Dec. 5, 2006

Final Stats

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -Cartier Martin scored 21 points and four other players reached double figures as Kansas State broke a two-game losing streak with a 93-60 victory over Cleveland State on Tuesday night. David Hoskins added 17 points for the Wildcats (5-3), who shot a season-high 61.5 percent (32-for-52) from the field.

Akeem Wright scored 13 points, Jason Bennett added 11 and Lance Harris finished with 10 for Kansas State, which took control early and led 50-23 at the half.

Kansas State held the Vikings (5-5) without a field goal for more than 7 minutes to open the game. The Wildcats, meanwhile, hit eight of their first 10 shots and 13 of their first 20. They opened up their first 20-point lead, 27-7, when Martin scored off the glass just before the midpoint of the first half.

"We didn't compete in the first half," head coach Gary Waters said. "There were opportunities to make it a ballgame, but we backed down.  We can't do that and expect to win.

"We were timid and didn't execute our gameplan."

Kansas State, which won despite being outrebounded 45-28 and surrendering 26 CSU offensive rebounds, shot 67 percent (16-for-24) from the field for the half. It put together an 11-0 run, capped by Bennett's dunk, to lead 45-18 with just under 2:30 left before the break.

The Wildcats' speed in transition and aggressiveness in attacking the basket also earned them repeated trips to the line. They drew 28 fouls and hit 25-of-35 free throw attempts.

Martin got to double figures faster than Cleveland State's entire team. His two free throws with 9:39 left in the half gave him 11 points, 17 seconds before the Vikings' Carlos English hit a 3-pointer to cut the Wildcats' lead to 29-12.

Cleveland State missed its first eight shots before Joe Davis connected from the baseline with 12:21 left in the first half.

J'Nathan Bullock, who came in leading the Vikings with 14.8 points per game, was held to eight points Tuesday night on 1-for-12 shooting. He was 0-for-9 before converting a 3-point play with just over 13 minutes left in the game.

The Vikings did not have a double-digit scorer for the first time this year. Patrick Tatham and Tristan Crawford also had eight points for Cleveland State.

The Vikings also hurt themselves with 22 turnovers - 16 in the first half - which the Wildcats converted into 29 points.

"We did play hard in the second half, right up to the very end," Waters said. "And that is a good sign. Now we have to get ready for Ohio State."

The Vikings will play No. 4 Ohio State this Saturday at Value City Arena. Tip-off is at 4:00 p.m.