This time, Kansas State basketball didn’t wait until the end to let a game slip away.
Three days after TCU scored the final seven points to hand the Wildcats the first loss of their two-game road trip, Oklahoma State needed just one half to clinch a knockout blow.
In a back-and-forth game lasting more than 15 minutes, the Cowboys scored the final 15 points of the first half and easily held off two K-State comeback attempts to bury the Wildcats 79-66 Tuesday night at Gallagher -Iba. Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The loss was the fourth in as many road games this season and the 13th in a row since last January as Kansas State fell to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12. Oklahoma State improved to 9- 5 and 1-2.
After trailing 43-24 at halftime, K-State switched to a zone defense with 7-footer Ugonna Onyenso protecting the rim. Oklahoma State, after getting 17 first-half points from big man Abou Ousmane, responded by knocking down 5 of 12 3-pointers after the break and never let K-State cut the lead to single digits.
Ousmane finished with a game-high 27 points and five rebounds while Marchelus Avery had 13 to lead Oklahoma State. Coleman Hawkins led K-State with 18 points and David N’Guessan had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
K-State now returns home for two straight games, starting with a 5 p.m. game Saturday against Houston.
Related: Winter weather derails Kansas State basketball’s travel plans from Fort Worth
Related: Kansas State vs. TCU basketball recap: Wildcats blow late lead, lose heartbreaker 63-62
FINAL: Oklahoma State 79, Kansas State 66
Oklahoma State scored the final 15 points of the first half and K-State never reached single digits in the second half. It was the 13th straight road loss for K-State, which fell to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12. Oklahoma State is 9-5 and 1-2.
3-way barrage keeps Oklahoma State on top
K-State shot better than 52% in the second half but missed all five 3-pointers. Oklahoma State made five in the period.
Oklahoma State responds to K-State’s rise
After K-State pulled to within 11 points, Oklahoma State responded with a 12-2 run to open its largest lead, 64-43, on a 3-pointer from Brandon Newman. The Cowboys still comfortably ahead, 66-49, with 7 minutes on the clock.
Zone defense keeps K-State in the game
K-State was efficient in its 1-3-1 zone, but Bryce Thompson just scored a 3-point basket to put Oklahoma State back up 14, 55-41, with 11:59 to play. K-State had four turnovers in the half and 15 for the game.
K-State makes a run but still down by 11
K-State is on an 11-2 run and made its final four shots to cut Oklahoma State’s lead to 52-41 with 12:46 to play. The Wildcats are shooting 54.5 percent in the half hitting the ball inside and scoring in transition.
Oklahoma State is 3 of 9 shooting and has doubled its first-half turnover total with four this period.
Wildcats can’t cut deficit
K-State got a spark from Ugo Onyenso to start the second half with a three-point play and a blocked shot, but Oklahoma State pushed the lead to 50-30 at the first media timeout with 15:39 left.
K-State changes the game to start the second half
K-State coach Jerome Tang goes big to start the second half with Ugo Onyenso starting alongside Coleman Hawkins and David N’Guessan. The Wildcats open the half in a zone defense.
First half recap: Turnovers are killing K-State
K-State battled back from a six-point deficit to tie Oklahoma State twice midway through the first half, but then the bottom fell out.
Oklahoma State scored the final 15 points of the half, taking advantage of K-State’s 11 turnovers in the first half and turning Wildcat miscues into 16 points. A 16-2 advantage in points off turnovers and a 14-2 advantage in points on fast breaks speaks volumes.
Big man Abou Ousmane torched K-State for 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting and led the Cowboys to a 20-15 rebounding cushion with five. Marchelus Avery has seven points for OSU.
Max Jones and CJ JOnes lead K-State with five points each.
HALF TIME: Oklahoma State 43, Kansas State 24
The Wildcats were shut out for over four minutes as Oklahoma State scored the final 15 points of the half to lead K-State 43-24. Wildcats with 11 turnovers and Coleman Hawkins commits three fouls.
You thought giving up the last seven points to TCU was a bad thing? Oklahoma State finished the first half with a 15-0 run to lead K-State 43-24 at the break. The Wildcats went blank in the final 4 minutes and 13 seconds. pic.twitter.com/WPxMQ8fVss
– Arne Green (@arnegreen) January 8, 2025
Oklahoma State impresses
Oklahoma State is on an 11-0 run and now leads K-State 39-24 with 22 seconds left in the half. K-State hasn’t scored in almost four minutes.
Wildcats and Cowboys tied
K-State trails Oklahoma State with 7:08 left in the half, 22-20. The Wildcats are shooting 53.6 percent but turned the ball over five times and missed both of their free throws. OSU shooting 47.6%.
Kansas State heats up on offense
After a 2-of-6 shooting start, K-State has now made it five in a row and came back to tie twice before Marcheulus Avery’s 3-pointer put Oklahoma State back in front 18-15 at the media timeout from 10:27 a.m.
Oklahoma State gets off to a fast start
Oklahoma State made 5 of 9 shots to start the game and leads K-State 11-5 at the first media timeout with 15:55 left in the first half. The Wildcats are 2 of 5 and have the only turnover of the game.
Oklahoma State tops Wildcats, 5-2.
Kansas State’s starting lineup is the same
Kansas State will have the same starting lineup as the previous two Big 12 games. Dug McDaniel starts at point guard with Max Jones and Brendan Hausen on the wings and David N’Guessan and Coleman Hawkins at forwards.
For Iowa State, they are Bryce Thompson, Arturo Dean, Jamyron Keller, Robert Jennings and About Ousmane.
Kansas State vs Oklahoma State basketball game time today
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Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State Basketball Prediction
This is another golden opportunity for K-State to end its long losing streak on the road. The Wildcats have played some of their best basketball over the last two games and Oklahoma State is off to an 0-2 start in the Big 12.
Prediction: Kansas State 74, Oklahoma State 69
Kansas State basketball vs Oklahoma State betting odds
Playing lines and odds PariMGM from Tuesday:
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Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett Network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
This article was originally published on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State Basketball: Another Wildcats Road Loss
