MANHATTAN, Kan. » Kansas State coach Frank Martin spent almost all of last night’s 89-55 victory over Alcorn State in his seat, knowing his fifth-ranked Wildcats would roll over a winless opponent.

He also spent much of the game rubbing his forehead or covering his face, knowing Kansas State could be playing better.

"I’m sick to my stomach," Martin said bluntly. "We can’t sustain energy. We can’t sustain focus."

Jacob Pullen scored 24 points, his season high against a Division I opponent, to lead the Wildcats, while Jamar Samuels had 16 points and Curtis Kelly added 15. Kansas State (8-1) had 10 players see at least 12 minutes. But Samuels and Kelly were a combined 9-for-26 from the field; the Wildcats made just 23 of 40 free throws and committed 23 fouls.

"You get back to youth, especially on the hand-checking," Martin said. "All that happens there is bad balance and trying to cheat the play. That’s all we did in the first half."

Marquiz Baker scored 17 points for the Braves (0-7), while Kendrick McDonald added 12.

The Wildcats played almost the entire second half with a lead of more than 20 points after Rodney McGruder’s 3-pointer capped a 6-0 run and made it 52-30 with 17:35 to play.

"We still weren’t playing hard," Samuels said. "You could see that."

Pullen, preseason All-American, was 19-for-61 from the field and 10-for-35 beyond the 3-point line in his previous five games against Division I teams.

Pullen was 6-for-9 for 16 points — one better than his season average — in the first half as Kansas State took a 46-30 lead. He had two assists and six turnovers in the game.

"Last year, we were an intensity team," Pullen said. "We didn’t wait to get punched in the mouth before fighting back."

No. 21 Washington 94, Portland 72

Isaiah Thomas and Justin Holiday both scored 20 points and reserve Scott Suggs hit two key 3-pointers midway through the second half as Washington held off a strong challenge.

Portland trimmed a 16-point deficit to six with 8:25 remaining. But Suggs answered with a 3-pointer to start an 11-0 run during which he had another 3.

Matthew Bryan-Amaning added 15 points for Washington (6-2).

Nemanja Mitrovic led Portland (7-3) with 15 points, all on 3-pointers.

WAC

Houston 64, Nevada 61

Kendrick Washington scored 17 points and Maurice McNeil and Adam Brown each recorded a double-double as the Cougars edged the Wolf Pack.

McNeil finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds and Brown had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Houston (6-3).

Malik Story scored 21 points and Dario Hunt finished with 18 rebounds for the Wolf Pack (1-7), who lost their seventh straight.