K-State rips Howard, rolls to Big 12 play

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - — Rodney McGruder scored 14 points and Kansas State emptied its bench in an 82-46 victory over Howard on Saturday, wrapping up its non-conference schedule with an easy tuneup before facing rival Kansas in its Big 12 opener next week.

Will Spradling added 13 points, Angel Rodriguez had 11 and Jamar Samuels and Jeremy Jones scored 10 each for the Wildcats (11-1), who took advantage of a nearly 10-minute stretch over the first half in which Howard (4-11) managed only one field goal.

That allowed Kansas State to build a 50-18 lead by halftime.

Glen Andrews scored 25 points to lead the Bison, though he needed 23 shots to get there. Howard shot 29 percent (14 of 48) as a team, including 6 of 22 from 3-point range.

The Wildcats, picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 before the season, will carry a six-game winning streak into their game Wednesday night against the Jayhawks, which kicks off an expanded 18-game conference schedule. Kansas is favored to win its eighth consecutive championship.

Kansas State has won 13 straight at Bramlage Coliseum, one shy of matching the school record set from Feb. 17, 2009, to Jan. 18, 2010. The Wildcats have also won 23 straight home games in December.

The Bison certainly took their lumps on a trip through the Sunflower State.

They looked wide-eyed and unprepared during an 89-34 loss to the No. 17 Jayhawks on Thursday night, and fared little better after a short drive west. Kansas State opened a 33-10 lead in the first 15 minutes of the game, riding some hot shooting from the outside to an easy victory.

Andrews gave Howard its only lead of the game when he hit a 3-pointer on the opening possession, but Shane Southwell - starting in place of Martavious Irving - answered with one at the other end.

Spradling hit another 3-pointer moments later, and the Wildcats were off and running.

The lead was 18-10 when Rodriguez's scooping layup starting a 15-0 run. The freshman guard popped a 3-pointer moments later, then drained another from the top of the key on the Wildcats' next possession - Rodriguez actually hesitated because he couldn't believe he was so wide open.

By the time Samuels scored back-to-back baskets and Spradling added another bucket, the lead was 33-10 and Howard coach Kevin Nickelberry could do little more than shake his head.

The lead eclipsed the 40-point mark at 63-21 with 14:47 remaining when Spradling hit his third 3-pointer of the game. The Wildcats started to substitute liberally after that, allowing Howard to go on a 13-0 run covering about six minutes midway through the second half.
That was reason enough for coach Frank Martin to harp on his team, which won't have the luxury of taking any breaks when it heads to Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.