Marcus Carr scored a team-high 19 points and was one of four Longhorns in double figures as No. 14 Texas overcame a sluggish start to defeat a depleted Kansas State squad, 70-57, on Tuesday night in Manhattan, Kan.

Texas outscored Kansas State 41-22 in the second half. The Longhorns (12-2; 2-0 Big 12) -- who were without Andrew Jones in COVID-19 health and safety protocol -- also saw Timmy Allen score 17 points, joined by Courtney Ramey (14) and Dylan Disu (10). Allen also had 14 rebounds.

Kansas State (8-5; 0-2 Big 12) was led by Nijel Pack with 21 points. Selton Miguel added 13 for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats were hard hit with COVID-related absences. Head coach Bruce Weber and lead assistant Chris Lowery missed the game while in the protocol. Kansas State was coached by assistant Shane Southwell.

The Wildcats also had to play without starters Davion Bradford, Kaosi Ezeagu and Markquis Nowell among others because of COVID. The Wildcats had just seven scholarship players available.

Texas scored the first eight points of the second half to retake the lead. By the time the Longhorns finished an 18-2 run, they led 47-37. Kansas State got no closer than six points the rest of the way.

With most of the Wildcats' big men out for the game, the team had to depend on Carlton Linguard in his third game of the season. He picked up his fourth foul of the game with 10:20 left in the second half and Kansas State went to a five-guard rotation.

The Wildcats scored the first seven points of the game, and they still led by six points, 27-21, with less than four minutes to go in the first half. Texas then went on an 8-0 run to grab the lead for the first time at 29-27. But the Wildcats responded with an 8-0 run of their own to finish the half, taking a 35-29 lead into the locker room.

Pack led the Wildcats with 15 points in the first half. Miguel added 7 points.

Carr led the Longhorns with 11 points before the break.

Since falling at then-ranked No. 23 Seton Hall on Dec. 9, Texas has won six straight games. The Longhorns will aim to extend their streak on Saturday at Oklahoma State.

--Field Level Media