By Jayson Henderson

Kansas State faced a tough challenge against No. 23/18 Iowa State, ultimately succumbing to a 78-67 defeat. Despite a lackluster first half that saw the Wildcats trailing by as many as 13 points, they mounted a spirited comeback in the second half. An 18-6 run out of halftime brought them level at 47-all with 14:37 to play. The game saw multiple ties, including a 61-all deadlock with 4:52 remaining. However, Iowa State’s late 13-1 run, sparked by a jumper from senior Hason Ward, proved decisive. Kansas State showcased resilience with nine different players contributing points, including 19 from the bench. Junior Arthur Kaluma and Cam Carter registered double figures with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Despite the loss, K-State looks ahead to a challenging matchup against No. 4/4 Houston on Saturday.