Web posted
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Augustin leads Texas past Kansas State
By JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas State tried working the ball around the perimeter then dribbled through the lane. The Wildcats attempted lobs and passes into the post. They sneaked out on the break a few times.
None of it seemed to work.
It was almost as if Texas had an extra player or two on the court.
''They've got a whole army,'' Kansas State freshman star Michael Beasley said.
D.J. Augustin had 24 points and the fifth-ranked Longhorns held Kansas State to 32 percent shooting to win their eighth straight, 74-65 over the Wildcats on Monday night.
Texas (24-4, 11-2 Big 12) pressured Kansas State from the start, causing the Wildcats to miss 12 of their first 16 shots overall and their first eight 3-point attempts. Kansas State was only marginally better the rest of the way, becoming the 15th team Texas has held under 40 percent shooting this season.
The Longhorns have held their past four opponents to 23 percent shooting and they matched a school record set in 1962-63 with their eighth win in February.
A.J. Abrams scored all of his 13 points in the second half and Connor Atchley had 12 of his 14 after the break for Texas, which needs one win in its final three games to match the school record of 25 regular-season wins, set two seasons ago.
''The guards really pressured the ball and helped out our big men as much as they could,'' said Augustin, who had five assists and four steals.
In other games involving ranked teams on Monday, it was: No. 21 Marquette 85, Villanova 75; No. 24 Gonzaga 73, Portland 51; and No. 25 Saint Mary's 61, San Diego 54.
Kansas State (18-9, 8-5) got another big night from Beasley -- 30 points and 15 rebounds -- but had trouble solving Texas' aggressive zone and lost its third straight. The Wildcats shot 7-for-27 from 3-point range and got almost nothing from second-leading scorer Bill Walker -- one point on 0-for-14 shooting -- as their 10-game home winning streak ended.
''They're big. They're so darn big,'' Kansas State coach Frank Martin said. ''They're long and they pressure you. They're a good team.''
Beasley was the only reason Kansas State had much of a shot.
Aggressive from the start, the 6-foot-10 freshman made quick moves instead of waiting for the defense to collapse around him. He had Texas big men Atchley and Gary Johnson in foul trouble in the first 10 minutes, and had his 24th double-double by halftime with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Beasley finished 10-for-21 from the field after scoring a Big 12-record 44 points in a 92-86 loss to Baylor on Saturday.
''He's got a special game,'' Texas coach Rick Barnes said. ''He's got great hands, soft hands. I think he's really a better shooter than people think he is, great around the rim.''
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