Web posted
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Kansas State sets records in win
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANHATTAN (AP) -- Anthony Jones missed a short jumper, then Patrick Hardy couldn't get the tip to fall in a seemingly innocuous start to the second half.
But the misses kept coming.
Shot after shot clanged off the rim, passes sailed to the wrong team and led to easy baskets at the other end, and fans started yelling ''mercy bucket!'' in hopes the Tigers could find some way to get the ball into the basket at least once.
Finally, one did, though it wasn't enough to avoid the record books.
Kansas State set two NCAA records and tied another Monday night by holding Savannah State to one field goal and four points in the second half, routing the Tigers 85-25.
''I've never seen that. That was crazy,'' said Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, who had 25 points and 10 rebounds. ''That just was not good.''
Kansas State (10-4) hounded the Tigers on the perimeter and pushed them away from the basket from the opening tip, holding them without a field goal during a seven-minute span of the first half to build a 16-point lead.
But that was nothing.
Savannah State (8-13) missed its first 15 shots of the second half, falling behind 72-22 as Kansas State opened with a 35-1 run. Joseph Flegler finally ended the drought with 5:48 left, hitting a 3-pointer from the wing, and the Tigers figured to at least get a couple more baskets.
Nothing else fell.
The Tigers finished the second half 1-for-23 -- 4.3 percent -- breaking the NCAA record for worst shooting percentage and fewest points in a half since the shot clock was introduced in 1986. The one field goal also tied the mark for fewest in a half.
The previous records were set just last week, when Pennsylvania went 1-for-17 (5.9 percent) and scored six points in a 60-30 loss to Florida Gulf Coast. Savannah State shot 15.5 percent overall, making just nine field goals -- four from 3-point range.
Savannah State coach Horace Broadnax has seen his share of defensive dominance, having helped lead the bruising Georgetown Hoyas to a national title in 1984. But even he had to just throw up his hands after this one.
''It was good -- I was hoping that we'd set a record,'' Broadnax said sarcastically. ''Hey, what can I do? The guys were playing hard, they weren't making shots. I'm going to wake up tomorrow morning, if I'm fortunate, and I'm going to move on. And I expect them to move on. ''
Kansas State coach Frank Martin plays a deep bench, so even the reserves didn't give Savannah State much of chance, leading one fan to yell: ''I'm not even going to make fun of you anymore!'' late in the game. Kansas State had five different players outscore Savannah State in the second half, including low-scoring center Luis Colon, who finished with five points after getting 14 combined in the first 10 games.
The Wildcats set school records for lowest shooting percentage by an opponent and fewest points allowed at Bramlage Coliseum -- one short of the school record -- and missed the record for largest margin of victory by one point.
It was even tough to watch for the opposing coach.
''As well as we defended and rebounded in the second half, it was not something I was comfortable with,'' said Martin, who is friends with Broadnax and Tigers assistant Jay Gibbons.
The defensive show overshadowed an impressive performance by Beasley.
One of the best players in the country so far this season, Beasley leads the nation in rebounding and ranks in the top five in scoring. But after 12 straight double-doubles, the burly freshman had a letdown against Xavier in his last game, hitting just 1-of-6 shots and scoring five points, never a factor from the opening tip.
Beasley was back to being his dominating self against Savannah State, hitting an array of midrange jumpers, bulling his way to the basket for lay-ups and three-point plays. He shot 9-of-11 and made all seven of his free throws, helping the Wildcats close out their nonconference schedule with an easy win.
''He is a man,'' Broadnax said. ''You look at LeBron James when he came out of high school, he was a man and Beasley is a man.''
Bill Walker and Dominique Sutton added 12 points each for Kansas State.
Flegler had eight to lead Savannah State.
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