The Wildcats (6-4) need a sustained effort against Wichita State (8-3) on Saturday to salvage something positive from a disappointing nonconference schedule as they break for Christmas before opening Big 12 play Dec. 30 at home against Cincinnati.
The game, scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff at Koch Arena, ends a four-game series that saw K-State win the three previous matchups at Wichita’s Intrust Bank Areka in 2021 (65-59), Bramlage Coliseum in 2022 (55-50) and last year in Kansas City (69-60).
Watch Kansas State basketball vs Wichita State live on ESPN+
The Wildcats positioned themselves to win against Drake on Tuesday in Kansas City, rallying from a 29-9 first-half deficit to hold for a last shot at the end of regulation. They also scored five straight points at the end of overtime to get even again, only to fall 73-70 when Drake Bennett Stirtz hit a 3-pointer with three seconds left.
Forward David N’Guessan averages 14.1 points and guard Brendan Hausen 14 to lead K-State. For Wichita State, which lost 91-72 at DePaul last Saturday and then fell 74-64 at home to UMKC on Tuesday, guard Justin Hill’s 14.1 points lead the way with Corey Washington adding 12.2.
WSU dominating second half
Wichita State is shooting 55.6%, including 2 of 3 from 3 with 9 of 10 free throws in the half and leads 60-53 with 7:33 left. K-State shooting 35%, 4-for-3 on 3-pointers and has been outrebounded in the period, 15-8. Not a winning formula
Back and forth we go
K-State trails 50-48 with 11:33 left. WSU keeps getting to the basket, as evidenced by a 26-16 advantage in paint points. The Shockers also have cut K-State’s halftime 10-rebound margin in half.
WSU continues to get to the basket
Kansas State has no answer for Justin Hill and Xaver Bell’s drives to the basket as the Shocker have made 4 of 7 shots in the second half and outscored the Wildcats 6-2 from the foul line. Wildcats are still up 45-44 with 14:40 left.
Wichita State scores twice to start second half
Justin Hill gets to the free-throw line for two and Xavier Bell drives for an easy layup to tie it at 33-33, and Jerome Tang burns a timeout with just 56 seconds gone in the second half.
Halftime highlights for K-State include rebounding, 3-pointers
K-State outrebounded Wichita State in the half, 26-16, including 10-3 on the offensive boards, which led to a 14-4 advantage in second-chance points. The Wildcats also made 5 of 16 3-pointers while limiting WSU to 1 of 6 behind the arc.
Wichita State scored a majority of its point by going straight at the basket, outscoring K-State in the paint, 20-12.
HALFTIME: Kansas State 33, Wichita State 29
K-State scores the last eight points of the half, including a driving layup by CJ Jones with two seconds left. Macaleab Rich leads the Wildcats with 13 points, tying a career high.
Macaleab Rich lighting it up and gives K-State first lead
Macaleab Rich knocks down a 15-footer and then a 3 to give K-State its first lead, 30-29, with 1:09 left in the half.
Macaleab Rich, Mobi Ikegwuruka bring energy and we’re tied
Macaleab Rich and Mobi Ikegwuruka have given the Wildcats an boost of energy and we’re tied at 25-25 after Ikegwuruka converts a lob pass from Coleman Hawkins with 3:42 left in the half. Before that Ikegwuruka kicked out an offensive rebound to Brendan Hausen for a 3 during a 7-0 run.
K-State hanging tough despite poor shooting
K-State is shooting 28.6% and still only trails Wichita State, 19-15, with 7:47 left in the half. The Wildcats have been OK on defense except for a series of straight-line drives for layups by WSU.
The Shockers are shooting 8-for-20 for 40%.
Jerome Tang has seen enough, calls timeout
Wichita State with back-to-back drives to the basket for layups and Jerome Tang calls timeout. K-State is still only down 15-10, but has only made 4 of 18 shots.
Another slow start for K-State
K-State has made 1 of 9 shots to start the game and trails Wichita State at the first media timeout, 7-3.
Same five starters for K-State
True freshman point guard David Castillo, who made his first career start Tuesday against Drake is back in the lineup tonight along with guards Max Jones and Brendan Hausen, plus David N’Guessan and Coleman Hawkins at the forwards.
Wichita State starters are AJ McGinnis, Xavier Bell, Corey Washington, Justin Hill and Quincy Ballard.
Kansas State vs Wichita State game time today
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 14
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Location: Koch Arena, Wichita
What channel is Kansas State vs Wichita State game on today?
- Streaming: ESPN+
- Radio: Kansas State Network
Kansas State vs Wichita State prediction
Both teams are looking to end two-game losing streaks, but Kansas State is desperate to head into the Big 12 with a victory. The Wildcats came close Tuesday, rallying from a 20-point first-half deficit only to lose to Drake in overtime.
Prediction: Kansas State 76, Wichita State 70
Kansas State vs Wichita State betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
- Spread: Kansas State -1.5
- Over/under: 152.5 points