Kansas State @ Oklahoma State preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 11, 2020 ) Oklahoma State 64, Kansas State 59

After tying for the Big 12 regular season championship last year, Kansas State has fallen on hard times in 2019-20, losing nine consecutive games. The Wildcats begin the last week of the regular season with a trip to Oklahoma State on Wednesday before closing out at Iowa State on Saturday.

Kansas State battled No. 1 Kansas tough all day Saturday before dropping a 62-58 decision. The loss was yet another disappointing one for the Wildcats, who have now lost 12 games by single digits (including seven in Big 12 play) and seven by five points or less. "I just ask them to come back with the same mentality, the same mindset as we approach this last week. We’ve got to get Oklahoma State. We’ve got to get Iowa State and go into the tournament with momentum,” coach Bruce Weber said. Oklahoma State will be shooting for a fifth straight win at home and sixth win in its last nine games overall.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (9-20, 2-14 Big 12): Carter Diarra scored 15 points, and Xavier Sneed and Makol Mawien added 13 in the loss to Kansas, as the Wildcats were outrebounded 35-23 and shot just 39.5 percent. Sneed (14.0 points, 4.7 rebounds) is averaging a team-best 16.4 points on 48.6 percent shooting, including 61.5 percent from inside the arc, in the 9 wins, while averaging 12.8 points on 31.7 percent in the 20 losses, including 33.6 percent from inside the arc. During the nine-game losing streak, he is averaging 12.8 points on just 32.1 percent shooting, including 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from inside the arc.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (15-14, 5-11): The Cowboys are coming off a 73-61 win over Iowa State on Saturday, shooting 51.9 percent from the field as senior Cameron McGriff led three players in double figures with a game-high 19 points. McGriff (11.9 points) Lindy Waters III (10.8) and Isaac Likekele (10.4) all average double figures. The Cowboys posted a 64-59 victory over the Wildcats in Manhattan on Feb. 11 behind Yor Anei's 15 points and seven rebounds to end a four-game losing streak in the series.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kansas State leads the all-time series 82-54, including 33-27 in Stillwater.

2. During the current nine-game skid, the Wildcats have lost six games by 10 points or less, including five by single digits. The 12 losses by single digits are the most in a single season since the 2002-03 team lost 13 games by single digits.

3. Anei averages 1.9 blocks per game and ranks 13th in the nation in block percentage (12.1) and fourth in Big 12 games.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 65, Kansas State 60