Manhattan ? Kansas State usually counts on Akeem Wright to defend the other team’s best scorer.

Saturday, the Wildcats needed his help at both ends of the court.

Wright scored a career-high 17 and frustrated Colorado star Richard Roby with physical defense, helping Kansas State beat the Buffaloes, 72-60.

“Those were the right kind of points for Akeem,” said K-State coach Jim Wooldridge, his neck still in a brace after surgery last week to remove a bulging disk. “They were layups, they were putbacks, they were in transition, they were foul shots.”

Wright’s big day – and a career-high 13 points from center Dramane Diarra – helped the Wildcats overcome a slow start by their leading scorer.

But once he got in the groove, swingman Cartier Martin helped Kansas State put the game away. He led the Wildcats with 21 points – all but three in the second half – and had 10 rebounds.

Kansas State coach Jim Wooldridge, left, and assistant Jimmy Elgas talk during the first half against Colorado. The Wildcats won, 72-60, Saturday in Manhattan, giving Wooldridge his first victory since returning from neck surgery.

“I had to keep shooting it,” said Martin, who was 1-for-7 from the field in the first half. “I’m one of the shooters on this team, and if I’m going to get it done, I have to put up the shots.”

Kansas State (14-9 overall, 5-7 Big 12 Conference), which won for just the second time in seven games, blew an early nine-point lead and trailed by 11 points early in the second half before surging ahead and then putting the game away with a late 12-0 run.

Roby, who led Colorado (17-6, 7-5) with 28 points in Wednesday’s 84-75 victory over No. 19 Oklahoma, was held to 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting. He had three airballs and just five points in the second half.

“Roby had a difficult time all night,” Colorado coach Ricardo Patton said.

Hall’s 15 points led CU, which lost its third straight road game.

Chris Copeland, who scored 18 against Oklahoma, had just four Saturday.

“I don’t know what it is, I’m trying to put it together,” Copeland said.

Patton had an idea.

“My personal belief is that his communication with agents affects how he plays,” Patton said. “I won’t elaborate any further on it, but he and I have talked about that.”