MANHATTAN, Kan. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and missed opportunities, the Kansas State Wildcats erased a 10-point second-half deficit to edge the West Virginia Mountaineers 65-63 in a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.

The contest, witnessed by a crowd of 6,705, was a struggle for offensive rhythm from the opening tip. Both teams combined to shoot under 40% from the field, with the Mountaineers finishing at 39.3% on 24-of-61 shooting and the Wildcats slightly more efficient at 40.8% on 20-of-49. The difference, stark and decisive, came at the free throw line. Kansas State converted 19 of its 25 attempts, while West Virginia managed only 9 makes on 16 tries, leaving crucial points on the floor in a tight contest.

West Virginia, the visiting team, controlled the first half behind a stifling defensive effort, holding Kansas State to 23 points and forcing 10 turnovers. The Mountaineers took a 26-23 lead into the break, an advantage built more on persistence than precision. The second half saw a dramatic reversal. Sparked by the interior presence of Khamari McGriff and the playmaking of Nate Johnson, the Wildcats unleashed a 19-4 run over a six-minute span to transform a 31-27 deficit into a 46-35 lead with 13:30 remaining.

The most important part of the game was Kansas State’s relentless second-half surge, fueled by attacking the paint and capitalizing at the charity stripe. After being held in check early, McGriff, a 6-foot-9 forward from Tallahassee, Florida, became a force after halftime. He scored 14 of his 18 points in the second period, consistently drawing fouls and finishing at the rim. His dunk off an offensive rebound with 16:57 left gave Kansas State its first lead since the opening minutes at 29-27, and his subsequent transition jumper capped the critical run.

West Virginia, as it had all night, refused to fade. The Mountaineers chipped away, leveraging their offensive rebounding—they finished with 13—to create second chances. A 12-2 run of their own, capped by a Brenen Lorient dunk with 7:41 to play, brought them back to within a single point at 55-54. The teams then traded blows in a tense final stretch where neither could gain separation by more than a possession.

Chance Moore led West Virginia with 18 points, including several key baskets during the comeback attempt. Lorient added 14 points, and DJ Thomas contributed 12 off the bench. For Kansas State, Johnson was the orchestrator, scoring 16 points and dishing out a game-high seven assists, often finding McGriff for high-percentage looks. McGriff’s 18 points came with two blocks, anchoring the Wildcats’ defense.

The final minute encapsulated the game’s frantic nature. With Kansas State leading 63-61, West Virginia’s Honor Huff was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 48 seconds left. He calmly sank both free throws to tie the game. On the ensuing possession, Kansas State worked the clock before McGriff was fouled on a post move with just seven seconds remaining. He sank both free throws to put the Wildcats back up 65-63.

West Virginia had one final chance. After a timeout, the inbounds play found Huff for a contested 3-pointer from the wing, which missed. Jasper Floyd secured the offensive rebound but his rushed put-back attempt as time expired was off target, sealing the Wildcats’ comeback victory.

The win improved Kansas State’s season record to 12-18 overall. West Virginia, which had defeated the Wildcats 59-54 in Morgantown just over a month ago on Jan. 27, fell to 17-13. Both teams conclude their regular seasons this weekend, with West Virginia hosting UCF on Friday and Kansas State traveling to face Kansas on Saturday.