MANHATTAN, Kansas -- Justin Edwards scored 19 points, true freshman Dean Wade connected on a 3-pointer in crunch time, and Kansas State outlasted pesky Columbia 81-71 on Monday night.
Wade finished with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, and Wesley Iwundu had 16 to go along with four rebounds and four assists as the Wildcats shot 50 percent from the floor (30 of 60).
Spurred by an 8-of-11 start shooting, Kansas State jumped out to a 21-12 lead midway through the first half. The Wildcats stretched their lead to 13 points before Luke Petrasek converted on a dunk and two free throws to pull the Lions within single digits. Petrasek's effort was part of a 9-0 run late in the half to cut the deficit to 40-35 at halftime.
Edwards scored nine of the Wildcats' first 11 points out of the break, part of an 11-2 run, to give Kansas State a 51-39 lead with 17:03 to play. But Petrasek continued to come up with clutch baskets, including back-to-back field goals midway through the half, to avoid any potential blowout.
Columbia hit a trio of 3-pointers to get within three points with 5:45 left, but Wade, playing in his second colligate game, buried a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats some wiggle room. It also spearheaded a 9-0 Kansas State run, which benefited from four Columbia turnovers.
The Lions didn't go without a fight, but Kamau Stokes sealed the game with five of his career-high 11 points coming from the line with less than a minute to play.
Petrasek led Columbia with 19 points and eight rebounds while Alex Rosenberg scored 16 points.
TIP-INS
Kansas State: Iwundu was named co-Big 12 Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday after tallying 23 points and 10 rebounds against Maryland Eastern Shore. ... Monday's meeting marked Kansas State's first game against an Ivy League foe in 40 years. The Wildcats are 3-0 all-time against the conference.
Columbia: The Lions led top-ranked Kentucky last season at halftime, including an 11-0 lead to start the ballgame, before falling 56-46. Twelve lettermen, including four starters, return from that team.
UP NEXT
Kansas State: Home against South Dakota on Friday
Columbia: At Northwestern on Friday
