By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Al Freeman scored 21 points, Taurean Prince had 18 and No. 21 Baylor beat cold-shooting Kansas State 82-72 on Wednesday night to remain a game back of the leaders in the Big 12 race.

Playing without leading rebounder Rico Gathers due to illness, the Bears (18-6, 7-4) opened on an 8-2 run, led by as many as 14 in the first half and never trailed the rest of the way.

The Wildcats (14-10, 3-8) were 2 of 14 from beyond the arc, getting their only 3s from Justin Edwards in the final minute. His first made it 72-65 with 58.3 seconds left, and his second after two free throws by Baylor’s Ishmail Wainwright made it 74-68 with 47.4 seconds remaining. They weren’t enough to bail out the Wildcats, though.

Edwards finished with 19 points, while D.J. Johnson had a career-high 19 points to go with eight rebounds for the Wildcats.