Umoja Gibson led the Sooners to a crucial win in Manhattan — OU’s first at Bramlage since 2012.

It’s been a decade, but the Oklahoma Sooners have finally ended the drought at Bramlage Coliseum. For the first time since 20212, OU came out on top on the home court of the Kansas State Wildcats by a score of 78-71, clinching a bye in the Big 12 Tournament and keeping its NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Senior Umoja Gibson carried the load for OU in the first half, scoring 20 points and hitting five of his six three-point attempts to aid OU to a 38-37 halftime lead. The game remained neck-and-neck until the 15:40 mark, but the Sooners led for the entirety of the proceedings from that point forward. Gibson ended the game with 29 points on 9-14 shooting and 7-12 from deep, with Tanner Groves also adding 14 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Entering the day, the Sooners were 46th in the NCAA’s NET rankings, and a win over the Wildcats certainly will help matters. Additionally, with West Virginia winning today against TCU, there’s a non-zero chance that two more of OU’s past wins will go from being Quad 2 to Quad 1 victories. At any rate, OU will probably need a win over Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament to feel good about their Big Dance chances. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. Thursday evening at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

After two straight wins, the Sooners are looking to boost their postseason stock with a rare victory in Manhattan.

After after picking up consecutive wins for the first time in this calendar year, the Oklahoma Sooners are looking to boost their postseason stock with a rare road victory over the Kansas State Wildcats.

Oklahoma (16-14, 6-11) at Kansas State (14-15, 6-11): Saturday, 3 p.m. CT at Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan, Kan.)

TV/Live Stream: ESPN+

Commentary: Chucki Kempf and Missy Heidrick

Radio: Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing

Line: Kansas State -2.5 (as of 12 p.m. CT Saturday)

About Kansas State

• The Wildcats are led by sophomore guard Nijel Pack, who is averaging 17.7 points and hitting 43.7 percent of his three-point attempts in his second season in Manhattan. Markquis Nowell and Mark Smith also contribute 12.6 and 12.2 points per game, respectively, with the latter adding 8.5 rebounds per contest.
• Kansas State is currently 56th in KenPom adjusted efficiency rankings, sitting at No. 68 offensively and No. 54 defensively.
• K-State was in decent position for a spot in the Big Dance not too long ago, but four straight losses seem to have thrown a wrench into those plans.

Bracketology

The Sooners currently sit at No. 46 in the NCAA’s NET Rankings, which the selection committee uses as a tool for seeding the field. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi currently has the Sooners in the ““Work Left to Do” category, and one would think that a win today couple with one big upset in the Big 12 Tournament would qualify as sufficient work done. Otherwise, the NIT will be the destination, as the Sooners are assured of at least a .500 record.

Prediction

Oklahoma 68, Kansas State 66