NORMAN, Okla. — Barry Brown scored 25 points and Dean Wade added 20 to help Kansas State beat No. 20 Oklahoma 74-61 on Wednesday night.
It was Kansas State's second straight road win over a ranked team -- the Wildcats won at Iowa State last Saturday. It was also Wade's second game back since missing six in a row with a torn tendon in his right foot.
Kansas State (13-4, 3-2 Big 12) shot 50 percent from the field against an Oklahoma squad that was holding opponents to 37.7 percent shooting, good for ninth nationally.
Christian James scored 20 points and Rashard Odomes added a season-high 17 for Oklahoma (13-4, 2-3). It was the Sooners' first home defeat and their first loss to an unranked team this season.
Kansas State ran out to an 8-0 lead as Oklahoma went scoreless for more than three minutes to start the game. The Wildcats stretched their advantage to 20-7 before the Sooners found their footing. James hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half to cut Kansas State's lead to 30-24.
The Wildcats kept the Sooners at bay, and an emphatic two-handed dunk by Wade with just over two minutes to play put the Wildcats up 71-56.
BIG PICTURE
Kansas State: The Wildcats are starting to look like the team that was ranked No. 12 in the preseason. With Brown and Wade clicking, they are gaining momentum. The two road wins early in Big 12 play put them in an ideal position to challenge for a spot near the top of the league standings.
Oklahoma: The Sooners struggled more than usual defensively, and their 16 turnovers sabotaged a 47 percent shooting effort. The Sooners got just 14 minutes from starting center Jamuni McNeace, who is still struggling after coming back from an ankle injury. He did not score and had only two rebounds.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Kansas State, which was 33rd in votes in the AP Top 25 this week, positioned itself for a potential spot in the rankings pending Saturday's game against TCU, which dropped out of the poll this week after losing to Oklahoma last Saturday. Oklahoma might lose its spot in the Top 25 after this home loss to an unranked opponent.
UP NEXT
Kansas State hosts TCU on Saturday.
Oklahoma plays at Texas on Saturday.
