Kansas State Struggling to Close Out Games Amid Losing Streak

Kansas State has not had the season it was hoping for this year. The Wildcats have the worst overall record in the Big 12 at 7-11 (1-6 Big 12) having lost six games in a row and nine of their last 10.

The frustrating part for Kansas State and its fans is the team isn’t a lost cause. Outside of one game on this losing streak, the Wildcats have been in every game until the end and held late leads in several of them. Every game seems like it can be the “get right” game for a team that just hasn’t gotten over the hump yet.

“Outside of the Houston game, their games have come down to the wire, they’ve been right there,” said WVU coach Darian DeVries, whose Mountaineers take on Kansas State Saturday. “They’re right there, they just haven’t had the wins to show for it. I think they’re a really talented team that presents a lot of challenges for you.”

West Virginia, conversely, has been a team that had gotten over the hump several times late in games. Whether it’s holding onto late leads or staging comebacks, the Mountaineers have been able to succeed in areas where the Wildcats haven’t

In its previous game against Baylor, Kansas State led by six with less than 10 minutes to play. Baylor took a slight lead, however, and the Wildcats couldn’t make a basket in the final 3:25 leading to a 70-62 loss. Before that, Kansas State fell into a 14-0 hole against Kansas, but fought back and cut it to a single-digit lead for most of the second half before losing 84-74. Against Texas Tech, the Wildcats led by six before allowing a 13-0 run midway through the second half to lose 61-57.

The worst loss of the bunch might have come on Jan. 4 against TCU. Leading by six with 3:14 to play, Kansas State went scoreless for the remainder of the game while TCU scored the final seven points to win by on on a layup with 12 seconds left.

“A lot of those games have been incredibly close,” DeVries said. “In Big 12 play especially.”

In fact, an 87-57 loss to Houston on Jan. 11 is the only game in this losing streak that Kansas State has lost by more than 13 points. The margin of defeat in the other five games is just 7.2 points. The Wildcats seem destined to see their fortune turn and finally win one of these close games. The Mountaineers just have to hope that it won’t be against them.

WVU and Kansas State tip off at 6 p.m. inside the Bramlage Coliseum Saturday. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.