Cougs fall late to K-State

PULLMAN (AP) - This time, No. 5 Kansas State got away with an off night from preseason all-American Jacob Pullen.

Barely.

Rodney McGruder scored 15 points, hitting two key 3-pointers midway through second half, Curtis Kelly also had 15 points and the Wildcats made up for an off night from their star in a 63-58 victory over Washington State on Friday night in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.

Pullen rarely got open looks and when he did his shot was off. Pullen was just 2 of 11 from the field and finished with eight points, just the second time in 44 games dating to his sophomore season Pullen has failed to score in double figures.

Less than two weeks ago, Pullen suffered through the second-worst shooting game of his career missing 11 of 12 shots in Kansas State's loss to No. 1 Duke. Friday night wasn't much better. But he calmly hit two free throws with 9.1 seconds left that put the Wildcats (7-1) up by four and finally ended the Cougars' upset bid.

Klay Thompson led Washington State (5-1) with 16 points, and Reggie Moore, in his first action of the season, added 10 points.

KANSAS ST. (7-1)

Asprilla 2-6 0-3 4, Kelly 7-11 1-3 15, Pullen 2-11 3-4 8, Russell 0-4 0-0 0, McGruder 5-8 0-0 15, Southwell 0-0 0-0 0, Irving 0-2 0-2 0, Ojeleye 1-2 0-0 3, Henriquez-Roberts 0-0 0-0 0, Samuels 4-7 4-5 12, Spradling 2-7 2-2 6. Totals 23-58 10-19 63.

WASHINGTON ST. (5-1)

Casto 3-8 3-4 9, Lodwick 0-1 0-0 0, Capers 4-7 1-2 9, Thompson 5-15 5-9 16, Aden 4-13 0-0 8, Moore 4-5 1-2 10, DiIorio 0-0 0-0 0, Motum 0-3 3-4 3, Winston Jr. 0-1 0-0 0, Enquist 0-0 0-2 0, Simon 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 21-57 13-23 58.

Halftime_Kansas St. 30-22. 3-Point Goals_Kansas St. 7-22 (McGruder 5-7, Ojeleye 1-2, Pullen 1-6, Irving 0-1, Russell 0-2, Spradling 0-4), Washington St. 3-16 (Moore 1-2, Simon 1-3, Thompson 1-7, Motum 0-1, Lodwick 0-1, Aden 0-2). Fouled Out_Lodwick, Motum. Rebounds_Kansas St. 45 (McGruder, Samuels 8), Washington St. 33 (Casto 7). Assists_Kansas St. 11 (Pullen 5), Washington St. 8 (Moore, Thompson 3). Total Fouls_Kansas St. 20, Washington St. 18. Technical_Kelly. A_11,671.