Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Kansas State preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 21, 2009 ) Arkansas-Pine Bluff 76, Kansas State 90

Kansas State has undeniably been one of college basketball's best second-half teams so far this season - a fact coach Bruce Weber would probably enjoy more if his squad didn't keep digging itself a hole to begin every game. The Wildcats hope to avoid another slow start and take aim at a 32nd consecutive non-conference home win Tuesday when they welcome Arkansas-Pine Bluff into Bramlage Coliseum.

For the third time in as many games in Wednesday's 73-54 victory over Monmouth, Kansas State entered the break trailing before opening the second half with a 37-6 run to cruise past the Mountain Hawks. “I feel like we just come out and take things for granted, but we have to come out in the second half and just always play hard. So I think we should just come out and play harder in the first half and lock in," freshman forward Montavious Murphy told the Wichita Eagle. One of the Wildcats' biggest issues in their slow starts has been the stark contrast in 3-point shooting from the first half (1-for-32) to the second half (13-for-31) of the three contests. The Golden Lions, who are averaging a mere 51.6 points and in the midst of playing three road games in six days, fell to 0-3 for the third consecutive season following Saturday's 67-54 setback at Grand Canyon.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (0-3): Second-team preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection Shaun Doss (team-high 12.3 points) reached double figures 20 times last season and has hit that mark in every game this year, although he has shot progressively worse in each outing after a 5-for-16 effort Saturday. Fellow junior forward Terrance Banyard (7.3 points, 5.0 rebounds) committed a career-high six turnovers and picked up four fouls in only 21 minutes Saturday, but he also recorded season highs in points (12), rebounds (six) and steals (three). Junior college transfer Dequan Morris (8.3 points, 2.0 steals) also enjoyed his most productive game with the Golden Lions on Saturday, setting personal bests with nine points and seven boards while recording two of Arkansas-Pine Bluff's 13 steals.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (3-0): Xavier Sneed (14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals) didn't shoot particularly well in either of his team's first two games (10-for-29), but he turned in his most complete effort of the season against Monmouth with 15 points on 5-of-10 from the floor, six rebounds and a career-high tying five steals. Fellow senior forward Makol Mawien (9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds) was limited to a season-low 17 minutes but still nearly posted his second double double in as many home games, finishing with 11 points and nine boards. Junior guard Cartier Diarra (14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists) scored a season-low eight points Wednesday but set career highs with seven assists and four of the Wildcats' 17 steals.

TIP-INS

1. Kansas State has been outscored 74-57 in the first half so far this season but responded by outscoring the opposition 143-90 after the break.

2. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is ranked 312th in the country in free-throw percentage (58.8), tied for 320th in Division I in 3-point percentage (25) and 329th overall in field-goal percentage (36.9).

3. The Wildcats' 17 steals against the Mountain Hawks were tied for the third-highest total in program history.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 78, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 52