Nijel Pack scored 20 points including five in a decisive stretch of the second half, as Kansas State pulled away to defeat host TCU on Saturday in the Big 12 Conference matchup in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Wildcats (12-10, 4-6 Big 12) took charge for good with a 15-3 run that began after TCU closed to within two points five minutes into the second half. Markquis Nowell added four points in the surge, and Kansas State then expanded its lead to as many as 16 points before surviving a late run by the Horned Frogs.
Mark Smith added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats and hit a key three-point play and a pair of free throws late in the game. Nowell and Mike McGuirl scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, for Kansas State, which has won two straight games and earned a regular-season split with the Horned Frogs.
Damion Baugh led the Horned Frogs with 17 points, while Francisco Farabello added 14 and Emanuel Miller 13.
TCU (15-5, 4-4) played without leading scorer Mike Miles, who has a wrist injury. The Horned Frogs had a two-game winning streak snapped.
The Wildcats took advantage of a ragged shooting start by TCU and led 18-10 after a three-point play by Carlton Linguard Jr. at the 13:29 mark of the first half. The Horned Frogs rallied behind a bucket by Charles O’Bannon Jr. and a 3-pointer by Baugh to pull to within three points.
Kansas State regained its stride and built a 31-20 lead on Smith’s three-point play with 3:50 to play in the half. The Horned Frogs ended the half with an 8-4 run to cut their deficit to 35-28 at the break.
Baugh led all scorers with 13 points in the half while Smith and Pack had nine apiece for the Wildcats.
The Horned Frogs roared into the second half by scoring nine of the first 13 points to pull within 39-37.
Kansas State answered with an 11-2 run over nearly five minutes to push its lead back to double digits, with Pack hitting a jumper and a 3-pointer to cap the surge.
–Field Level Media
