For 14 consecutive seasons, the Big 12 ran through Lawrence, Kansas.
Maybe this time, it'll run about 80 miles west in Manhattan.
K-State not only ended an eight-game losing streak to rival Kansas, but the Wildcats dealt a severe blow to KU's chances at a 15th consecutive Big 12 title thanks to a 74-67 win Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum that ended in a court storm.
DOWN. GOES. KANSAS!
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 6, 2019
Kansas State makes a STATEMENT in the Big 12 with the W over No. 13 Kansas! #SunflowerShowdown pic.twitter.com/nH4RjyLtcO
A K-State team that was only 4-26 against Kansas at Bramlage coming in is now going to sleep with its first win against the Jayhawks since Feb. 23, 2015 — and in first place in the Big 12 at 7-2. Kansas is 6-4 in the Big 12 and is now only 1-6 on the road.
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Barry Brown Jr. scored 18 and fellow senior Dean Wade added 12 points, 9 boards and 5 assists for Kansas State. Kansas got 18 from Dedric Lawson, but the Jayhawks had 23 turnovers.
The win is also the first for K-State's seniors, not that they were alone in the program's struggles against Kansas. The Jayhawks once won 31 in a row in the series, picking up wins from Feb. 12, 1994 to March 11, 2005. And Kansas' 196 wins against K-State are the most by one team over another in Division I men's basketball.
But that's all in the past.
Now it's K-State: Winning streak, 1.
There are still nine conference games to play for Kansas State, with KU still facing another eight. Now at 7-2, the Wildcats have a half-game lead on Baylor for first and have a 1 1/2 game edge on Kansas — two in the loss column.
K-State travels to Baylor on Saturday, with the winner picking up a huge head-to-head win as the Big 12 race heats up.
The Jayhawks have a manageable stretch coming up: vs. Oklahoma State (Saturday), at TCU (February 11) and vs. West Virginia (February 16). But then things take a big turn, as KU must travel to Texas Tech on Feb. 23.
Then, Sunflower Showdown No. 2 vs. K-State, this time at home. To win the Big 12, K-State might have to go through Lawrence after all.
Windmill d̶u̶n̶k̶ DAGGER! 💪 @KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/fILQfIroev
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 6, 2019
