Man, being a Kansas State fan is a wild ride. Honestly, it’s like a rollercoaster that only goes up when you're looking the other way. If you’re asking who won the K State game, you’re actually looking at a tale of two different cities this weekend. One was a crushing "how did that happen?" loss in Stillwater, and the other was a massive, program-defining upset in Lubbock.
On Saturday night, January 17, 2026, the K-State men's basketball team took a gut punch from Oklahoma State, losing 84-83. It was one of those games that makes you want to throw your remote at the wall. Meanwhile, the K-State women’s team went into a hostile environment and knocked off No. 17 Texas Tech 65-59.
Sports, right? They give with one hand and take with the other.
The Men’s Game: A 2.8-Second Disaster in Stillwater
Gallagher-Iba Arena has always been a house of horrors for the Wildcats. They’ve lost 17 of their last 22 trips there. But this one? This one felt different. Until it didn't.
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Basically, K-State had the game won. P.J. Haggerty, who played all 40 minutes and looked like a machine, hit a jumper with 49 seconds left to put the Wildcats up 83-81. Oklahoma State missed two shots on the next possession, but K-State couldn't secure the rebound. That’s where it all fell apart.
With 2.8 seconds on the clock, Abdi Bashir Jr. got whistled for a foul on Vyctorius Miller during a three-point attempt. Miller, a sophomore who apparently has ice in his veins, stepped up and sunk all three free throws. 84-83. K-State had one last prayer, but Haggerty's heave at the buzzer fell short.
Why this loss hurts more than most
- The 0-5 Start: This is the first time since 1996-97 that the men have started Big 12 play 0-5.
- The Turnovers: K-State gave it up 16 times, leading to 26 Cowboy points. You can't do that on the road.
- Haggerty’s Heroics: P.J. Haggerty finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds. To waste a "carry the team" performance like that is just brutal.
The Wildcats actually shot 50% from the field and hit 15 three-pointers. Usually, that’s a winning formula. But when you send the home team to the line 24 times and let them grab crucial offensive boards in the final 10 seconds, you’re playing with fire.
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The Women’s Game: Silencing the Lubbock Crowd
If you want the good news about who won the K State game, look at the women's side. Going into Lubbock to play a Top-20 Texas Tech team that was 19-1 is a tall order.
The Wildcats didn't care about the rankings. They trailed by six in the fourth quarter after a Snudda Collins four-point play for Tech. Most teams would fold there. Instead, K-State sparked a rally fueled by Jordan Speiser and Gina Garcia.
They outrebounded the Lady Raiders 46-20. Read that again. They doubled them up plus six on the boards. That's pure effort.
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Key contributors in the Lubbock Upset
- Tess Heal: Finished with 12 points and some clutch free throws to ice it.
- Gina Garcia: Scored 11 and hit a massive three to retake the lead late.
- The Defense: They held Texas Tech without a field goal for the final five minutes of the second quarter.
This win was huge. It ended Texas Tech's 19-game winning streak and proved that Jeff Mittie’s squad can hang with anyone in the Big 12.
What's Next for the Wildcats?
If you’re a fan, you’ve probably got the schedule memorized, but here’s the immediate path forward. The men’s team returns home to Bramlage Coliseum—aka the Octagon of Doom—to face Utah on Tuesday, January 20. At 9-9 overall and 0-5 in the league, that game is pretty much a "must-win" if they have any hopes of a postseason.
The women return to Manhattan to host Houston on Wednesday, January 21. They’ve got momentum now. Sitting at 10-9 (3-3 Big 12), they’re right in the thick of the conference race.
Actionable Steps for K-State Fans
Don't let the Stillwater heartbreak ruin the week. Here is how you can stay locked in:
- Watch the Utah Game: It tips off at 8:00 PM CT on Tuesday. The team needs the home crowd to be loud to snap this skid.
- Monitor the Injury Report: Keep an eye on Khamari McGriff’s minutes; he was perfect from the field (7-of-7) against OSU but got bogged down in foul trouble.
- Support the Women's Upset Momentum: The Houston game on Wednesday is the perfect chance to show up for a team that just pulled off a signature road win.
Winning and losing is part of the Big 12 grind. It's arguably the toughest conference in the country for a reason. One night you're the hammer, the next you're the nail. Right now, the Wildcats are feeling both.