Ezra Ausar leads Utah to 74-69 win over Kansas State

Utah defeats Kansas State as Ezra Ausar scores 21 points, secures key rebounds, and hits clutch free throws to seal the win.

Ezra Ausar of the Utah Utes is landed on by David N'Guessan of the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half of their game at the Jon M Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on February 17, 2025. Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images

By Randy Ahmad and Adila Ghina

Ezra Ausar scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lift the Utah Utes to a 74-69 victory over Kansas State on Monday night in Salt Lake City. Ausar’s 15-point second half, along with a perfect 7-for-7 performance from the free-throw line, proved crucial in helping the Utes follow up their upset win over No. 17 Kansas with another significant victory.

With just five seconds remaining, Ausar made two vital free throws to seal the win, extending Utah’s current winning streak to four games at home.

Utah's strong rebounding performance helps secure victory

Lawson Lovering added 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Gabe Madsen chipped in 13 points, contributing to the Utes’ overall dominance on the boards. Utah finished with a 51-28 rebounding advantage over Kansas State, including 21 offensive rebounds, which played a pivotal role in overcoming a 38.1 percent shooting performance from the field.

One of the key moments came when Ausar secured an offensive rebound and converted it into a putback, completing a three-point play to give Utah a 67-61 lead with just 1:17 left in the game. This came after Kansas State had battled back from a nine-point deficit earlier in the second half.

Kansas State falls short despite strong individual performances

Brendan Hausen led Kansas State with 17 points, including five 3-pointers, while Dug McDaniel and Max Jones each added 13 points. Despite a strong team effort, the Wildcats (13-13, 7-8 Big 12) dropped their second consecutive game, having also lost to BYU on Saturday after a six-game winning streak.

Kansas State made a late push to stay in the game, pulling within 69-67 in the final minute after three-pointers from Coleman Hawkins and Hausen. However, the Wildcats were unable to complete their comeback.

Late-game drama as both teams battle for control

With just 44 seconds left, Kansas State forced a Utah turnover, giving them a chance to either tie or take the lead. But the Wildcats immediately followed with a turnover of their own, allowing Utah to break the press and score a dunk by Mike Sharavjamts, extending the Utes' lead to four points.

With Utah ahead 72-69, Hausen missed a long 3-point attempt with seven seconds left, and Ausar grabbed the defensive rebound. He was fouled and hit two crucial free throws to push Utah’s lead to 74-69, effectively sealing the victory.

First half struggles do not stop Utah

Utah struggled offensively in the first half, failing to make a field goal for the final 7:55 after Jake Wahlin’s layup put the Utes up 25-18. Despite this, they managed to enter halftime tied at 32, showing resilience in a challenging first half.

The Utes came out strong to start the second half, opening with a 12-3 run to take a 44-35 lead. However, Kansas State responded and managed to catch up. In the end, it was Utah’s clutch play and Ausar’s key contributions that led them to victory.

Ezra Ausar’s all-around performance was the driving force behind Utah’s 74-69 win over Kansas State. His scoring, rebounding, and clutch free-throw shooting in the final moments secured the Utes’ fourth consecutive home victory. Despite Kansas State’s late surge, Utah’s rebounding advantage and Ausar’s timely contributions ultimately earned them the win.