Neither Kevin Durant’s 34 (points scored), nor Texas Tech’s 10 (straight scoreless minutes), nor Colorado’s 35 (losses to Kansas in 36 games) were the most impressive numbers being thrown around in the Big 12 this weekend.

More noteworthy than all of the above were Kansas State’s 13,340 and Missouri’s 15,061. Sellouts in both arenas – a rare sight in recent years of frustration and travail – signaled exactly the kind of turnaround surge those schools were praying for when administrators made risky coaching changes.

The Tigers’ first sellout since Mike Anderson replaced trouble-plagued Quin Snyder had Mizzou Arena rocking. A 71-58 victory over giant-killer Texas Tech was the fans’ reward for filling up the place.

“I want to thank the fans for coming out in numbers,” Anderson said. “Our fans got into it, and our guys were able to sustain a run.”

Kansas State students had cheers bouncing off the Bramlage Coliseum walls. Their reward was an historic 61-45 victory over Nebraska and the relief of getting out of Bob Huggins’ doghouse.

Just 10 days earlier, Huggins had given the kids an oral spanking, calling them out for purchasing tickets, but then not coming to games. Athletic director Tim Weiser even hinted that maybe the students’ ticket allotment could be moved to less desirable sections of the arena.

But they got the message. The Wildcats won their fifth in a row and their fourth straight conference game – the first time that has happened since 1989-90.

“They showed up. I thought they were terrific,” Huggins said. “Tonight was kind of how I thought it was going to be, when they stood in line and bought tickets. I thought they were great.”

Beating the Huskers also put Kansas State (15-6 overall, 4-2 Big 12) in the mood to think about an NCAA bid in Huggins’ first year. And it kept them only one game away from Kansas University, Texas A&M and Texas for the conference lead. The No. 8 Jayhawks (18-3, 5-1) toyed with Colorado for a while before dispatching the outmanned Buffaloes, 97-74, for the 35th time in 36 meetings.

Missouri's Stefhon Hannah, left, knocks the ball away from Texas Tech's Jarrius Jackson in front of the Missouri student section. Mizzou Arena sold out Saturday for the first time in coach Mike Anderson's tenure.

Super freshman Durant scored 34 points to help Texas (15-5, 5-1) take out pesky Baylor 84-79, and No. 6 Texas A&M (17-3, 5-1) overcame coach Billy Gillispie’s technical foul to beat Oklahoma 70-61.

Making it a clean sweep for the home teams was No. 13 Oklahoma State, rallying from an early deficit to beat Iowa State 62-50.

¢Will you take a check?: One would think that Texas, the Big 12’s richest institution, could afford a new shot clock and a marquee manager who knows how to spell.

Durant’s 34 points helped Longhorns coach Rick Barnes run his record against Baylor to 18-0, but the 35-second clock at the Erwin Center malfunctioned for the second time this year, causing a disruption of play and probably costing the home team some momentum. Durant, who could be the first player taken in the NBA draft, was asked if he might buy his school a new clock.

But the 6-9 freshman sensation said he’d be willing to do even better than that, and pony up for “a whole new stadium” once he, and not the school, begins making money off his colossal talents.

He might also pay for spelling lessons for whoever maintains the marquee on the front of the Erwin Center which announced, “Texas vs. Balyor.”