March 5, 1999

By CRAIG HORST
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The inside-outside combination of Manny Dies and Ayome May helped Kansas State build and hold a big lead against No. 24 Missouri and the Wildcats upset the Tigers 84-74 Friday in the second round of the Big 12 tournament.

Dies, who had 19 points the night before against Texas A&M, and May, who had 15 against A&M, each finished with 18 points.

Dies killed the Tigers' last rally with a dunk with 32 seconds to play as the Wildcats broke Missouri's full-court pressure. John Woods had hit two 3-pointers to get the Tigers to 76-71 with 51 seconds left.

Woods and Albert White each scored 15 to lead Missouri.

Kansas State (20-11) advanced to the semifinals against either Kansas or Nebraska. Missouri (20-8), which beat Big 12 regular season champion Texas in its last game, awaits an NCAA tournament decision.

The Wildcats took advantage of 7-of-29 shooting (24 percent) by Missouri to take a 42-24 lead at the half and led 48-26 after a free throw by Dies with 16:16 left in the game.

Missouri went on a 12-0 run to fight back into game and was within 48-38 after Woods scored the second of his two baskets in the run with 13:02 left against a Kansas State team that twice had blown leads of 14 or more points this season.

May stopped the run with a 3-pointer and, after Monte Hardge scored for the Tigers, Josh Reid hit a 3-pointer to put Kansas State back in front 54-40 with 10:27 remaining.

The Tigers were back within 63-53 at 4:57 to play on a basket by White, but May again hit a jumper seconds later.

Kansas State built its first-half lead when the Tigers scored just two field goals in the last 11:17 of the first half.

Shawn Rhodes had two baskets and Reid had a basket and a 3-pointer in a 14-4 run that made it 32-18 with 5:45 to go in the half.

The Wildcats led 36-22 when Dies took charge in the middle, making four free throws after he was fouled twice inside and then muscling in a basket for a 42-22 lead with 57 seconds remaining.