STILLWATER, Okla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering disparity in discipline and composure, the Oklahoma State Cowboys survived a furious second-half rally and a torrent of three-pointers from Kansas State to escape with an 84-83 victory in a Big 12 Conference thriller on Saturday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

The decisive moment arrived in the final chaotic seconds. With the game tied at 81 and under 30 seconds to play, Kansas State’s PJ Haggerty was called for an offensive foul, turning the ball over to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys’ Kanye Clary then sank a tough turnaround jumper to put the home team ahead 83-81 with 15 seconds remaining. Haggerty answered with a driving floater to tie the game at 83 with 49 seconds left, setting the stage for a frantic finish.

Oklahoma State’s final possession saw two missed three-pointers by Clary, but Vyctorius Miller secured a critical offensive rebound on the second miss with four seconds left. In the ensuing scramble, Kansas State’s Abdi Bashir was whistled for a foul on Miller while attempting a put-back, sending Miller to the line for three free throws with two seconds on the clock. The sophomore guard, with the arena in a frenzy, calmly sank the first two to put Oklahoma State up 84-83. After intentionally missing the third, Kansas State’s desperation heave from Haggerty missed as time expired.

The dramatic ending overshadowed a game of starkly contrasting styles. Kansas State lived by the three-pointer, connecting on 15 of 34 attempts from beyond the arc, led by Abdi Bashir’s five makes and 15 points. The Wildcats’ offense, however, was undone by carelessness and an inability to get to the foul line. They committed 16 turnovers, leading to numerous easy opportunities for Oklahoma State, and attempted only five free throws, making just two.

Oklahoma State, conversely, built its victory at the charity stripe. The Cowboys attempted 24 free throws, making 20, a 22-point advantage from the line that ultimately provided the margin of victory. They also won the turnover battle decisively, giving the ball away only seven times while recording seven steals.

The Cowboys appeared to have the game in hand early, using a 14-2 run midway through the first half to build a double-digit lead. They took a 48-43 advantage into halftime behind balanced scoring and efficient offense, posting an offensive rating of 116.0 for the game. Anthony Roy led Oklahoma State with 23 points, while Parsa Fallah added 17 points and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Kanye Clary orchestrated the offense with 12 points and six assists.

Kansas State refused to wilt. Despite their turnover woes, the Wildcats shot 50% from the field overall and used a 15-5 run early in the second half, capped by consecutive three-pointers from Haggerty and Nate Johnson, to claw back and take a brief lead. Haggerty shouldered the offensive load with a game-high 21 points, while Johnson contributed 14 points and five assists. Freshman big man Khamari McGriff provided a major spark off the bench, scoring all 14 of his points in the second half on efficient 7-of-8 shooting, helping the Wildcats battle back from a deficit that grew as large as 11 points.

The Wildcats’ comeback effort was continually hampered by untimely mistakes. Several travels and offensive fouls in the closing minutes stifled their momentum and allowed Oklahoma State to maintain a slim lead or keep the game tied. Their final chance to win or tie evaporated with Haggerty’s offensive foul on the drive that preceded Clary’s go-ahead basket.

With the win, Oklahoma State improves to 14-4 overall and secures a key conference victory at home. The Cowboys, who were projected as strong favorites by advanced metrics, showcased the poise needed in a tight league contest. Kansas State falls to 9-9, suffering another heartbreaking loss in a season that has seen several close defeats, including a one-point loss to Nebraska in November. The Wildcats’ potent shooting kept them in the game, but their lack of ball security and free-throw opportunities proved insurmountable in a one-point defeat witnessed by 6,838 fans.