All three local major Division-1 college basketball programs came out winners on Saturday with all three winning in different fashion.
KANSAS STATE
Kansas State’s game in Waco against Baylor provided the biggest thrill. The Wildcats got a 3-point field goal from senior guard Rodney McGruder at the buzzer and hung on to beat the Bears (17-12, 8-8) by a final score of 64-61. The win allowed Kansas State (24-5, 13-3) to remain tied with Kansas for first place in the Big 12 conference standings. McGruder led the Wildcats with 18 points, as the Wildcats win streak reached 5 games. Pierre Jackson led Baylor with 18 points and seven assists. Kansas State plays its regular season home finale on tuesday by hosting TCU.
KU JAYHAWKS
In Lawrence, the Kansas Jayhawks (25-4, 13-3) got a school record 36 points from freshman guard Ben McLemore and defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers (13-16, 6-10) 91-65. The previous record was 35 points set by Danny Manning 28 years to the day in a game against Oklahoma State, March 2nd, 1985. Current Kansas Coach Bill Self was a senior on that Oklahoma State team. McLemore’s 36 points came on 12 of 15 shooting from the field. McLemore hit five of six 3-point attempts. Senior Guard Elijah Johnson scored 12 points and had 10 assists. Senior Center Jeff Withey barely missed a triple-double, logging 14 points, 10 rebounds and 9 blocks. Kansas plays its regular season home finale on Monday by hosting Texas Tech.
MIZZOU
In Columbia on Saturday, the Missouri Tigers (21-8, 10-6) avenged a road loss at LSU by defeating the visiting Tigers 89-76. Missouri overcame a sluggish start, trailing by as many as 13, and stayed undefeated at home, getting 15 points from junior guard Phil Pressey and 23 points and 10 rebounds from senior forward Laurence Bowers. Anthony Hickey had 22 points for LSU (17-10, 8-8). Missouri senior center Alex Oriaki had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Missouri plays its regular season home finale on Tuesday by hosting the Arkansas Razorbacks, who won at home on Saturday against Kentucky.