Kansas Survives NC State in Overtime Thriller, 77-76
It wasn’t always pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy-but Kansas found a way. Behind clutch shooting from Melvin Council Jr. and a gritty second-half push from Darryn Peterson, the Jayhawks edged NC State 77-76 in an overtime battle that tested every ounce of their resolve.
Let’s break down how it all unfolded.
Starting Five
Kansas rolled out a starting lineup of Darryn Peterson and Melvin Council Jr. in the backcourt, with Tre White, Bryson Tiller, and Flory Bidunga up front. On paper, it’s a group with size, athleticism, and scoring punch-but early on, they struggled to find rhythm.
First Half: A Sluggish Start, Then Council Catches Fire
Opening Minutes
NC State won the tip, and from there, both teams stumbled out of the gate.
Cold shooting plagued both sides-just 2-of-14 combined to open the game. Kansas got hit with early foul trouble, as Bidunga picked up two quick ones, and Peterson added another.
NC State took advantage on the glass, grabbing a slight edge in rebounding through the first few minutes.
Offensive Stagnation
Kansas fell into familiar bad habits-stagnant ball movement, settling for contested jumpers, and a lack of urgency in the halfcourt.
Head coach Bill Self had seen enough and called a timeout to regroup. Tre White responded by drawing contact and getting to the line, but NC State countered with a three and a few strong drives to the rim.
The Wolfpack were the more aggressive team early.
Council Sparks the Offense
With the offense sputtering, Council stepped up.
The guard buried a pair of threes to keep Kansas within striking distance. By the under-eight timeout, KU was shooting just 4-of-20 from the field-but Council had accounted for half of those makes.
Momentum Shift Before the Break
Council continued to carry the scoring load, knocking down four threes in the first half alone.
His 13 points were more than half of Kansas’ total at that point. Peterson began to find his footing as well, hitting a couple of tough jumpers.
Meanwhile, NC State couldn’t buy a bucket from deep, going 1-for-14 from beyond the arc. Kansas used a 7-0 run to take a brief lead, but the Wolfpack clawed back to tie it up at the break.
Halftime Score: Kansas 30, NC State 30
Both teams shot under 33% in a grind-it-out first half that featured more defense and hustle than offensive flow.
Second Half: Peterson Heats Up, But It’s a Dogfight
Peterson Sets the Tone
Peterson came out aggressive to start the second half, cutting backdoor for a layup and then drilling a three. But NC State responded with a 6-0 spurt to retake the lead, showing they weren’t going away quietly.
Jayhawks Surge, Then Stumble
Kansas answered with a 10-0 run that briefly gave them control.
The ball moved better, the defense tightened, and KU looked like it might pull away. But turnovers crept back in, and NC State capitalized with a couple of easy buckets and a three to close the gap again.
Trading Punches
From there, it was back-and-forth.
NC State started to hit some jumpers, while Peterson continued to find open looks and convert. The two teams traded leads, and the energy in the building ratcheted up with each possession.
Council Keeps Delivering
Council wasn’t done.
He knocked down his sixth three of the night with just over four minutes left, pushing past the 20-point mark. But NC State kept attacking the paint, scoring on a pair of layups to take a slim lead.
Self called timeout to settle things down as the game neared crunch time.
End of Regulation Drama
Peterson appeared to tweak something late and asked out.
Council responded with another clutch three, but NC State’s Darrion Williams answered right back with a triple of his own to tie it. Regulation ended with the teams deadlocked.
End of Regulation: Kansas 66, NC State 66
Overtime: Williams Shines, But KU Closes It Out
Darrion Williams came out firing in the extra frame, scoring the first eight points for NC State and putting the Jayhawks on their heels. But Council, as he had all game, came through once again-hitting a three and converting a layup to swing momentum back to Kansas.
Then came the dagger: a late dunk from Flory Bidunga that proved to be the game-winner. It was a fitting finish-Bidunga, who had been limited by foul trouble early, made the most of his moment when it mattered most.
Final Score: Kansas 77, NC State 76
Takeaways
- Melvin Council Jr. was the heartbeat of Kansas’ offense, finishing with six made threes and over 20 points. Every time the Jayhawks needed a big shot, he delivered.
- Darryn Peterson shook off a slow start and played a critical role in the second half, showing poise and shot-making ability that Kansas will need moving forward.
- Flory Bidunga’s game-winning dunk was a reminder of the physical presence he brings-even in limited minutes.
- Defensively, Kansas did just enough, holding NC State to just 1-of-14 from deep in the first half and making key stops down the stretch.
It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was a gutsy one. And sometimes, in December, that’s exactly what you need.