National Basketball Association
Texas A&M 64, Kansas St. 56
When: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 22, 2011
Where: Reed Arena, College Station, Texas
Officials:
# Jeb Hartness, # Randy Heimerman, # Joe DeRosa
Attendance:
12715
By SportsDirect Inc.
Texas A&M held visiting Kansas State to one basket over a crucial nine-minute span in the second half en route to a 64-56 victory Saturday afternoon at Reed Arena.
Khris Middleton was the only player in double figures with 18 points for the No. 10 Aggies (17-2, 4-1 Big 12), who overcame 13 first-half turnovers and 37.2 percent shooting to win for the 14th time in 15 games. Their 13-game win streak was snapped Wednesday against No. 11 Texas.
Texas A&M has relied on its defense all season and was on the top of its game against No. 24 Kansas State.The Aggies held the Wildcats to 40.8 percent shooting, including 5 of 19 from beyond the arc, and forced 16 turnovers.
A&M used a 13-0 run, capped by consecutive 3-pointers by Naji Hibbert, to take a 44-37 lead with 12:09 to play. It was nip-and-tuck from there. Kansas State guard Will Spradling hit a straight-away 3-pointer off an offensive rebound to close the deficit to 54-53 with 59 seconds left.
However, the Wildcats’ Nick Russell committed a silly foul away from the basket and B.J. Holmes drained two free throws. David Loubeau then blocked a drive by Jacob Pullen as A&M gained control and salted away the game at the free-throw line.
Pullen scored 14 of his 21 points in the first half, and Curtis Kelly added 15 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks for Kansas State (13-7, 1-4 Big 12), which has dropped four of five.
Top Game Performances
Kansas St. |
|
Texas A&M |
Jacob Pullen 21 |
Scoring |
Khris Middleton 18 |
Will Spradling 3 |
Assists |
Khris Middleton 4 |
Curtis Kelly 11 |
Rebounds |
Khris Middleton 7 |
Jacob Pullen 4 |
Free Throws Made |
Khris Middleton 11 |
Curtis Kelly 1 |
Steals |
Dash Harris 2 |
Curtis Kelly 6 |
Blocks |
David Loubeau 2 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Kansas St.
|
56 |
40.0 |
5-20 |
11-19 |
7 |
27 |
7 |
5 |
|
Texas A&M
|
64 |
37.2 |
5-10 |
27-37 |
12 |
31 |
3 |
5 |
|