Print edition: 
NORMAN — Kansas State’s status as a ranked basketball team and one of the upper-tier squads in the Big 12 disappeared Saturday following an 82-73 loss to Oklahoma at Lloyd Noble Center.
It was a tough defeat for the Wildcats, who entered the game ranked 18th with ambitions of leveling their conference record at .500 after beginning league play against three top 15 opponents.
They played with low energy on both ends of the court and trailed from start to finish. Because of that, K-State (12-4 overall, 1-3 Big 12) now finds itself looking up at most of the teams in the Big 12 standings.
The Sooners (11-5, 1-3) picked up their first conference win of the season behind 21 points from Andrew Fitzgerald. It was, without question, their best league performance under new coach Lon Kruger. They lost their first three Big 12 games by a combined 56 points.
Considering Oklahoma’s struggles and dull home-court atmosphere, most expected K-State to get past this game without much trouble. But none of K-State’s players could ever seem to get going at the same time.
Wildcats coach Frank Martin used an unusual mix of players most of the way, but never settled on a lineup that flowed together.
Seldom-used guard Jeremy Jones saved K-State in the first half with 12 points off the bench, but barely played in the second half. Other bench players Nino Williams and Shane Southwell saw more playing time than usual while starters Martavious Irving and Jordan Henriquez watched from the sideline. And usual sixth man Angel Rodriguez didn’t play at all.
Junior forward Rodney McGruder was the steadiest K-State player. He scored a team-high 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Will Spradling contributed all 11 of his points in the second half, and Jamar Samuels scored nine points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Wildcats needed more from everyone on their roster. They turned the ball over 19 times and allowed four OU players to score 10 or more points. Romero Osby and Steven Pledger both scored 18 points.
K-State must now regroup and try to perform better in its next game against Texas on Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum.
