Kansas State Drops to 0-5 in Big 12 After Gut-Wrenching Loss to Oklahoma State
STILLWATER, OK - Kansas State’s Big 12 struggles hit a new low Saturday night, and this one stung more than most. The Wildcats came up just short in an 84-83 heartbreaker against Oklahoma State at Gallagher-Iba Arena, dropping them to 0-5 in conference play - their worst league start since the 1996-97 season.
That season, under Tom Asbury, K-State opened Big 12 play with ten straight losses. Nearly three decades later, they’re alone at the bottom of the standings once again, still searching for their first win. And with Utah coming to Manhattan next, things aren’t getting any easier.
Let’s break down what went wrong - and what it says about where this team is right now.
A Costly Mistake in the Final Seconds
Kansas State had clawed its way back from a double-digit second-half deficit and looked poised to steal one on the road. PJ Haggerty, who had been clutch all night, buried a floater with 49 seconds left to give the Wildcats an 83-81 lead.
But the final sequence unraveled fast.
After Oklahoma State missed a potential game-tying shot, K-State couldn’t secure the rebound. That led to a tie-up, and with the possession arrow favoring the Cowboys, they got one more shot.
Coming out of a timeout with four seconds left, Abdi Bashir Jr. fouled a 3-point shooter - a critical mistake in a one-possession game. Christian Coleman calmly knocked down all three free throws, and just like that, the Wildcats were down one with 2.4 seconds left.
Haggerty had one last look at the buzzer, but his deep three missed everything.
It was a gut-punch finish for a team that had fought its way back into the game and put itself in position to win. But in close games, it’s often the little things - a missed box-out, a late foul - that make all the difference. And right now, those moments aren’t going K-State’s way.
Letting It Fly From Deep
If there was one thing that stood out offensively, it was Kansas State’s commitment to the three-ball. The Wildcats came out firing from distance, launching 21 threes in the first half alone and connecting on eight of them. They added 13 more attempts in the second half and hit seven.
Bashir and Nate Johnson led the barrage, combining for nine made threes - five from Bashir, four from Johnson. It marked the fifth time this season K-State has attempted more than 31 triples in a game, with their season high sitting at 36.
That kind of volume shows confidence, but it also underscores how reliant this team is on perimeter shooting to stay competitive, especially when the offense bogs down in the halfcourt. When the shots are falling, they can hang with just about anyone. But when they go cold - or when late-game execution fails - the margin for error disappears quickly.
McGriff’s Foul Trouble Looms Large Again
Khamari McGriff continues to be a difference-maker when he’s on the floor - the problem is, he hasn’t been able to stay there.
Foul trouble once again limited his impact. He picked up two quick fouls in the first half and had to sit for a large stretch. Then, after returning in the second half, he was whistled for his fourth with just over 10 minutes to play.
Head coach Jerome Tang rolled the dice and brought him back with 7:56 left, and McGriff responded with a flurry - three straight makes in under two minutes. But the momentum was short-lived. He fouled out with 6:02 remaining, finishing with a perfect 7-for-7 shooting night and 14 points.
It was the third time this season McGriff has fouled out, and the seventh game he’s finished with four or more fouls. His efficiency and energy are undeniable, but his availability is becoming a recurring issue. For a team that needs every spark it can get, keeping McGriff on the court has to be a priority moving forward.
What’s Next: Utah Comes to Town
Kansas State won’t have much time to regroup. Utah is coming to Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday night, fresh off its first Big 12 win - a narrow 82-79 victory over TCU in Salt Lake City. Terrence Brown led the Utes with 26 points in that one, and they’ll be looking to build on that momentum.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, are still searching for answers. The effort is there.
The talent is there in flashes. But until they start closing games and cleaning up the little mistakes, the results won’t change.
Tuesday night offers another chance to flip the script. But at 0-5 in conference play, the urgency is rising - and fast.