STILLWATER, Okla. – Freshman Angel Rodriguez scored 14 points in his second start, Jamar Samuels added 12 points and 12 rebounds and No. 25 Kansas State snapped an 11-game losing streak at Gallagher-Iba Arena by beating Oklahoma State 66-58 on Saturday.
The Wildcats (14-4, 3-3 Big 12) held Oklahoma State without a made basket for a 15-minute stretch spanning halftime, building up a 46-33 lead after Will Spradling's runner in the lane with 9:08 to play. Then, they held off a late charge as the Cowboys (9-10, 2-4) pulled within 59-56 with just over 2 minutes left.
Rodriguez and Rodney McGruder combined to make seven of 10 free throws down the stretch to seal the Wildcats' first win in Stillwater since 1993. It was the team's longest losing streak in any conference venue, starting when both teams were in the Big Eight.
Keiton Page had 17 points on 4-for-17 shooting to lead Oklahoma State, and Markel Brown scored 14.
Brown converted a three-point play off a steal that led to a two-handed slam during a string of nine straight points for the Cowboys to get the lead down to four. Page's 3-pointer from the left wing — Oklahoma State's only make in 16 attempts from 3-point range — cut it to 59-56 with 2:01 remaining.
Kansas State didn't allow another point until Page's jumper at the buzzer, securing the victory at the foul line despite making only 23 of 40 free throws during the game.
McGruder, who had been averaging 22.7 points over the previous seven games, finished with 14. The Wildcats had a 50-29 rebounding advantage while playing without top shot blocker Jordan Henriquez, who was suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team.
Both teams entered the day stacked up in a four-way tie for fifth place in the conference, along with Texas and Oklahoma.
Kansas State charged ahead to stay with a 13-0 run midway through the first half, getting the first 11 points in a 40-second span. Rodriguez hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to get it started, and the Wildcats didn't even have to go back across midcourt to score the next eight.
Rodriguez stole a backdoor pass and got fouled while converting a fast-break layup. He missed the free throw but the rebound went out of bounds to Kansas State, and Thomas Gipson scored underneath also while getting fouled. He, too, missed the free throw and Samuels tipped it in. An Oklahoma State turnover on the inbounds play led to another Gipson bucket underneath.
The Cowboys finally crossed the center line before Gipson's hook shot made it 21-11 with 10:34 left before halftime.
Michael Cobbins led Oklahoma State back, converting a pair of three-point plays during a 10-0 response. The second, off of a two-handed dunk of LeBryan Nash's alley-oop, got the Cowboys back within 24-23 with 3:58 to go before the half.
Kansas State scored seven of the next eight points to lead 31-23 at the half, with OSU coach Travis Ford drawing a technical foul for venturing past midcourt to argue a call during a timeout.
Officials ended up reviewing whether Adrian Diaz swung his elbow into Brian Williams but ruled that no foul was committed.
None of that mattered as much as the Cowboys' inability to put the ball in the basket. Following Cobbins' three-point play, they missed their final three shots of the first half and 10 straight to start the second half.
Brown finally snapped the drought with a layup that led to a three-point play with 8:57 remaining, and the Cowboys were still within striking distance down 46-36.
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