MANHATTAN — There is no substitute for a fast start, and Kansas State’s basketball team certainly put Colorado on the defensive.
But it was what the Wildcats did to protect their early lead when shots weren’t falling that ultimately delivered a decisive 65-56 victory Sunday at Bramlage Coliseum.
After racing to a double-digit lead in the first four minutes, the Wildcats (14-15, 8-10 Big 12) never let Colorado off the hook despite shooting an anemic 34.4% for the game. Instead of outscoring the Buffaloes (11-18, 2-16) , they simply shut them down.
“We made a concerted effort to try and start the game a little grittier and tougher than we have the last few games and not put ourselves in a hole,” said K-State coach Jerome Tang, whose Wildcats never trailed on the way to snapping a four-game losing streak. “We felt like we could turn them over and we did. We got out to a good start there.
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“Colorado is a very well coached team. All their games they always make that run where it gets tight at the end.”
Colorado shot 39.3% for the game and 48% in the second half, which was not enough against a K-State defense that made the Buffaloes work for everything they got. That ultimately was the difference as the Wildcats preserved a 33-22 halftime advantage.
K-State finished with a 10-7 edge in second-chance points. The Wildcats finished with nine offensive rebounds to six for Colorado.
“I think it’s effort more than anything,” said David N’Guessan, who led the Wildcats with 21 points and eight rebounds. “We emphasize it during practice and film.
“We do drills in practice to come up with those. That can win or lose a game for you.”
The Wildcats also outscored Colorado 20-5 off turnovers by forcing 15 while only coughing the ball up eight times. They had eight steals in the game.
“We were active, had active hands,” Tang said. “We caused three turnovers in the first three minutes, and it got us out in transition.
“We’re not the biggest team and we’ve struggled to score, especially without Coleman (Hawkins, who is injured). So, we have to get turnovers and get out in transition.”
Point guard Dug McDaniel led the defensive effort with three steals to go with his 11 points and seven assists.
“It helps a lot,” McDaniel said of the turnovers. “We make an emphasis of getting the easy ones. Easy buckets help us conserve energy.”
K-State will look to make it two in a row Wednesday with a 6 p.m. game at Cincinnati before wrapping up the regular season at home against Iowa State on Saturday. The Wildcats have dropped three straight on the road but did beat Cincinnati at home in the Big 12 opener on Dec. 30, 70-67.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State basketball rides strong defensive to win over Colorado
