MANHATTAN, Kan. — Behind a pair of dominant double-doubles and a late-game scoring surge, No. 19 Kansas pulled away from rivals Kansas State for an 86-62 victory in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Saturday night.
The Jayhawks (15-5, 5-2 Big 12) relied on a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures to snap a three-game losing streak at Bramlage Coliseum.
Bidunga and Council Lead the Charge
The interior presence of Flory Bidunga proved too much for the Wildcats to handle. Bidunga finished with a team-high 21 points and 10 rebounds. His performance was punctuated by a thunderous alley-oop dunk during a decisive 15-3 run late in the second half that effectively silenced the home crowd.
Complementing the inside game, Melvin Council Jr. orchestrated the offense with precision, recording 17 points and a career-high 12 assists. Freshman Bryson Tiller added 16 points to the Jayhawks’ tally.
A Tale of Two Halves
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, thanks in large part to Kansas State’s Andrej Kostic. The Serbian freshman, seeing increased minutes, ignited the Wildcats by sinking four three-pointers in a four-minute span, keeping Kansas State within two points at halftime (37-35).
In the second half, P.J. Haggerty took over for the Wildcats (10-10, 1-6), scoring 18 of his game-high 23 points. A Haggerty triple with 7:50 remaining cut the Kansas lead to just 59-55, threatening an upset.
The Final Push
The Jayhawks responded to the pressure with an elite defensive stand and an offensive explosion, closing the game on a 27-7 run. Kansas has now won 16 of the last 20 matchups in this historic rivalry, the second-longest active series in Division I men’s basketball.
“We stayed composed when they made their run,” the Jayhawks’ performance suggested. “The ball movement in the final eight minutes was the difference.”
Looking Ahead
Kansas returns home to Lawrence with momentum on their side, riding a four-game winning streak. They are set to host No. 13 BYU at Allen Fieldhouse next Saturday in a high-stakes Big 12 clash.
