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K-State topples No. 8 Kansas

Feb 24, 2015 - 6:24 AM Manhattan, KS (SportsNetwork.com) - Nigel Johnson poured in a career high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-5 from long range, and Nino Williams added 15 as Kansas State upended No. 8 Kansas by a 70-63 count at Bramlage Coliseum.

Thomas Gipson contributed 12 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats (14-15, 7-9 Big 12), who had dropped seven of eight prior to Monday.

"It's just good for the fans, alums, all the students. It's a big-time win for everyone," Williams said.

Perry Ellis picked up a game-best 24 points to go with nine rebounds for the Jayhawks (22-6, 11-4), who were coming off a win against TCU but have lost two of the last three meetings with their in-state rivals.

"I wasn't nervous for me, but there were several students that hit our players , not saying with fists, but you storm the court, you run in, you bump people," KU coach Bill Self said.

Kelly Oubre, Jr. totaled 14 and seven boards in defeat.

Kansas was up 47-41 with 6 1/2 minutes elapsed in the second half before Kansas State began chipping away and assumed control for good. Justin Edwards finished a three-point play and Johnson added a triple to tie the game.

Ellis hit two shots around an Edwards layup, but Johnson connected again to pull the Wildcats even at 52-52 with 9:50 left. Gipson later made two free throws which put K-State on top for good and Johnson followed with a lay-in for a four-point spread just over two minutes later.

Ellis then missed a jumper and Frank Mason III failed on his try from beyond the arc, and Williams hit a jumper to make it 60-54 with 6:13 on the clock.

The Jayhawks pulled within two on two occasions, the last time on an Oubre putback for a 62-60 contest, then Wesley Iwundu responded on the next possession.

Williams then posted the next five Kansas State points and Edwards closed things out on a bucket in the final seconds. Kansas' only answers were an Oubre free throw and Brannen Greene bucket.

Early on, Greene's three-point play gave the Jayhawks a 16-10 advantage before the hosts countered with six in a row. Shots by Ellis and Wayne Selden provided the visitors a 26-19 edge, but K-State finished the half on a 12-4 surge to take a one-point margin to the break.

Johnson hit back-to-back threes to start the run and Williams ended it on two from the charity stripe.

Game Notes

Kansas finishes the regular season on March 3 against West Virginia and March 7 at Oklahoma ... K-State hosts Iowa State on Saturday and heads to Austin on March 7 ... After Williams, the rest of the Wildcats finished 0-for-9 from beyond the arc, but the hosts hit 16-of-19 shots from the foul line ... Mason and Iwundu both ended up with three steals.