NCAA tournament, first round: No. 2 Kansas State routs North Texas

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Denis Clemente had 17 points and six assists, helping No. 2-seeded Kansas State open the NCAA tournament with an 82-62 rout of North Texas in a West Regional game at Oklahoma City.

Kansas State (27-7) gathered itself after a shaky start, riding its defense into the second round for the second time in three years. The Wildcats held the Mean Green (24-9) to 31% shooting and stymied Josh White’s forays into the lane, holding North Texas’ leading scorer to three points.

Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly added 15 points each, and Kansas State had a 46-21 advantage inside to avoid joining the list of opening-day upset victims.

Next up is No. 7-seeded BYU and sharpshooter Jimmer Fredette in the second round of the West Regional. The Wildcats should have an advantage too; while they cruised in the first round, BYU needed two overtimes to beat Florida.

-- Associated Press