The Kansas State Wildcats wore down the Oklahoma State Cowboys, winning, 68-57, to advance to the Big 12 championship round.
No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 2 Kansas State results: Wildcats knock off Cowboys, move on to Big 12 finals
Kansas State will be facing Kansas in the Big 12 finals after defeating Oklahoma State on Friday.
Neither team had a hot start to this game, and Kansas State took the halftime lead almost by default. They shot just 32.1 percent from the field, but it was slightly better than the Cowboys’ 31.3 percent. The Wildcats went into the locker room up. 28-23.
By the second half, Rodney McGruder and company started to take over. A quick 6-0 run at the start of the second half was all the Wildcats needed--they held a double-digit lead for most of the second half. The Cowboys never came within six points the rest of the way.
McGruder was the box score hero of the day, racking up 25 points and nine rebounds. Angel Rodriguez chipped in 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. Marcus Smart did what he could for the Cowboys, scoring 18 points and grabbing six rebounds. Oklahoma State is dancing next week, so it's not Smart's last game in a Cowboys uniform, but the tournament could become his swan song if he declares for the NBA Draft after the season.
With the win, Kansas State has likely secured their spot as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. They will take on Kansas for the Big 12 championship on Saturday.
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