MANHATTAN, KS. (KSNT) - K-State men's basketball is in must-win mode as it makes its postseason push, hosting West Virginia on Monday.
A 25-point lead dwindled down the stretch for the Wildcats, as the Mountaineers forced overtime in Manhattan. After the extra period, it was K-State on top 94-90.
The first ten minutes of the game was even - with a Dai Dai Ames 3-pointer giving K-State a 14-13 lead midway through.
Coach Tang's team turned the heat up from there, ending the first half on a 34-13 scoring run to take a 48-26 lead into the locker room.
A 5-0 run to start the second half for West Virginia was quickly calmed by a Tang timeout. After that, the Wildcats got out to a 25-point 66-41 lead with 13 minutes to play, the largest lead of the game.
Things went downhill from there, with the Mountaineers slowly clawing back over a 36-8 scoring run to take a 77-74 lead - their first since 13-11 - with two minutes to play.
The two teams played back-and-forth down the stretch, with two Tylor Perry free throws sending the game to overtime tied at 79-79.
In overtime, the Wildcats jumped out to an 85-80 lead to keep the Mountaineers two-scores away. Free throws elongated the contest, but K-State ended on top 94-90.
Perry finished as the leading scorer with 29 points. Cam Carter added 19 points. K-State finished the game with 16 turnovers.
Coach Tang entered the game a perfect 11-0 in overtime games at K-State and leaves 12-0, a perfect 6-0 in 2023-24, now 7-0. The Wildcats travel to Cincinnati on Saturday, March 2 for a Big 12 matchup.
