboys, who began the game 4 for 15 from the field, scored on their first six possessions of the second half to chip into the lead. But once their offense got going, their defense collapsed, and the Wildcats were able to match them shot-for-shot for several minutes to keep them at bay.

It was still 67-59 with just over 2 minutes left when Kansas State forward Stephen Hurt knocked down a baseline jumper. Anthony Allen rattled the rim with a dunk at the other end, but Iwundu went coasting to the rim and was fouled, making the first of two free throws for some breathing room.

It came in handy when Hammonds hit a 3-pointer to make it 70-64 with 1:24 remaining.

The Wildcats struggled to put the game away from the foul line with Iwundu and Brian Rohleder each missing a pair. But after a basket by Tyree Griffin made it 73-68 with 21 seconds left, Barry Brown was able to convert the first of two free throws to help seal the win.

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TIP-INS

Oklahoma State: Jeff Newberry was held to six points on 3-for-9 shooting. ... The Cowboys' last victory was against Kansas State in overtime on Feb. 13. ... Oklahoma State shot just 35 percent from the field.

Kansas State: Iwundu also had four assists and Wade had six rebounds. ... The Wildcats came into the tournament having lost four of their last five. ... D.J. Johnson had nine points before fouling out.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma State begins recuperating in the offseason.

Kansas State plays the Jayhawks in Thursday's quarterfinals.

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