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Kansas State coach Jerome Tang likes to say, “The difference between a Christmas and a Merry Christmas is a win.”

In the last game before the Christmas break for both teams, Kansas State travels down Interstate 135 to face Wichita State on Saturday evening. Both teams will be looking to make their break merrier.

Neither team is likely feeling the holiday spirit while riding two-game losing streaks. The Shockers (8-3) lost on the road to DePaul and at home to Missouri-Kansas City, while the Wildcats (6-4) lost at St. John’s followed by a heartbreaker in overtime to Drake in Kansas City.

WSU had its worst shooting night of the season against UMKC, hitting just 3 of 19 from 3-point range. They fell behind by 23 in the second half before a late surge made the final score 74-64.

Xavier Bell scored a game-high 21 on a night when he reached 1,000 career points. Justin Hill added 12.

Coach Paul Mills looks forward to facing Tang, his fellow former Baylor assistant coach.

“I’m glad we get to play here,” he said. “I anticipate a really good crowd. They have a good basketball team. We’re in for a heck of a fight on Saturday.

K-State fell behind Drake 29-9 in the first half in front of a partisan crowd at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center. The Wildcats trimmed it to a nine-point deficit by halftime and continued to surge in the second half, taking the lead at the 9:04 mark.

The game remained close, with neither team leading by more than three for the rest of regulation. The Wildcats trailed 70-64 with less than two minutes remaining in overtime before tying it, but Bennett Stirtz hit a game-winning 3-pointer in a 73-70 Drake victory.

The Wildcats got an outstanding game from Coleman Hawkins, who led them with 16 points, five assists, four steals and two blocks along with five rebounds. The Wildcats hope that version of Hawkins shows up against the Shockers.

“They’re a well-coached team,” Tang said of the Shockers following the loss to Drake. “They get to come home and play in front of their crowd and they’re going to be fired up.”

–Field Level Media