Melvin Council Jr. Goes Nuclear From Deep, Lifts Kansas Over NC State in Overtime Thriller
RALEIGH, N.C. - Every once in a while, a performance comes along that feels like it belongs in a time capsule. On Saturday night in Raleigh, Melvin Council Jr. gave Kansas fans just that - a show-stopping, record-chasing explosion that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
The senior guard lit up the Lenovo Center with a career-high 36 points, drilling nine three-pointers - the most by any Jayhawk during Bill Self’s 23-year tenure and just two shy of the program’s all-time single-game record. His shooting spree powered No. 2 Kansas to a gritty 77-76 overtime win over NC State in front of a raucous, sellout crowd of 19,119.
And yes, it was as electric as it sounds.
Council’s Career Night: A Performance for the Ages
Let’s start with the numbers, because they’re staggering. Council went 9-of-15 from beyond the arc, nearly doubling his season total in threes in one night.
Coming into the game, he had hit just five triples all year - in 27 attempts. On Saturday, he nearly matched that in the first half alone.
By the time he was done, he had taken 27 shots - the most by a Jayhawk in a single game since well before Sherron Collins hoisted 26 in a 2009 NCAA Tournament game. Council hit 13 of them, including two monster threes to open the overtime period that shifted momentum squarely in Kansas’ favor.
This wasn’t just a hot hand. It was a full-on heater - the kind that leaves defenders shaking their heads and coaches rethinking their game plan.
“He Got Going, and We Couldn’t Stop Him”
NC State head coach Will Wade didn’t mince words postgame.
“Incredible, incredible performance by Council,” Wade said. “Got a game he’ll probably tell his grandkids about.”
Wade’s original plan was to focus on slowing down Kansas’ other weapons - Darryn Peterson, Tre White and company - and dare Council to beat them. He did.
Wade admitted the Wolfpack were sagging into the paint early, giving Council space to shoot. After the third three went down, they adjusted.
But by then, the damage was done.
“He was in rhythm and got going,” Wade said. “Give him credit. He played tremendous and made big shots for them.”
Wade also pointed to Council’s clutch gene, noting the two threes he buried to open overtime as backbreakers. “He made big, big plays. Great shots.”
A Historic Night in Context
Council’s nine made threes leapfrogged past some notable names in Kansas history. He now stands alone above performances like Lagerald Vick’s eight triples against Vermont in 2018, Mario Chalmers’ eight vs. Texas in the 2008 Big 12 title game, and Billy Thomas’ eight against the Longhorns in 1998.
The school record remains Terry Brown’s 11 threes against NC State back in 1991 - a game played at Allen Fieldhouse. Council’s barrage came on the road, under the bright lights and high stakes of a non-conference showdown.
His 36 points were the most by a Jayhawk since Jalen Wilson dropped 38 in an overtime loss to Kansas State in early 2023. The high-water mark in the Bill Self era still belongs to Andrew Wiggins, who went for 41 against West Virginia in 2014.
Self: “I’ve Seen Enough of the Triangle”
This was Kansas’ third crack at a Research Triangle opponent this season - and finally, a win. The Jayhawks had fallen to Duke at the Champions Classic in New York and lost at North Carolina earlier in November. Saturday’s victory salvaged what could’ve been a clean sweep by the Triangle schools.
“Well, I’ve seen enough of the Research Triangle, or whatever you guys call it,” Self quipped postgame.
But he wasn’t done handing out compliments. Self praised NC State’s roster, especially big man Ven-Allen Lubin, who finished with 16 points and 11 boards. He noted that the Wolfpack have the tools to be a problem in the ACC, with floor spacing, length, and solid guard play.
“We’re fortunate they didn’t shoot the ball tonight like they did against Liberty earlier in the week,” Self said.
NC State shot just 9-of-34 from deep (26.5%) and 37.8% overall. Kansas, meanwhile, hit 11-of-30 from three - with Council accounting for nine of those. The rest of the team went just 2-for-15.
Looking Ahead
Kansas now turns its attention to a home matchup against Towson on Tuesday night. But Saturday’s win - and Council’s unforgettable performance - will linger for a while.
This wasn’t just a bounce-back win. It was a reminder of how dangerous Kansas can be when someone outside the usual suspects catches fire.
Council wasn’t even on most scouting reports as a deep threat. Now?
He’s got the attention of every defensive coordinator in the country.
And for a Jayhawks team still figuring out its identity early in the season, that’s a game-changer.