MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Thomas Gipson has emerged as one of the pleasant surprises during what is quickly becoming a difficult season for Kansas State.

The freshman forward had 13 points and seven rebounds in a loss to Iowa State last week, and is starting to hit his stride.

Gipson credits his high school coach for much of his success.

Tim Thomas, the coach at Cedar Hill in Texas, benched Gipson because of his poor attitude during a tournament. It served as a wake-up call for Gipson, who eventually apologized to his team and became the consummate leader for the eventual district champions.

Now, he's trying to lead Kansas State (15-6, 4-5) despite being just a freshman. The Wildcats play Texas A&M on Saturday.