COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Rodney McGruder scored 26 points with five 3-pointers to lead Kansas State to a 76-70 win over struggling Texas A&M on Tuesday night.
Texas A&M used a 6-0 run, capped by a jump shot by Dash Harris, to cut Kansas State’s lead to 66-63 with about three minutes left.
McGruder responded with a 3-pointer before a layup by Harris on the other end. A put-back dunk by Jordan Henriquez and a pair of free throws by Angel Rodriguez stretched the lead to 73-65 with less than a minute remaining.
The victory gave Kansas State (20-9, 9-8 Big 12) 20 wins for the sixth straight season and 25th time in school history.
Elston Turner had 22 points for Texas A&M (13-16, 4-13), which has dropped four in a row.
McGruder had 19 points by halftime after going 4 for 4 on 3-pointers and 5 of 5 on free throws in the first half. His only 3-pointer after that was the key one late and he finished 9 of 9 at the free-throw line.
Jamar Samuels added 17 points and had 11 rebounds for Kansas State, and Rodriguez finished with 13 points.
The Wildcats made 12 of 17 3-pointers while Texas A&M made just 6 of 15. Texas A&M shot 51 percent overall, but made only 12 of its 21 free-throw attempts.
David Loubeau had 13 points, Ray Turner had 12 and Harris added 11 for Texas A&M in its final Big 12 home game before moving to the Southeastern Conference next season.
Samuels scored five straight points to extend Kansas State’s lead to 66-57 with about five minutes to go before the Aggies went on their late run that got them within three points. Turner struggled in that span, missing three straight free throws.
The Wildcats were up by 11 points after a pair of free throws by McGruder before Turner hit consecutive 3-pointers to get A&M within 54-49 with about 11 minutes to play.
Kansas State led by eight points 2½ minutes later when another 3-pointer by Turner cut the lead to 59-54.
The Wildcats led by seven points early before A&M scored 14 straight points to take an 18-11 lead with 13 minutes left in the first half. A&M was ahead by four points a few minutes later when Kansas State used an 11-0 run to go on top 31-24, and the Wildcats led 44-33 at halftime.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Big 12 Conference
At College Station, Texas
Tuesday
Kansas State 76, Texas A&M 70
KANSAS ST. (20-9)
Rodriguez 3-8 6-7 13, Henriquez 2-5 0-2 4, McGruder 6-12 9-9 26, Samuels 6-9 3-4 17, Spradling 2-5 0-0 6, Southwell 1-4 0-0 2, Irving 3-4 0-0 8, Ojeleye 0-0 0-0 0, Gipson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-48 18-22 76.
TEXAS A&M (13-16)
Harris 4-11 2-2 11, Loubeau 5-8 3-5 13, Kinsley 1-6 0-0 2, E. Turner 8-9 2-5 22, R. Turner 5-5 2-3 12, Davis 0-0 0-2 0, Green 0-2 0-0 0, Alexander 1-2 0-0 2, Middleton 2-8 3-4 8, Baird 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-51 12-21 70.
Halftime—Kansas St. 44-33. Three-point goals—Kansas St. 12-17 (McGruder 5-7, Irving 2-2, Samuels 2-2, Spradling 2-3, Rodriguez 1-3), Texas A&M 6-15 (E. Turner 4-4, Harris 1-3, Middleton 1-4, Green 0-1, Alexander 0-1, Kinsley 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Kansas St. 27 (Samuels 11), Texas A&M 28 (Harris, Loubeau, R. Turner 4). Assists—Kansas St. 14 (Rodriguez 5), Texas A&M 10 (Harris 5). Total Fouls—Kansas St. 18, Texas A&M 21. A—5,461.
