Basketball is usually about runs, shooting percentages, and who can lock down defensively in the final four minutes. But the ksu vs houston basketball game on January 7, 2026, was anything but usual. Honestly, if you just looked at the box score—a 71-62 win for Kansas State—you would miss the fact that this game featured a massive mid-court altercation, five total ejections, and a record-shattering performance from a player who basically refused to let her team lose.
It was a Wednesday night in Houston, and for the first 30 minutes, it looked like the Cougars were going to finally get one over on the Wildcats. K-State had never lost to Houston in their history, entering the night 4-0 all-time, but Jeff Mittie’s squad looked sluggish early. They trailed by as many as 14 points in the second quarter.
The Fertitta Center crowd was loud. Houston was physical. Then, everything changed in a way that’s going to be talked about in Big 12 circles for the rest of the season.
The Fight That Changed the KSU vs Houston Basketball Dynamic
With 6:38 left in the fourth quarter, Houston was holding onto a 53-49 lead. It was a gritty, defensive struggle until Jenessa Cotton of K-State snagged an offensive rebound. A tie-up followed, the whistle blew, and then things got ugly.
In the heat of the moment, Houston’s Amirah Abdur-Rahim and TK Pitts were involved in a physical altercation with Cotton. Punches were thrown. The referees spent an eternity at the replay monitor while both benches tried to keep their players from spilling onto the floor.
When the dust finally settled, the officials didn't hold back. Houston lost four players to ejections: Pitts, Abdur-Rahim, Briana Peguero, and Kyndall Hunter. Cotton was the lone Wildcat sent to the locker room. Because of the nature of the fouls, Kansas State was awarded six free throws.
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Tess Heal stepped to the line. Imagine the pressure. The crowd is screaming, the game is at a standstill, and you’ve got six straight shots with nobody in the lane. She drained every single one. In about thirty seconds of game time, Kansas State went from down four to up two without the clock even moving.
Tess Heal’s Historic Fourth Quarter
While the fight will dominate the headlines, what Tess Heal did on the court was arguably more impressive. You don't see 31-point games every day, but you definitely don't see 21 points in a single quarter.
That’s a K-State record for any quarter since the NCAA switched to the system in 2015-16.
Heal was a surgeon in the final period. After making those six high-pressure free throws, she hit a midrange jumper. Then a wing three. Then more free throws. She finished the quarter 10-of-10 from the charity stripe. It was the kind of takeover that makes you realize why she’s now sitting at over 1,600 career points.
Houston’s defense, which had been suffocating in the first half, simply evaporated after the ejections. They were down to just six available players. You could see the fatigue setting in. They tried to fight back—a four-point play narrowed the gap to 61-59 at one point—but Heal answered every single call.
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How K-State Flipped the Script
It wasn't just Heal, though. Nastja Claessens was the unsung hero for much of the night, putting up 14 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. She kept them within striking distance when the starting guards, Gina Garcia and Taryn Sides, were really struggling to find their shot.
Sides, who had been on a tear with steals lately, found herself frustrated most of the night, finishing with only 2 points. But that's the thing about this Wildcats team. They have depth. Aniya Foy came off the bench and gave them 17 crucial minutes when the starters were gassed or in foul trouble.
Examining the Matchup’s Tactical Reality
People love to talk about the "culture" of Houston basketball under their current staff. They play a brand of "toughness" that often walks the line. In this ksu vs houston basketball matchup, they crossed it.
Coach Jeff Mittie noted after the game that his staff did a great job of keeping the K-State players off the court during the fight. That's a huge detail. If the Wildcat bench had stepped onto the hardwood, they would have faced automatic ejections and likely suspensions, potentially tanking their season.
Instead, they stayed disciplined. They let the officials handle the chaos and then used the "freebie" points to steal a road win they probably didn't deserve based on how they played in the first half.
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The stats tell a weird story:
- K-State shot 40.4% from the field, which isn't great, but they held Houston to just 15.4% from the three-point line.
- Houston actually out-shot them from the free-throw line percentage-wise (70% to 69%), but the volume was the difference.
- K-State's 42-38 rebounding edge proved vital in a game where every possession felt like a war.
What’s Next for Both Programs?
For Kansas State, this win moved them to 9-8 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12. It’s a massive momentum builder before they head into a brutal stretch that includes games against Texas Tech and Kansas.
Houston is in a tougher spot. Sitting at 0-4 in conference play and 6-9 overall, they now have to deal with the fallout of the ejections. Depending on the Big 12’s review of the "punches thrown" incident, they could be looking at multi-game suspensions for key players like TK Pitts, who was their only double-digit scorer with 16 points.
If you're a fan following this rivalry, keep an eye on the rematch. These two teams play again on January 21, 2026, back in Manhattan. You can bet the atmosphere at Bramlage Coliseum is going to be electric.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're betting on or analyzing the next KSU vs Houston basketball game, keep these things in mind:
- The Depth Factor: K-State’s bench (especially Aniya Foy and Jordan Speiser) is becoming a reliable source of points when the stars are off.
- Discipline Wins: Houston’s aggressive style is their strength, but it’s also their biggest liability. When they lose their cool, they lose games.
- The Heal Factor: Tess Heal is a "closer." If the game is within five points in the fourth quarter, the ball is going to her, and she’s probably going to the foul line.
Check the official Big 12 availability reports before the next matchup, as the league office usually hands down disciplinary actions within 48 to 72 hours of a physical altercation.