Columbia Lions at Kansas State Wildcats

Edwards, Wade help Kansas State top Columbia 81-71

The Wildcats made sure the urgency was there when they took the court.

Justin Edwards scored a career-high 19 points, Dean Wade connected on a 3-pointer down the stretch, and Kansas State (2-0) outlasted Columbia 81-71.

"I told our guys before that we're going to get a win and people will say you should win, and people won't appreciate it," Wildcats coach Bruce Weber said. "But I think if you were here, you understand how good they were. It was a good win."

Wade finished with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, and Wesley Iwundu had 16 to go along with four rebounds and four assists. The Wildcats made 30 of 60 field goals.

Columbia (1-1) hit three straight 3-pointers to get within 64-61 with 5:45 left, but Wade, playing in his second colligate game, buried a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats some distance. It also spearheaded a 9-0 Kansas State run.

Kamau Stokes sealed it with five of his career-high 11 points coming from the free throw line with less than a minute to play.

Kansas State jumped out to a 21-12 lead midway through the first half. The Wildcats stretched their lead to 13 points before Luke Petrasek converted on a dunk and two free throws to pull the Lions within single digits. Petrasek's effort was part of a 9-0 run late in the half to cut the deficit to 40-35 at halftime.

Edwards scored 9 of the Wildcats first 11 points after halftime to give Kansas State a 51-39 lead. But Petrasek made back-to-back field goals midway through the half to keep it close.

Petrasek led Columbia with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Alex Rosenberg scored 16 points.

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TIP-INS

Kansas State: Iwundu was named co-Big 12 Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday after tallying 23 points and 10 rebounds against Maryland-Eastern Shore. . Monday's meeting marked Kansas State's first game against an Ivy League opponent in 40 years. The Wildcats are 3-0 all-time against the conference.

Columbia: The Lions led top-ranked Kentucky last season at halftime before falling 56-46.

UP NEXT

Kansas State: Hosts South Dakota on Friday

Columbia: At Northwestern on Friday

QUOTABLE

"He's a difference maker," Columbia coach Kyle Smith said of Iwundu. "He makes a lot of plays, like a Scottie Pippen at this level. He's a 6-foot-7 guard who can get his hands on the ball and get rebounds. He's hard to scout."

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• TV Channel: Columbia at Kansas State 2021 College Basketball, week 2, is broadcasted on ESPN3.
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