Edwards, Wade help Kansas State top Columbia 81-71

By foxsports
Published

MANHATTAN, Kansas (AP) Kansas State knew it needed a quick start against Columbia on Monday night after watching film of the Lions take an 11-0 lead against top-ranked Kentucky last season.

The Wildcats made sure the urgency was there when they took the court.

Justin Edwards scored a career-high 19 points, Dean Wade connected on a 3-pointer down the stretch, and Kansas State (2-0) outlasted Columbia 81-71.

''I told our guys before that we're going to get a win and people will say you should win, and people won't appreciate it,'' Wildcats coach Bruce Weber said. ''But I think if you were here, you understand how good they were. It was a good win.''

Wade finished with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, and Wesley Iwundu had 16 to go along with four rebounds and four assists. The Wildcats made 30 of 60 field goals.

Columbia (1-1) hit three straight 3-pointers to get within 64-61 with 5:45 left, but Wade, playing in his second colligate game, buried a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats some distance. It also spearheaded a 9-0 Kansas State run.

Kamau Stokes sealed it with five of his career-high 11 points coming from the free throw line with less than a minute to play.

''We got the lead to 13 and we came to the huddle pretty excited,'' Weber said. ''Then boom, they hadn't made 3s the whole time and you knew they were going to make some. ... But that's how you win at home - you make plays.''

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 9 of the Wildcats first 11 points after halftime to give Kansas State a 51-39 lead. But Petrasek made back-to-back field goals midway through the half to keep it close.

Petrasek led Columbia with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Alex Rosenberg scored 16 points.

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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 opponent in 40 years. The Wildcats are 3-0 all-time against the conference.

Columbia: The Lions led top-ranked Kentucky last season at halftime before falling 56-46.

UP NEXT

Kansas State: Hosts South Dakota on Friday

Columbia: At Northwestern on Friday

QUOTABLE

''He's a difference maker,'' Columbia coach Kyle Smith said of Iwundu. ''He makes a lot of plays, like a Scottie Pippen at this level. He's a 6-foot-7 guard who can get his hands on the ball and get rebounds. He's hard to scout.''