Dec. 1, 1999
MANHATTAN, KAN. - Kansas State rallied from a 14-point second half deficit to claim a 69-68 non-conference men's basketball triumph tonight at Bramlage Coliseum. Billiken senior guard Justin Love's 31- point performance was wasted in the loss.
"We shouldn't have been in that position at the end of the game," Billikens head coach Lorenzo Romar said. "On the road, we had a big lead and let them come all the way back. We can't complain."
The Billikens appeared to have survived the Wildcats' rally when Justin Tatum rebounded a hurried Josh Reid three-point attempt with seven seconds to play. However, KSU guard Josh Kimm was able to pry the ball loose. 'Cats forward Tony Kitt picked up the loose ball, and Billikens forward Maurice Jeffers was called for a foul on Kitt's shot to win the game. The Billikens objected to the lack of a foul on Kimm as well as the call against Jeffers.
"It wasn't me losing the ball," Tatum said. "I clamped both hands on it and had it secure. I got hit on the arm. I was looking for the foul, but it didn't come."
The Billikens dominated the first half as Love poured in 21 points, and Saint Louis jumped to a 42-30 halftime advantage. Love's dunk off a lob and his two free throws punctuated the end of the first half. Saint Louis shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and out-rebounded the Wildcats 19-11.
Saint Louis maintained its advantage in the early stages of the second half. However, when KSU head coach Tom Asbury disputed a call with 13:48 to play, the tide began to turn even though the foul put Saint Louis into the bonus. Love's two free throws put the Bills up 52-38, but the Billikens failed to score on the ensuring possession. KSU was able to play foul-free basketball for the next 8:30.
Love' trey provided Saint Louis a 55-42 edge, but KSU went on a 14-0 run ignited by a pair of Galen Morrison threes. Kitt's lay-up with 5:45 to play gave the 'Cats their first lead. The lead changed hands twice before freshman guard Maurice Jeffers appeared to reclaim control for SLU. Perry connected on a pair of clutch jumpers after KSU took leads, and Jeffers added two lay-ups and a free throw to give the Bills a 65-60 margin with 3:05 to play.
Free throw shooting and turnovers killed the Bills down the stretch. Saint Louis was only 15-of-24 from the stripe for the game, and the Billiken backcourt committed three crucial turnovers in the final three minutes when the Bills were nursing a lead. SLU finished with 22 turnovers.
Although K-State (3-1) shot only 29.4 percent in the second half, they were able to complete the rally by shooting 16-of-21 from the line in the final 20 minutes. Kitt led the 'Cats with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Cortez Groves added 17 points, while Reid and Morrison tossed in 10 apiece.
The Billikens lost five games during the 1998-99 season when holding leads in the last five minutes. It was the first time this season that Saint Louis let a game slip away. "It hurts like it did last year," said Tatum who finished with eight points and 10 boards. "We don't want to have a record like last year (15-16). Some things just aren't going our way."
Saint Louis (3-2) returns to Kiel Center on Sat., Dec. 4, at 1:05 p.m. to take on Southwest Texas State.
