KU to face K-State in Thursday’s Big 12 quarterfinals

By J-W Staff Report     Mar 9, 2016

Nick Krug
Kansas forward Landen Lucas (33) battles for position with Kansas State forward D.J. Johnson (4) during the first half, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan.

The Sunflower Showdown will have a third edition during the 2015-16 men’s basketball season.

Because of eighth-seeded Kansas State’s 75-71 victory over ninth-seeded Oklahoma State in the opening game of the Big 12 championship, the Kansas University men’s basketball team will have to take down its rival from the west for a third time this season to move on in the Big 12 Conference’s postseason tournament.

K-State, which led 40-23 at halftime before being outscored 48-35 in the second half, got 20 points from freshman Dean Wade, 17 from Justin Edwards and 14 more from Wesley Iwundu.

Wade struggled in both games against the Jayhawks (27-4) this season

“The K-State-KU games are always intense, rivalry games,” Wade said after Wednesday’s victory. “It’s a big game for us. We’ll just go back to the hotel and get some rest and bring it back tomorrow.”

Added Edwards: “It is definitely going to be challenging. The No. 1 team in the country. Obviously, they will be playing at a high level.”

The Wildcats (17-15) played KU tough during both games this season, falling in Lawrence, 77-59, and losing last month in Manhattan, 72-63. The end of the game in Lawrence featured the latest Brannen Greene controversy, as the KU junior dunked the ball with a couple of seconds remaining on the clock while both teams had quit playing.

The bucket drew the ire of KU coach Bill Self and, later, inspired K-State fans to heckle Greene more than they normally would have.

It should be interesting to see what Round 3 brings, in a great environment in front of a couple of charged up fan bases.

KU and K-State are scheduled to tip-off at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

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