K-State rolls past Rutgers

By The Associated Press     Nov 16, 2006

? At one point during the second half of Kansas State’s win over Rutgers Wednesday night, the public-address announcer began to signal a timeout with the words, “Cincinnati calls time,” before catching himself and correcting it to, “Kansas State.”

It may take awhile for people to get used to Bob Huggins coaching the Wildcats after 16 seasons at Cincinnati. It won’t take nearly as long to recognize his trademark high-pressure defense.

David Hoskins scored 14 points to help Kansas State defeat Rutgers 55-41 Wednesday night and spoil the debut of Scarlet Knights coach Fred Hill. The Wildcats shot 32 percent from the field, but were able to win easily because they held Rutgers to 19 percent shooting (9-for-47).

“That was a score from before the shot clock,” Huggins cracked after his team improved to 2-0. “I try to tell them that they’re going to have days when they don’t shoot well, but they can still win, and you do that by guarding and by rebounding the ball.”

J.R. Inman led Rutgers with 17 points. The game was Rutgers’ season opener, but it evened Hill’s career record at 1-1. Last season, the longtime assistant coached the Scarlet Knights to a victory over Marquette when head coach Gary Waters was unable to return from Ohio due to a snowstorm.

Without shooting guard Quincy Douby, who left a year early for the NBA, Rutgers’ lack of an outside game was glaring. Outside of Inman, the Scarlet Knights shot 4-for-39, including 1-for-10 by returning leading scorer Marquis Webb.

“Last year Quincy was double-teamed, and that opened up looks for other guys,” Hill said. “They’re not going to get those looks any more. They’re going to have to find ways to score in the offense.”

Whether due to Kansas State’s defensive pressure or their own ineptitude, Rutgers’ players never seemed to get into the flow of the game.

“I think we got them moving a little faster than they wanted to move and made them make decisions they didn’t want to make,” said Hoskins. “The ball either goes in or it doesn’t, but you can always play defense and rebound.”

Rutgers overcame a brutal first 20 minutes in which it shot 4-for-24 to trail by nine on Inman’s three-point play early in the second half. But Lance Harris scored eight of his 11 points on two three-pointers and a baseline jumper to spark a 12-6 run that opened up a 40-25 lead for Kansas State. The lead eventually reached 19 (47-28) with 8:48 left.

Oklahoma State 79, Northwestern State 76

Stillwater, Okla. – JamesOn Curry and Mario Boggan each scored 22 points to help Oklahoma State hold off a second-half rally.

Northwestern State (1-1) rallied from a 19-point deficit late in the first half to take the lead with 22-5 run shortly after halftime. Cody Bargeman scored eight points, including a pair of three-pointers, during the surge, and Jerry Moody put the Demons ahead 55-54 when he put back Marcellas Ross’ missed three-pointer.

Oklahoma State pushed back for a 67-60 lead on Boggan’s two-handed dunk.

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