Texas A&M
at Kansas State
K-State Cruises to 69-38 Win over Texas A&M
Feb 12, 2002 | Men's Basketball
February 12, 2002
After last week's poor defensive performance at Nebraska, Kansas State coach Jim Wooldridge was intent on making a statement to his team.
He gave the Wildcats a verbal ribbing after Saturday's 99-82 loss and took away several privileges, including no pictures in the locker room and no chairs in the film room.
Apparently, it worked. Kansas State held Texas A&M to a Bramlage Coliseum low 13 points in the first half and rolled to a 69-38 win Tuesday night.
The Aggies 13 points in the first half and its 38 points in the game ties conference lows. Baylor held Texas to 13 points in the second half and 38 points in 2000.
"It was awfully good," said Wooldridge of Kansas State's first half defense. "This was a much better defensive effort. And we shot the ball and distributed the ball well."
Nick Williams had 13 points and six assists and Phineas Atchison added another 13 points as Kansas State (10-12, 4-7 Big 12) took a 37-13 halftime lead and never looked back. The loss was the Aggies' (9-16, 3-8) fourth straight in conference play.
"We were sluggish after five minutes," said Texas A&M coach Melvin Watkins. "They put the ball in the basket and ran the break. Whatever they wanted to do, they did it. They were physical and we couldn't handle it."
Williams hit a 3 with 14:34 left in the first half to ignite a 27-5 Kansas State run. The Wildcats held the Aggies to 25 percent shooting and just two field goals in the final 11 minutes of the half.
"We kept getting stops," said Kansas State point guard Larry Reid. "We played great defense and put them away early."
The Aggies attempted a comeback to start the second half. Bernard King and Bradley Jackson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the halftime lead to seven with 14:55 to go. But the Wildcats held the Aggies scoreless for the next eight minutes and scored 17 straight unanswered points.
The Wildcats made 9-of-16 3s and forced 18 turnovers. Williams made 3-of-3 from 3-point range.
"They left me wide open," said Williams. "I can hit those shots when there's no one on me."
Gilson DeJesus had 11 and Marcelo DeBarrosa scored 10 for Kansas State.
Jackson led Texas A&M with 9 points. The Wildcats held the Aggies' leading scorer King, who had averaged 16.6 points a game, to six points.
"He was very sluggish," said Watkins of King. "He couldn't move, couldn't cut. I could get all over him, but he just didn't have it tonight. He gives us game after game, but tonight he just wasn't himself."
