MANHATTAN, Kan. — In a thrilling matchup, Kansas State secured an 81-73 victory over No. 16 Kansas on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive win, which includes three triumphs against ranked teams.

David N’Guessan led the Wildcats with an impressive 20 points, while Dug McDaniel contributed 15 points. Additionally, Max Jones and Coleman Hawkins each recorded 12 points, helping Kansas State improve to 12-11 overall and 6-6 in the Big 12 Conference. This victory also signifies the Wildcats’ third consecutive win over the Jayhawks in Manhattan, following two previous overtime victories.

Kansas struggled despite notable performances from Hunter Dickinson, who scored 21 points, and other key players like Zeke Mayo and KJ Adams, who chipped in 15 and 13 points, respectively. With a record of 16-7 and 7-5 in conference play, the Jayhawks need to address their inconsistency as they approach the NCAA Tournament.

The game turned in favor of Kansas State as they surged to a 55-43 lead with 17:20 remaining in the second half, managing to maintain a comfortable distance from there on out.

One significant moment came when Kansas’ starting point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. incurred two early fouls, forcing him to sit for the remainder of the first half after picking up a third foul with 9:56 left. He recorded three assists in just over four minutes of play before returning to contribute four points and six assists in the second half.

Statistically, Kansas State demonstrated strong teamwork, racking up 23 assists against only 10 turnovers, adeptly handling Kansas’ relentless defensive pressure during the latter half of the game.

Both teams are set to return to action on Tuesday, with Kansas hosting Colorado and Kansas State facing off against Arizona.