MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Kansas State might have headed into Big 12 play saddled with an embarrassing home collapse against George Mason had Kamau Stokes not buried a series of 3-pointers down the stretch.
The senior guard didnt care about those shots, though.
He was still ruing a pair of turnovers that put the Wildcats in such a predicament.
We made it real tough on ourselves, said Stokes, who finished with 20 points in the 59-58 win over the Patriots on Saturday night. Especially me, the two careless turnovers at the end of the game I have to take care of the ball. It doesnt matter how many points I score.
Even on a night Stokes joined the 1,000-point club for his career.
Xavier Sneed added 13 points and Barry Brown had 12 for Kansas State (10-2), which finished the first half on a 20-2 run and still led the Patriots by 20 with 12 1/2 minutes to go.
George Mason unleashed a 17-5 run of its own to get within 49-41, only to watch Stokes hit a pair of 3s in response. But the plucky underdogs kept coming and got within 59-58 when Javon Greene converted a second-chance opportunity with 45 seconds left in the game.
We put ourselves in a bind, Brown said. It became a nail-biter.
Cartier Diarras 3-pointer was halfway down before coming out at the other end, giving George Mason a chance to spring the upset. Justin Kiers wild runner with 4 seconds left was no good and Kansas State pulled down the rebound, only for Brown to be called for a double-dribble.
The Patriots got the ball back with 1.2 seconds left, but their inbound pass was intercepted and Kansas State managed to survive for its fourth consecutive win.
We had a chance to win the game. Theyre all disappointed, George Mason coach Dave Paulsen said, but Im really proud of this group of guys. We were down 20, really struggled in the first half and our guys really showed a collective will.
The Wildcats defense-fueled winning streak coincides with their loss of star forward Dean Wade. The preseason Big 12 player of the year, and arguably their top scorer, remained in a walking boot on Saturday after hurting his right foot in the Wildcats win over Georgia State.
Kier led the Patriots with 15 points. Greene finished with 12.
The game was nip-and-tuck through the first few minutes. Sneeds first 3-pointer began what would eventually become a game-turning 20-2 charge into the locker rooms.
