Defensively, Kansas State came out swinging. Five minutes into regulation, the Wildcats forced four turnovers and a solid number of stops. Fortunately for Colorado, K-State struggled to capitalize on these scoring opportunities, allowing the Buffaloes to keep the game from getting out of hand quickly.
Offensive rebounding was a big strength for Colorado, as second-chance points came easily to them. When things looked bleak for the Wildcats, freshman Andrej Kostic hit back-to-back threes, giving some much-needed momentum heading into a media timeout.
The Buffaloes responded after the timeout with a three-pointer of their own, as guard Barrington Hargress hit the shot. Following this, a personal foul by K-State guard CJ Jones sent Colorado to the line. The Buffaloes then proceeded to go on a 13-0 run, giving them a 26-14 lead.
The Wildcats collapsed on offense, going on a five-minute scoring drought until a made mid-range shot from Jones. Although Colorado was relentless, the Wildcats found some room to breathe with five minutes left in the quarter.
K-State put on a much-needed 10-2 run to go into halftime, with Colorado leading 42-33. Junior P.J. Haggerty’s last-second layup off an impressive inbound pass from forward Nate Johnson put the game within single digits.
The second half started with a bang for K-State, as Johnson caught an alley-oop to score the first points of the second quarter. The Wildcats managed to shorten the lead to five, but it seemed to motivate the Buffaloes. Colorado went on a 10-0 run, extending their lead, 52-37.
Although K-State got good looks in the paint, shots wouldn’t fall — sending the Wildcats into another scoring drought — allowing Colorado to take full advantage. Late in the second quarter, though, K-State started to get into a rhythm.
The Wildcats produced a 9-0 run, lowering the once 22-point Colorado lead to seven. The Buffaloes went seven minutes without a field goal, scoring points strictly from the free throw line during the drought. The free-throw game brought Colorado’s lead back to 10, but two made free throws and a step-back jumper from Johnson brought it back to within seven.
A successful challenge from K-State interim head coach Matthew Driscoll gave K-State a chance to make it a one-possession game with about one minute remaining. Colorado fans erupted in anger over the call, with boo’s spreading around the arena. Kostic then nailed a huge corner three to bring the score to within three, 73-70.
“Colorado, they’re a really good team,” Driscoll said. “They play really, really well together. … But our guys were extremely resilient. They were tough.”
The Buffaloes soon locked in on defense, blocking the Wildcats on back-to-back possessions, and forcing K-State to foul, sending Colorado to the line. These crucial stops and stellar free-throw shooting gave the Buffaloes the win, 79-70.
Haggerty led the team with a double-double, scoring 25 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. Johnson finished with 10 points, but had trouble holding onto the ball as he also finished with seven turnovers. Kostic contributed 10 points to the Wildcats as well.
K-State will return to Bramlage Coliseum at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 to face off against TCU.
“We got to be better at playing off to getting fouled, getting to the free throw line, stopping the clock, being able to utilize those things,” Driscoll said. “We have to be more efficient. So I don’t know if disappointment is the word or frustration, but I do feel like we’re right there, like we are right there. And so, TCU is next.”
