Oklahoma State basketball: Markel Brown steals spotlight in win over Kansas

OSU's Marcus Smart and Kansas' Ben McLemore headlined the event. And the size of Jayhawks star Jeff Withey provided plenty of pro intrigue. But in the first half of OSU's shocking 85-80 win over the second-ranked Jayhawks, Markel Brown stole the show.

OSU's highflying and (suddenly) sharpshooting two-guard was unconscious from deep, scoring 22 of his game-high 28 points in the first half.

He was 7 of 10 from the field and a scorching 5 of 7 from 3-point range in the best 20 minutes of his career. Combined, his teammates scored four fewer points (18) and made one less shot (6 of 24 shooting).

The rest of the Cowboys arrived in the second half, particularly Smart, who finished off OSU's biggest road win in the Ford era with a physical domination of KU's guards on the glass, in the paint and all over the backcourt.

But Brown is the one who got them there.

“(Brown) was great today,” KU coach Bill Self said. “In the first half, he wore us out. He was great … You come in here and make seven threes on ten shots? He was terrific.”

Brown finished with 28 points (two off his career-high), after only making two second-half shots, both threes.

But even on a bum left shoulder, which he aggravated late in the game, his impact was felt. Especially when it mattered most.