Kansas State 72, South Carolina Upstate 53: Rodney McGruder poured in 22 points, and the Wildcats bounced back from their first loss of the season by routing the visiting Spartans.

Thomas Gipson added 11 points and reserves Omari Lawrence and Adrian Diaz contributed 10 each for Kansas State (6-1).

Jodd Maxey came off the bench to lead USC Upstate (3-5) with 13 points. Forward Torrey Craig added 12 points, but on 15 shots from the field. The Spartans shot 35.7 percent from the field.

Kansas State got off to a very slow start, missing 20 of its first 25 shots. Eventually, K-State started clicking, and scored 21 unanswered points in a run that bridged the halftime break to take a 43-20 lead with 18:09 to go. The Spartans never threatened again.

The Wildcats were well rested. They hadn't played since a Nov. 23 loss to Michigan at Madison Square Garden in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Gipson, who also had seven rebounds, made his first start of the season in the spot previously manned by Jordan Henriquez. Henriquez did not play. ... Three players fouled out, two for USC Upstate and one for Kansas State. ... K-State sophomore walk-on Shawn Meyer made his 2012-13 debut in the final minutes of this game. Previously, Wildcats coach Bruce Weber had indicated Meyer would redshirt.