Kansas State upsets top-ranked Oklahoma, 80-69

While Ryan Spangler gave the Sooners some punch inside, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds, the other forward spot was a position of misery. But when the final seconds ticked away and Weber’s bunch jogged to the safety of center court, they were startled to see all those fans celebrating in the stands. Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger and assistant Steve Henson both had outstanding careers as players for Kansas State.

Hield was just 7 of 16 from the floor, and didn’t attempt a free throw until there was about seven minutes left. Oklahoma started quickly, scoring the first nine points of the game. Iwundu (12.4) and Justin Edwards (11.5) are the team’s top scorers, although neither is a good 3-point shooter – a big problem for Kansas State, which shoots 28.6 percent overall from the arc.

K-State trailed 14-5, but the Wildcats started hitting three’s sparked by freshman forward Dean Wade and went on a 20-10 run to take their first lead of the game 25-24 with eight minutes to play in the first half.

Kansas State got off to a similarly poor start in the second half, turning it over twice and missing four of its first five shots, only to find its rhythm again. The Wildcats shut down Oklahoma’s vaunted 3-point shooting to knock off the top-ranked team, 80-69. And when it finally did, it was an air ball from 18 feet.

It was Kansas State’s first victory against a No. 1 team since topping Kansas on February 11, 2011, and just the fifth time the program has defeated the nation’s best team.

With the top three 3-point shooters in the Big 12, Oklahoma is going to be a nightmare matchup for any opponent, let alone one of the league’s bottom feeders.

Oklahoma and Kansas will rematch their instant-classic triple-overtime game, a Kansas victory which saw Buddy Hield put up 46 points, next Saturday in Norman.

No. 3 VILLANOVA 72, No. 11 PROVIDENCE 60 (at Providence, R.I.) – Darryl Reynolds had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the Wildcats held off a late rally to defeat the Friars. The Sooners won, 90-82. The senior guard, averaging 25.8 points, was held to just six on 2-for-7 shooting in the first half.

For the first time this season, Wade started the game sitting on the bench instead of being in the starting line-up.

Wesley Iwundu, F, Kansas State – Iwundu had 22 points in the game, shot 7-of-11 from the field.

Up next, Oklahoma will play the Texas Longhorns in the first installment of the Red River Rivalry.

Ugly basketball. Typical of Kansas State, the Wildcats made Saturday’s clash an ugly contest.