MANHATTAN, Kan. — In a thrilling contest on Monday night, the Kansas State Wildcats triumphed over No. 16 Cincinnati with a score of 70-67, marking the start of their 20-game Big 12 conference schedule. Coleman Hawkins was instrumental in the victory, contributing 20 points and securing 10 rebounds. Dug McDaniel also played a crucial role, adding 17 points to the scoreboard.

The Wildcats (7-5, 1-0) managed to break a three-game losing streak that had marred their nonconference performances. David N’Guessan supported the team’s efforts with 13 points, while C.J. Jones stepped up in the clutch, hitting four critical free throws in the final moments of the game. Kansas State maintained control for the majority of the match, leading for all but 24 seconds. However, as the game was reaching its climax, they held a narrow 65-63 advantage after Aziz Bandaogo’s dunk with just 27 seconds remaining.

As the tension mounted, Hawkins was fouled and converted one of two free throws with 23 seconds to go. Max Jones made a significant play by tapping in the rebound from Hawkins’ missed second free throw, which led to C.J. Jones being fouled. He successfully converted both free throws, extending Kansas State’s lead. Bandaogo made another basket with 8.9 seconds left, but C.J. Jones sealed the win by hitting his last free throw.

For Cincinnati (10-2, 0-1), Dan Skillings Jr. led the way with 18 points, while Dillon Mitchell contributed with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.

A critical takeaway from the game was Cincinnati’s struggle with ball security, as they recorded 15 turnovers that allowed the Wildcats to score 15 points off those errors, including two turnovers in the final two minutes. It’s worth noting that Kansas State came away with the victory despite their leading 3-point shooter, Brendan Hausen, having a tough night, making just one out of eight shots from beyond the arc.

A pivotal moment in the game was Max Jones, who, besides his eight points and five boards, played a crucial role by keeping alive Hawkins’ missed free throw when it mattered most. This effort led to C.J. Jones stepping to the foul line, allowing Kansas State to build a slight cushion.

In terms of statistics, the Wildcats excelled at the free-throw line, converting 16 out of 20 attempts, whereas Cincinnati managed only four out of seven.

Next on the schedule, Cincinnati is set to face Arizona on Saturday, while Kansas State will head to TCU on the same day.