The Big 12 has proved to be a conference where the home team has dominated all season, but the Kansas St. Wildcats went to Waco, Texas, Saturday afternoon and upended the No. 9 Baylor Bears, 57-56. Baylor (22-5, 9-5) had numerous opportunities in the final two minutes to take the lead but failed to score a single point -- a disappointing performance for a team that supposedly has national title aspirations.
The Wildcats (18-8, 7-7) got 15 points apiece from guards Angel Rodriguez and Rodney McGruder, who use head coach Frank Martin's ball-movement, aggressive style of basketball to their advantage. The Wildcats had 16 assists as a team on 24 made baskets, which makes the team's 15 turnovers a little more excusable (the win also helps).
Freshman Quincy Miller scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but missed a jumper with four seconds left in the game that would have given the Bears the victory. After a Pierre Jackson three-pointer with 2:15 to go to take a 56-55 lead, the Bears offense completely stagnated and couldn't get anything going. Quincy Acy, who was a defensive force down the stretch, scored 14 points but missed a layup with just over a minute left that could have taken the lead.
For more on these two teams, visit Kansas State blog Bring on the Cats and Baylor blog Our Daily Bears.