By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Kansas State ( 24-7 )  has captured a share of the Big 12 men’s basketball championship with a 68-53 win over the Oklahoma Sooners ( 19-12 ) at Bramlage Coliseum.

K-State took a 10-point lead to the locker room at halftime and then expanded the lead to 29 points in the second half enroute to the win. As the game ended confetti fell on the floor, the Big 12 championship trophy was presented to the team. and the players and coaches cut down the nets. It was also Senior Day for three Wildcats who played their final home game, Dean Wade, Barry Brown and Kamau Stokes.

Following the game K-State coach Bruce Weber said it couldn’t be a better story as he referred to the team. “To have that group be honored like they were and then to win the game like this and to celebrate it was special.”

Weber commented that he was so proud of the seniors, the whole team, their resilience. K-State lost their first two games in Big 12 play as they dealt with injuries, but would later reel off nine consecutive victories in Big 12 play. “for them to continue to fight and battle, this is about them, them to enjoy it. It’s so great that, to be part of it. It’s a thing you dream about for them.”

Kansas State will share the Big 12 regular season championship with Texas Tech, who defeated Iowa State on Saturday in Ames 80-73. Both teams finished 14-4 in conference play.

For Kansas State it was their first Big 12 regular season title in six years.

K-State will get the number one seed in the Big 12 Tournament at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri next week. The Wildcats will have a first-round bye on Wednesday and then meet the winner of TCU and Oklahoma State on Thursday. The tournament runs through Saturday.