Can the Wildcats' Overtime Surge Against Mountaineers Signal a Turnaround?
In a closely contested matchup at Bramlage Coliseum, the Kansas State Wildcats edged out the West Virginia Mountaineers with a final score of 94-90. The Wildcats now stand with an improved record, while the Mountaineers face another setback in their season tally.
The game was an intense back-and-forth affair, marked by five lead changes and four instances where the score was tied. The Kansas State Wildcats demonstrated resilience and determination as they fought to secure their victory on home turf. A significant contribution came from beyond the arc, where they shot an impressive 48 percent, making 15 three-pointers out of 31 attempts.
The Wildcats also excelled at free throw shooting, converting 25 out of 35 attempts for a solid 71 percent completion rate. This proficiency at the line proved crucial in overtime when every point mattered exponentially. In contrast to their long-range success, they made just under half of their field goals overall with a shooting percentage of 46.
Defensively, Kansas State pulled down more rebounds than West Virginia with a total count of 48 compared to West Virginia's 41. Of these rebounds for the Wildcats, an imposing number were on defense—31 defensive boards helped limit second-chance points for the opposition.
Offensively, both teams scored equally in paint with each team notching up 24 points inside; however, it was Kansas State's ability to capitalize on fast breaks that stood out as they amassed an impressive total of fast break points:16 against West Virginia's five.
Despite committing more turnovers (16) than assists (18), which resulted in an assists turnover ratio lower than that of their opponents (1.13 compared to West Virginia's higher ratio), it did not deter them from securing victory through sheer effort and critical plays when needed most.
Looking ahead after this hard-fought win over conference rivals West Virginia Mountaineers at Bramlage Coliseum before an attendance crowd numbering over eight thousand fans eager for success—the next challenge awaits Kansas State Wildcats as they prepare to face off against Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena located in Cincinnati on March second at seven o'clock PM Eastern Time. Fans unable to attend can catch all action live via ESPN+ online broadcast network ensuring no one misses what promises be another exciting college basketball showdown.