K-State’s four seniors struggle, combine for just 11 points
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Key play:Marcus Foster made an off-balance shot and gave K-State a 31-24 lead.
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Key stat:K-State made 14 of 16 free throws
Second half•
Key play:Brady Heslip made a step-back three-pointer that gave Baylor a 56-49 lead.
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Key stat:Baylor made its final 17 free throws.
Forgettable senior dayKansas State honored its four seniors — Will Spradling, Shane Southwell, Omari Lawrence and walk-on Ryan Schultz — in a pregame ceremony and throughout the game with video tributes. They produced ovation after ovation. But not on the court. All four seniors struggled, combing for 11 points. Spradling did the most, adding eight assists to three points. But he had four turnovers and missed all six of his shots. Southwell played only 19 minutes.
“They are good guys who maybe put a little too much pressure on themselves,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. “Will had some open looks. He had a couple tough ones, too. He never really got going. Shane, since his injury, has struggled a little bit.”
None of the seniors spoke to reporters. But junior forward Thomas Gipson said they urged the team to bounce back for a special postseason.
“Shane said in the locker room, ‘This isn’t our last game,’” Gipson said. “He told everybody to keep their heads up, because we are going to win the Big 12 (Tournament). That’s our goal. This is a tough loss, but we have to bounce back.”
• Foster finished the regular season with a bang, scoring 29 points and keeping K-State in the game with several late three-pointers. It was his second-highest scoring total of the year, behind a 34-point effort against Texas.
Baylor coach Scott Drew was impressed.
“A pro,” Drew said. “He’s that good.”
• K-State’s only other home loss came in the first game of the season against Northern Colorado. The Wildcats went 15-2 at Bramlage Coliseum.
• Nino Williams seems to play his best against Baylor. He had 15 points Saturday and had 20 points in the first meeting.
• K-State allowed 70 points for the fourth time this season.
| Kellis Robinett, krobinett@kcstar.comThis story was originally published March 8, 2014 at 7:51 PM with the headline "K-State’s four seniors struggle, combine for just 11 points."