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Using a late 7-0 run to extend a five-point lead to 12 with five minutes to play, the Kansas Jayhawks beat a determined Kansas State squad 66-52 Saturday afternoon at Bramlage Coliseum, extending the Jayhawks’ incredible winning streak in Manhattan to 23 years. Brandon Rush led all scorers with 24 points while playing 38 minutes. Mario Chalmers scored 14 points and Russell Robinson added 11 for KU. Cartier Martin was K-State’s only player in double figures with 17 points. The win gives KU a least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title. If Oklahoma beats Texas on Sunday, KU would get the title outright and the #1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament. "I’m not a Sooner fan at all," KU coach and Oklahoma State alum Bill Self said. "But I certainly hope they beat Texas." K-State was going for the first regular-season sweep of the Jayhawks since 1983, and got out to a quick 6-2 lead the first two minutes of the ballgame. Chalmers’ first of three treys gave KU their first lead at 7-6 at the 16:11 mark. It was a lead KU would never relinquish, but that fact is a bit misleading. KU went on a 22-6 run over seven minutes, culminated by three-pointers from Rush and Chalmers, to take a 24-12 lead halfway through the opening stanza. While KSU would put together consecutive baskets for 4-0 mini-runs twice, there was no real threat the remainder of the half. Rush’s three-point bank shot from the top of the key as time expired gave KU a 39-24 halftime advantage, their largest lead of the game. The most surprising statistic of the first half: Kansas went 7-10 from beyond the arc in the first half, while KSU was 2-4. For the game, KU went 10-19 from TreyLand. KSU fans were going crazy as the Wildcats scored the first eight points of the second half. Martin hit a three for the Wildcats at the 12:38 mark, and Lance Harris hit four free throws to cut KU’s lead to three, 46-43 with 11:52 left. KSU switched to a 2-3 zone when KU’s Sasha Kaun and C.J. Giles each picked up their third foul early in the second half. KU had out-rebounded the Wildcats by six in the first 20 minutes, but K-State used a size advantage, heart and determination to get the first eight rebounds of the second half, using second chance points and limiting KU to a single shot over the first seven minutes after halftime. With about nine minutes left in the game and KU nursing a six point margin, KSU had what can be characterized as a strange possession. At this point K-State was running clock, taking their time to get an open look. A Jayhawk tipped the ball out of bounds, and on the inbound pass a scramble for a loose ball ensued to the left of the K-State basket. The shot clock didn’t start and had to be reset. Each coach was upset at the lack of a foul being called, and Self was finally warned by official Steve Welmer that he was close to a technical. (K-State coach Jim Wooldridge had already picked up a ‘T’ in the first half.) Finally, the shot clock was set to four seconds. The ‘Cats in-bounded the ball, and Martin put up a shot that missed but was close enough that replays had to be checked to see if the ball drew iron. It didn’t, and KU got the ball back. Down the stretch KU finally regained control of the game. Giles missed a jumper from near the free-throw line, but Julian Wright got the tip-in. Wright then stole the ball just beyond half-court and while falling tossed the ball to Rush for the breakaway dunk. When Robinson dropped the last of the Jayhawks 10 three-pointers, KU’s lead was 12, 59-47 with 5:14 left. K-State would get no closer, and there would be no joy in Aggieville tonight. It was somewhat surprising K-State didn’t try and foul over the last four minutes of the game. Rush made KU’s only two free throws after the final media timeout. Coach Self was quick to praise the Wildcats effort: "K-State made us earn it today. They played hard, and we played really well the last six minutes to put the game away." The Jayhawks won’t know when they play Friday in Dallas until the seeding is finalized by the Oklahoma at Texas game on Sunday. If Texas wins, KU would play at 6 PM Central time. With an OU win KU would play at 11:30 AM. Mark Howe is a freelance writer currently residing in Milford, IN. He is a former ticket taker, usher and security worker at Allen Fieldhouse, and can be reached at mhowe (at) rockchalk (dot) com.