Feb. 2, 2011
 
The turnover bug strikes in loss to KSU.
 
Manhattan, Kan — Jacob Pullen scored a game-high 18 points while Kansas State converted 22 Husker turnovers into 21 points, as the Wildcats topped Nebraska, 69-53, Wednesday evening.

Pullen was one of three Kansas State (15-8, 3-5 Big 12) players who finished in double figures, as Curtis Kelly had 16 points while Rodney McGruder added 10 as the Wildcats used an early surge to build an early lead and were in control most of the evening.

Lance Jeter led Nebraska (15-6, 3-4 Big 12) with 16 points and four assists, but the Huskers were unable to get untracked. NU committed 13 half turnovers and shot just 37 percent in the first half, as Kansas State held the Huskers to just 17 first-half points in building a 14-point halftime lead.

Nebraska's 22 turnovers was a season high, as the Huskers averaged just 11.8 turnovers in Big 12 play entering the contest and had just eight turnovers in their last contest.

Nebraska led 4-3, but Kansas State used an early 10-2 run, including 3-pointers from Jamar Samuels and McGruder, to take a 13-6 lead with 14:14 left in the first half. The Huskers fought back, as two Caleb Walker free throws and a Drake Beranek jumper made it 13-10, but the Huskers went cold offensively, hitting two field goals over the next 10:35, as Kelly's six points led a 17-2 spurt to build the Wildcat lead to 30-14 after a Pullen basket.

The Huskers trailed 34-17 early in the second half, but a 3-point play from Jeter and a Diaz basket quickly pulled Nebraska within 12 at 18:14 remaining. The Huskers stayed within striking distance for the next seven minutes, pulling within 11 on two occasions, the last being at 45-34 after a Diaz basket, but the Wildcats never let Nebraska trim the lead into single figures.

Kansas State eventually built a 59-40 cushion before Nebraska made one final run, using a 10-2 spurt to trim the margin to 61-50 after a Ray Gallegos 3-pointer, but could get no closer.

Kansas State, which entered the game last in free throw percentage at just over 60 percent, hit 18 of 21 from the foul line in the second half, as part of a 21-for-25 performance from the charity stripe.

The Huskers return home this weekend and take on No. 2 Kansas at 3 p.m. at the Devaney Center. Only standing room only tickets are available for the contest.

Nebraska Game Notes

*-Jorge Brian Diaz returned to the lineup after attending his aunt's funeral in Puerto Rico. Diaz arrived shortly before the Huskers' shoot around after his flight last night was cancelled because of the blizzard. Diaz finished with 10 points and three rebounds in 28 minutes of action.

*-Kansas State's 84 percent shooting was a high against Nebraska this season (min. 10 free throws)

*-Nebraska's 22 turnovers was a season-high, as the Huskers' previous high was 18 against Alcorn State. The last time NU has 20 or more turnovers also came at Kansas State on Feb. 13, 2010. Nebraska was averaging 11.8 turnovers in Big 12 play before Wednesday's game.

*-Nebraska's 17 first-half points were a season low (previous low, 21 vs. Creighton)

*-Nebraska held Kansas State to 41.2 percent shooting and has allowed only one team to shoot over 46 percent this season.

*-Toney McCray's three steals were a season high, as he had a pair of steals on four previous occasions this season

*-Lance Jeter was in double figures for the fifth straight game and is averaging a team-high 14.3 ppg in the Huskers' four Big 12 road contests. Jeter also had four assists, moving into 19th place on the Huskers' career assist list.

*-Nebraska has now lost its last four matchups against Kansas State and has not won in Manhattan since 2006

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.