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 The Jayhawks hadn't lost in the Little Apple in 24 years, but Michael Beasley, who wasn't even alive when Kansas began its 24-game winning streak on K-State's homecourt, scored 25 points and led the No. 22 Wildcats to an 84-75 victory.
Kansas, two victories short of matching the best start in its storied basketball history, lost on its rival's home court for the first time since 1983. The 24-game streak in an opponent's gym came up one short of tying the NCAA Division I record, which UCLA set against California from 1961-85.
"We weren't going to run the table," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "As much as I wish we could, that wasn't going to happen. So this could be a good thing for us in the long run. But certainly it stings."
Kansas State freshman guard Jacob Pullen had 20 points and freshman forward Bill Walker had 22, making sure that Beasley, who had guaranteed a Kansas State victory, did not have to eat his words.
"I knew my team was capable of beating anybody," Beasley said. "And we showed it tonight."
Always double- and sometimes triple-teamed when he touched the ball inside, Beasley was held to only eight points in the first half but scored six in a row in the first few minutes after intermission and Kansas (20-1, 5-1 Big 12) never caught up.
Beasley was 4-for-4 from behind the 3-point arc as the Wildcats (15-4, 5-0) took over first place in a Big 12 conference they've never even competed in, let alone won.
"It doesn't sting because of the streak," Self said. "It stings because it's our rival. I could care less about the streak. But I do care about beating our rivals. So, yeah, this one stings more than what most would sting."
Memphis coach John Calipari shrugged when he learned Kansas lost, leaving the Tigers as the nation's only unbeaten team.
"It's nice, I guess," he said. "Are we getting better? We got better today."
Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 30 points and Joey Dorsey grabbed a 22 rebounds, matching a career high, as Memphis equaled the best start in school history.
Robert Dozier scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half and the Tigers (20-0, 6-0 Conference USA) overcame a season-high 22 turnovers to extend their regular-season winning streak to 39 games. Memphis matched its best start since 1985-86 and won its 15th consecutive road game.
The Tigers countered their turnover total by shooting 58.5 percent, outrebounding the smaller Cougars 49-29 and scoring 44 points in the paint.
"We turned it over a few too many times, but we played well," Calipari said. "What you saw was one of our best efforts."
Dion Dowell scored 23 points and Robert McKiver scored 20 for the Cougars (15-4, 4-1), who dropped to 2-10 all-time against the No. 1 team. Houston coach Tom Penders was also denied his 600th career victory.
Penders was more resigned than disappointed afterward, conceding the Cougars were simply overmatched.
"They're just a great team," Penders said. "You're going to have to play an extremely strong, efficient game, and hope they're not playing at their highest level, to knock them off."
No. 6 Georgetown 74, St. John's 42
At New York, sophomore reserve Vernon Macklin scored a career-high 18 points and Georgetown handed St. John's its worst Big East loss ever.
The Red Storm (7-12, 1-7) finished 10-for-47 from the field (21.3 percent) in losing their sixth straight overall and eighth in their last nine games. St. John's previous worst conference loss was also to the Hoyas, 72-42 on Jan. 6, 1982, also at Madison Square Garden.
Roy Hibbert added 11 points and Jessie Sapp had 10 for the Hoyas (17-2, 7-1), who shot 52.8 percent (28-for-53) led by Macklin's 8-for-10.
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No. 8 Michigan State 51, Illinois 41
At East Lansing, Mich., Drew Neitzel scored nine of his 15 points during a key stretch in the second half and Michigan State improved to 19-2 for the first time in school history.
Mike Tisdale and Calvin Brock each scored seven points for Illinois (10-12, 2-7).
Raymar Morgan and Goran Suton scored 10 points apiece before fouling out for the Spartans (7-1).
No. 23 Texas A&M 80, No. 10 Texas 63
At College Station, Texas, Josh Carter scored 19 points and Texas A&M cruised to an easy win.
Carter has scored at least 10 points in 15 straight games and helped A&M (17-4, 3-3) break a three-game winning streak for rival Texas (16-4, 3-2 Big 12), continuing a four-year tradition of the home team winning in this series.
Texas never led in the game and trailed by as many as 22 points in the first half.
Dexter Pittman and D.J. Augustin lead the Longhorns with 14 points each.
No. 16 Drake 75, Creighton 65
At Des Moines, Iowa, Josh Young tied a career high with 24 points and 16th-ranked Drake pushed its school-record winning streak to 18 games.
Jonathan Cox added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs (19-1, 10-0 Missouri Valley Conference), who finished the game on a 10-0 run.
Booker Woodfox scored 19 points and Stinnett had 15 to lead Creighton (14-6, 5-5), which has lost three straight.
No. 18 Pittsburgh 69, Villanova 57
At Pittsburgh, Sam Young and Tyrell Biggs led a game-changing rally in which Pittsburgh turned a one-point deficit in the second half into an 18-point lead.
Young scored 15 points and Biggs came off the bench for 14 points for Pitt (17-4, 5-3 Big East). Freshman DeJuan Blair had 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Scottie Reynolds scored 26 points for Villanova, which lost its third in a row.
No. 24 Mississippi 74, No. 19 Vanderbilt 58
At Oxford, Miss., Chris Warren scored 20 points, Eniel Polynice added 18 and Mississippi's freshmen had one of their best games of the season.
Led by Warren, freshmen scored 18 of Ole Miss' first 26 points in the pivotal opening minutes of the second half.
The Rebels (16-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) snapped a two-game losing streak and sent the Commodores (17-4, 2-4) to their fourth loss in five games.
Shan Foster scored 14 points for Vanderbilt.
[Associated Press]
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