Mark Smith sank a 3-pointer with 1:06 left to propel host Kansas State to a 62-51 victory over No. 19 Texas Tech on Saturday in Manhattan, Kan.
The win ended a frustrating four-game losing streak for the Wildcats, who held second-half leads in each of the previous four contests.
Nijel Pack had 14 points, Smith chipped in 12 and Mike McGuirl added 10 for Kansas State (9-7, 1-4 Big 12).
Texas Tech (13-4, 3-2 Big 12) was playing its fourth game in eight days after defeating Top 10 opponents Kansas and Baylor, followed by a blowout of Oklahoma State. The Red Raiders were led by Bryson Williams with 20 points.
Williams almost single-handedly kept the Red Raiders in the game in the second half. Terrence Shannon Jr., who came in leading Tech with 14.3 points per game, scored his first points with a short jumper with 4:54 left in regulation.
The second half was a back-and-forth contest with neither team grabbing larger than a five-point lead until Selton Miguel made a layup with 2:34 left in the game.
Much like they had done in their last three games, the Wildcats started strong. They held an 11-3 lead at the under-12 timeout. The Red Raiders missed seven of their first eight shots and had four turnovers before making their second bucket.
A 17-2 run by Texas Tech put the Raiders in control as the Wildcats went cold from the field. But the Wildcats hit back-to-back 3-pointers to close the first half and the Red Raiders went to the locker room with a 28-26 lead.
Williams led all scorers with nine points for Tech. Shannon had all three of Tech’s fouls in the first half.
McGuirl and Pack had seven points apiece for Kansas State.
–Field Level Media
