<div id="subtitle">Big run in first half sparks No. 12 Kansas State past Cleveland State, 85-56</div><div><p>Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly sparked a take-charge run in the first half to lead No. 12 Kansas State past Cleveland State 85-56 on Tuesday night, the Wildcats' ninth straight victory.</p><p>Pullen had 18 points and Kelly added 17 as the Wildcats (12-1) closed out an unbeaten December with their first nine-game win streak since 1997. Denis Clemente and Dominique Sutton each had 13 points for the Wildcats.</p><p>Kansas State, unbeaten since dropping an 86-74 decision to Mississippi on Nov. 20, outscored the Vikings 25-5 in the run that led to a 40-19 halftime lead. The Vikings (4-10), facing a ranked team for the school-record third straight game, went almost 8 minutes without a field goal and never got back in a game that was so physical Jeremy Montgomery knocked Pullen to the floor twice within a few seconds but got only one foul.</p><p>Montgomery had 20 points for Cleveland State and Norris Cole had 17.</p><p>After Montgomery's two free throws sliced the Wildcats' lead to 15-14, Clemente canned a long 3-pointer that got a roar from the big crowd and then stole the ball on the other end and made two foul shots to get the run going.</p><p>Pullen added a 3-pointer, Kelly made two free throws and suddenly Kansas State held a 25-14 lead and the Vikings were en route to their 33rd loss in 38 games against ranked teams.</p><p>Kansas State, with its highest ranking since 1973, quickly built the lead to 30 points in the second half when Wally Judge canned two free throws after a rough foul beneath the Wildcats' basket. Montgomery answered with a 3-pointer but Pullen got the lead back to 30 a few minutes later when his pull-up jumper made it 58-28.</p><p>Showing his athletic ability, the 6-foot Pullen reached in to steal the ball in front of the scorer's table at one point, lost his balance and jumped flat-footed onto the table, then back onto the court.</p><p>Kansas State had all reserves on the court with about 2 1/2 minutes left. But after two straight turnovers, coach Frank Martin ordered his starters back out.</p><p>Cleveland State's aggressive defense forced 19 turnovers and each team had nine steals.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=66122304&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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