AMES (AP) — Kansas State showed its surprising start in the Big 12 wasn’t a fluke.
Iowa State proved it could win the kind of games that teams with title aspirations need to win.
Monte Morris hit a floater with 37 seconds left and No. 9 Iowa State held off the Wildcats 77-71 on Tuesday night, moving into a tie for first place in the Big 12.
Jameel McKay tied a career high with 15 points off the bench for the Cyclones (14-3, 4-1), who joined No. 11 Kansas atop the league. Iowa State beat Kansas in Ames 86-81 on Saturday.
This one was just as tough for the Cyclones. But they held K-State scoreless from the 4:04 mark of the second half until a meaningless basket just before the buzzer.
Nino Williams had a career-high 22 points for Kansas State (11-8, 4-2), whose winning streak was snapped at four games.
K-State jump ahead 54-49, as the Wildcats hit 6 of their first 10 shots to open the second half.
Iowa State finally retook the lead, 71-69, with 2:48 left on a pair of Naz Long free throws following a crucial block by Abdel Nader.
McKay then grabbed a loose ball and wisely called timeout with 1:09 left and the Cyclones still up by two.
Georges Niang had 14 points and Morris and Nader each had 11 for Iowa State.
“Abdel sprinting back on defense and blocking that shot and Jameel diving on the floor and calling that timeout, I just think we have a bunch of winners in our circle that make winning plays,” Niang said.
Kansas State was 15 of 16 from the free throw line, and Marcus Foster scored 16 points. But the Wildcats allowed their most points since Purdue scored 79 on them on Nov. 24.
Iowa State visits Texas Tech on Saturday.