• Recap
• Bleachers

K-State cruises to win over Texas Tech

Jan 16, 2011 - 12:06 AM Manhattan, KS (Sports Network) - Jamar Samuels scored 22 points, Jacob Pullen had 21 and No. 21 Kansas State got its first Big 12 victory of the season in a 94-60 rout of Texas Tech.

Rodney McGruder added 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Wildcats (13-5, 1-2 Big 12), who built a 26-point lead by halftime and cruised the rest of the way

Kansas State rebounded from back-to-back losses to conference foes Oklahoma State and Colorado by shooting 53 percent from the field, including 59 percent on three-pointers.

John Roberson scored 19 points and Brad Reese had 11 to lead Texas Tech (8-10, 0-3).

The Red Raiders have opened conference play with losses to Baylor, Texas and now Kansas State. They shot 41 percent against the Wildcats on Saturday and were never closer than 23 points in the second half.

Kansas State's Curtis Kelly returned from a six-game suspension for receiving impermissible benefits (clothing discounts) and scored 12 points in the win.

"It gave us our team back," said Wildcats head coach Frank Martin. "But it wasn't just him. It was a group of guys committed to winning and doing things a certain way -- the way we are used to doing things around here."

Pullen hit back-to-back three-pointers to start the game and Kansas State opened on a 17-4 run to take control.

It was part of a larger 32-11 burst to start the first half, capped by a Samuels' three that gave the Wildcats their 21-point lead at the 8:38 mark.

Samuels buried another three later in the half that gave Kansas State a 28- point advantage at 52-24. Texas Tech got a couple of free throws to cut it to 52-26 at the break, but was never closer than 54-31 in the second half.

The Wildcats went ahead by as many as 36 points down the stretch, giving the home crowd at Bramlage Coliseum little to worry about.

Texas Tech head coach Pat Knight thought Kansas State played with a lot of intensity coming off its two conference losses.

"I am not surprised. We warned our guys that after two games like that which they should not have lost they would come out hard and they did," said Knight.

Game Notes

Kansas State extended its lead in the all-time series to 14-12.