Wildcats Rally in Waco and Top Bears

Cartier Diarra had just hit a 3-pointer to put Kansas State back ahead at Baylor when coach Bruce Weber called a timeout.

Weber wanted to get his team reorganized defensively, telling them to get some stops and finish the last six minutes of the game right.

The Wildcats got the message and are now alone atop the Big 12 standings.

Kamau Stokes had 20 points, including his own 3 after Diarra’s that started the late 11-0 run, and K-State finally got past undermanned Baylor for a 70-63 victory Saturday night.

Stokes’ 3 during that run for the Wildcats (18-5, 8-2 Big 12), came after his defensive rebound.

Then down the stretch, Diarra managed to keep a ball from going out of bounds under the Baylor basket, and swiped the ball way ahead to Barry Brown for a breakaway dunk. When Baylor got within 3 in the final minute after Devonte Bandoo made a 3-pointer and two free throws, Stokes made four consecutive free throws.

K-State has a littler margin in the Big 12 after No. 17 Iowa State (18-6, 7-4) lost at home to TCU earlier Saturday.

Brown, whose 3-pointer with 3:20 left wrapped up the 11-0 run for a 62-53 lead, had 13 points and six assists. Dean Wade had 12 points and Diarra 10.

Baylor (15-8, 6-4), already without two players out for the season with injuries, was missing starting senior guards Makai Mason, its leading scorer, and King McClure. Mason (bruised foot) and McClure (knee) had both played in a loss Wednesday at Texas that snapped the Bears’ six-game winning streak