RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless back-and-forth action and a series of dramatic final-second swings, Melvin Council delivered a career-defining performance to will Kansas to a 77-76 overtime victory over North Carolina State on Saturday night at a raucous Lenovo Center.

Council, a guard from Rochester, N.Y., poured in a game-high 36 points, including the decisive free throw with 19 seconds left in overtime, to lift the Jayhawks to a gritty non-conference road win. The contest, witnessed by 19,119 fans, saw 18 ties and 15 lead changes, with neither team ever leading by more than seven points.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute of the extra period. After Council’s two free throws gave Kansas a 77-76 lead, North Carolina State had multiple chances to win. Quadir Copeland’s driving layup was off the mark with 33 seconds left. Following a Kansas turnover, the Wolfpack called timeout with 2.7 seconds remaining to set up a final play.

The inbounds pass went to Darrion Williams, whose contested three-pointer from the wing as time expired hit the back of the rim and fell away, sealing the one-point victory for the Jayhawks and capping a chaotic finish.

The game was a mirror image through regulation, with both teams scoring 30 points in the first half and 36 in the second, forcing overtime tied at 66. The symmetry ended in the extra session, where Kansas edged the Wolfpack 11-10 behind Council’s steady hand.

Council’s brilliance was the constant for Kansas, which improved to 8-3. He shot 12 of 30 from the field, including 7 of 18 from three-point range, and added four assists in 43 minutes. His scoring output was a season high and provided the offensive anchor for a team that struggled with efficiency, shooting 42.9% overall and committing 13 turnovers against only four assists.

Darryn Peterson supported Council with 17 points and four assists for Kansas, while Tre White added 12 points and Flory Bidunga contributed eight points and stout interior defense, including three blocks.

North Carolina State, which fell to 7-4, was led by a balanced attack. Copeland, from Philadelphia, paced the Wolfpack with 19 points, six assists, and four steals, though his seven turnovers proved costly. Williams, from Sacramento, Calif., recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Ven-Allen Lubin of Orlando, Fla., was a force inside with 16 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, and Tre Holloman added 11 points.

The Wolfpack won several statistical battles, holding advantages in rebounding (44-39), assists (17-4), steals (10-4), and points off turnovers (17-6). They also outscored Kansas 38-32 in the paint. However, poor shooting, particularly from deep, doomed their efforts. North Carolina State shot just 37.8% from the field and a frigid 26.5% (9 of 34) from three-point range.

Kansas was not much more accurate, but Council’s volume scoring and a slight edge in offensive execution, evidenced by a 103.0 offensive rating compared to State’s 98.5 on nearly equal possessions, made the marginal difference.

The game lived up to its pregame billing as a toss-up. While Kansas was given a 62.3% probability to win by Interstat’s ELO system, North Carolina State was installed as a 1.5-point betting favorite. The combined score of 153 points narrowly went under the betting over/under of 150.5.

The victory gives Kansas momentum heading into a quick turnaround, as they host Towson on Tuesday. North Carolina State looks to rebound when it faces Texas Southern at home on Wednesday.