Manhattan, Kan. ? Shot after shot clanged off the rim. Passes went to the wrong team, leading to easy baskets at the other end.
Fans started yelling “Mercy bucket!” in hopes that Savannah State could find some way to get the ball in the basket at least once.
Finally, one did, though it wasn’t enough to avoid the record books.
Kansas State set two NCAA records and tied another by holding Savannah State to four points in the second half in an 85-25 rout Monday night.
Kansas State (10-4) hounded the Tigers on the perimeter and pushed them away from the basket inside from the opening tip, holding them without a field goal during a seven-minute span of the first half to build a 16-point lead.
But that was nothing.
Savannah State (8-13) missed its first 15 shots of the second half, falling behind 72-22 as Kansas State opened with a 35-1 run. Joseph Flegler finally ended the drought with 5:48 left, hitting a three-pointer from the wing, and the Tigers figured to at least get a couple more baskets. Nothing else fell.
The Tigers finished the second half 1-for-23, breaking the NCAA record for worst shooting percentage and fewest points in a half since the shot clock was introduced in 1986. The one field goal also tied the mark for fewest in a half.
Oklahoma State 62, Rogers State 53
Stillwater, Okla. – Freshman James Anderson scored 15 points as Oklahoma State closed its non-conference slate with a 62-53 victory on Monday night against Rogers State, a first-year NAIA program.
Byron Eaton scored 14 points and Obi Muonelo added 13 for Oklahoma State (9-5), with both scoring in the final moments to help the Cowboys preserve their fourth straight victory.
Tulsa 81, Colorado 68
Boulder, Colo. – Reserve Glenn Andrews scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and Ben Uzoh added 15, lifting Tulsa to an 81-68 victory over Colorado on Monday night.
The Golden Hurricane, who have now won six straight, picked up their first road win of the season. The team entered the game having dropped three in a row away from the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
Tulsa (8-4) trailed 52-49 with 14:20 remaining before going on a 16-2 run behind the hot shooting of Andrews, who accounted for 14 points during the spurt by hitting four three-pointers and knocking down a mid-range jumper.
Oklahoma 81, Mount St. Mary’s 57
Norman, Okla. – Freshman forward Blake Griffin scored a career-high 26 points as Oklahoma won its fifth straight game, rolling past Mount St. Mary’s 81-57.
Griffin went 7 of 10 from the field and 12 of 18 from the free-throw line against the smaller Mountaineers as Oklahoma (12-3) matched its highest non-conference win total in nine years. The Sooners’ winning streak is their longest during coach Jeff Capel’s two seasons at the helm.
The Sooners shot 53.2 percent from the field, went 6 of 12 from three-point range and forced 19 turnovers by the Mountaineers.
The game was tied 28-28 when the Sooners went on a 13-0 run spanning the halves. The Sooners led 36-28 at halftime, thanks to consecutive three-pointers by senior David Godbold. Oklahoma scored the five points in the opening minute of the second half, as Griffin then teamed with his older brother, Taylor Griffin.
Mount St. Mary’s (7-8) came no closer than 11 points the rest of the way. The Mountaineers have lost four of their last five games.
