FROM KSTATESPORTS.COM - No. 7/6 Kansas State could not overcome a poor shooting night, as the Wildcats shot a season-low 33.9 percent from the field in falling 90-78 to No. 8/8 Kansas in the 299th edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Tuesday night before a sold-out crowd of 16,300 at Allen Fieldhouse.
 
In just the 10th meeting as Top 10 opponents, including the first time since 2010, the Jayhawks took control of the game with a 13-3 run over a pivotal stretch late in the first half to take a 49-37 lead into the half. The Wildcats got to within striking distance at 54-48 with just under 16 to play and within single digits at 83-74 with 2:28 left but could get no closer in falling for the 17th consecutive time at Allen Fieldhouse.
 
Despite the loss, K-State (18-4, 6-3 Big 12) is still off to its best start to a season since 1972-73. The Wildcats fell into a four-way tie for second place in the Big 12 standings with Kansas, Iowa State and TCU, as Texas (18-4, 7-2 Big 12) is a full game ahead at 7-2 at the halfway point of the conference season.
 
The tandem of senior Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell were impressive despite the loss, combining for 45 points, while Johnson collected his team-leading sixth double-double, including his fourth in a row, with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Nowell earned his team-best eighth 20-point game of the season with a team-best 23 points.
 
Junior David N'Guessan performed well in his first Big 12 start, finishing with 10 points on 2-of-6 field goals to go with 6 rebounds and an assist in more than 20 minutes. He missed the first 6 Big 12 game with an injury before playing 4 minutes off the bench vs. Texas Tech on Jan. 21. It was his second consecutive start after scoring 9 points in 19 minutes in the win over Florida on Saturday.
 
Kansas (18-4, 6-3 Big 12) got another stellar effort from All-American candidate Jalen Wilson, who had a near double-double with 20 points and 8 rebounds. However, it was two players – junior Dejuan Harris, Jr., and senior Kevin McCullar, Jr. – who had poor games in the previous loss to K-State on Jan. 17 who helped the Jayhawks even the season series. The duo combined for 34 points, including a career-tying 18 from Harris on 7-of-12 shooting while McCullar added a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
Neither team shot the ball well, as Kansas connected on 40.3 percent (27-of-67) from the field, including 40.7 percent (11-of-27) from 3-point range, compared to the 33.9 percent (20-of-59) from K-State, including 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from long range. However, each team took advantage of the 47 personal fouls in the game, combining 56 points, as the Wildcats shot 86.1 percent (31-of-36) from the free throw line, while the Jayhawks made 71.4 percent (25-of-35) from the stripe.  
 
Kansas now leads the all-time series, 204-95, including 94-35 in Lawrence. The series, which is the sixth-most played rivalry (299) in Division I men's basketball history, has been played every year since 1907.