This post is part of The Arena Pulse's Player of the Night feature.
Each morning throughout the 2011-12 season, The Arena Pulse will select and name its "Player of the Night" from the previous evening's action.
The Big 12 schedule began with a bang for Kansas State as the stiff competition sent the Wildcats to a 1-3 start within the league.
With Texas in town, Kansas State needed a win, and despite a tough showing on the road from a young Longhorns' squad, the Wildcats got the victory they needed, thanks to an another huge performance from one of their budding stars.
The winner of The Arena Pulse's Player of the Night (1/18):
Name: Rodney McGruder
School: Kansas State
Class: Junior
Position: Guard
Stat Line: 33 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Rodney McGruder continues to showcase his scoring ability.
After the loss of Jacob Pullen in the back court from last season, Kansas State head coach Frank Martin needed someone to step up and lead the team this year.
McGruder has answered that call, and on Wednesday night, the 6-foot-3 guard finished with a career-high 33 points, leading the Wildcats to an 84-80 victory over Texas.
McGruder was 11-of-17 from the field and 4-of-6 from distance, scoring countless baskets in the final few minutes of last night's ball game.
In addition to his 33 points, the guard was also credited with eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
The offensive output marked the second time in the team's past three games that McGruder has reached the 30-point plateau, eclipsing a previous career-high of 30 points he set on Jan. 10 in a loss to Baylor.
McGruder has now scored in double-figures in seven consecutive games for the Wildcats, emerging as one of the league's most dominant threats over the course of the past few weeks.
Kansas State (13-4-, 2-3) will look to carry over its momentum as they prepare to hit the road to Oklahoma State (9-9, 2-3) this weekend. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. EST on Saturday.
*Photo: Rodney McGruder *Credit: foxsportskansascity.com
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Original Story:
http://www.thearenapulse.com/2012/01/...
