On Wednesday night in Waco, Texas, two Big 12 teams clashed in an exciting back-and-forth matchup.
Scott Drew and the Baylor Bears welcomed Jerome Tang and the Kansas State Wildcats to Foster Pavillion for the seventh game of the Big 12 regular season. The pair traded blows early in the first half and late in the second, which eventually wound up with the Bears taking the reigns and cruising to victory.
With that, here are the top three takeaways from Baylor’s 70-62 win over the Wildcats.
Three Takeaways from Baylor’s 70–62 Victory Over Kansas State
WACO, TX — In a classic Big 12 showdown on Wednesday night, the Baylor Bears defended their home court at Foster Pavilion, rallying in the second half to defeat the Kansas State Wildcats 70–62. It was a night filled with grit, momentum swings, and a whole lot of star power.
Let’s dive into the three biggest takeaways from Baylor’s statement win.
- VJ Edgecombe & Jalen Celestine: A Two-Man Wrecking Crew
Kansas State came out swinging and dominated stretches of the first half—but in the second half, Baylor’s dynamic duo took over.
VJ Edgecombe and Jalen Celestine combined for 48 of Baylor’s 70 points, with no other player on the team hitting double digits. Edgecombe, a freshman phenom and top NBA prospect, poured in a career-high 30 points, going 8-of-13 from the field and a lethal 11-of-12 from the free throw line.
With key guards Jeremy Roach and Langston Love sidelined, Edgecombe proved he’s not just Baylor’s future—he’s their present. NBA scouts are watching, and nights like this only fuel his case as a potential No. 1 pick in the 2025 Draft.
- Kansas State’s Road Woes Continue
This loss hits hard for Kansas State, and not just because they blew a 12-point second-half lead. This marks 378 days since their last true road win, a painful streak dating back to January 9, 2024, in Morgantown.
While there were frustrations with the officiating—Baylor shot 21 free throws to Kansas State’s 9—the bottom line is clear: K-State couldn’t close.
Now sitting at 1–6 in conference play and riding a six-game losing streak, the Wildcats are struggling to find their footing in a highly competitive Big 12.
- Baylor Picks the Right Time to Bounce Back
The Bears desperately needed this win. After dropping back-to-back games to Arizona and TCU, Scott Drew’s squad was beginning to slide down the conference standings.
This win gives Baylor momentum heading into a stretch of games that includes Utah, BYU, #12 Kansas, Texas Tech, and UCF—a slate that could shape the rest of their season.
Meanwhile, Kansas State faces a brutal upcoming schedule, including matchups with #23 West Virginia, Arizona State, and a revenge shot against Oklahoma State—all before seeing Kansas and Arizona again.
Final Thought:
Baylor proved they can respond under pressure, and VJ Edgecombe solidified his place as one of the brightest young stars in college hoops. As for Kansas State—they’ll need to regroup fast if they want to salvage the rest of their season.
Stay locked in with Big12sportz for more Big 12 breakdowns, rising-star spotlights, and all the drama as we march toward Madness. 🏀
Two-Man Show
While the first half was largely dominant for the Kansas State Wildcats, Baylor found production in a large way in the second half from the duo of VJ Edgecombe and Jalen Celestine. The pair recorded 48 of Baylor’s 70 points, with no other scorers reaching double figures.
Without the help of Jeremy Roach and Langston Love, Edgecombe showed why he deserves to be in consideration for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The freshman phenom dropped a career-high 30 points against Kansas State, going 8-13 from the field and 11-12 from the free throw line.
The Streak Continues
For Kansas State, this loss stings. Jerome Tang’s group led Baylor by 12 points in the second half and couldn’t get the job done. With the loss to Baylor, K-State stacked even more days on top of an already embarrassing record.
After falling to Baylor, the Wildcats have now not won a true road game in 378 days. The streak dates back to the 2023-24 season, with their last road win coming on January 9th in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Unfortunately for Kansas State, they took a bit of a beating from the officiating crew. Kansas State attempted a total of nine free throws for the entire game, while Baylor shot 21 attempts at the line.
Regardless, the Wildcats threw away the game and dropped to 1-6 in conference play this season. The loss marks their sixth-straight loss and eighth in the last nine games.
What’s Next?
Kansas State has become the laughingstock of the Big 12 this season, and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. The Wildcats have already lost a total of six conference games and will have to take on No. 23 West Virginia, Oklahoma State (who beat them on Jan. 7), Arizona State, No. 12 Kansas, and Arizona in their next five outings.
The win for Baylor, however, came at the perfect time. The Bears had been sliding down the Big 12 leaderboard after back-to-back losses to Arizona and TCU. Their win over Kansas State propels them into a manageable stretch that features opponents of Utah, BYU, No. 12 Kansas, Texas Tech, and UCF in their next five games.
