Arizona State Unable to Complete Comeback Against Kansas State

The Sun Devils fell short in their attempt to rally against the Wildcats at home.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 5:31pm

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The Arizona State Sun Devils were unable to overcome a large deficit against the Kansas State Wildcats, falling 74-67 at home on Sunday. The Wildcats built a 24-point lead in the third quarter before the Sun Devils mounted a late comeback effort that ultimately fell short.

Why it matters

This loss marks the first home defeat for Arizona State head coach Molly Miller, who had led the team to an 18-4 record prior to this game. The Sun Devils were looking to stay undefeated at home this season, but the Wildcats' strong shooting and defensive effort proved too much to overcome.

The details

Kansas State jumped out to a 17-15 lead after the first quarter and extended their advantage to 37-24 by halftime, thanks in large part to 7-of-9 shooting from three-point range. The Wildcats pushed their lead to as many as 24 points in the third quarter before Arizona State mounted a late rally, cutting the deficit to single digits in the final minutes. However, the Sun Devils' lack of three-point shooting and limited possessions down the stretch prevented them from completing the comeback.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
  • Arizona State entered the game with an 18-5 record, 5-5 in Big 12 play.
  • Kansas State came into the contest with a 12-11 record, also 5-5 in conference.

The players

Gabby Elliott

An Arizona State player who scored 18 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists in the game.

McKinna Brackens

An Arizona State player who scored 20 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and recorded 6 steals.

Heloisa Carrera

An Arizona State player who scored 11 points and grabbed 3 rebounds.

Nastja Claessens

A Kansas State player who helped catalyze the Wildcats' offense in the first half.

Izela Arenas

A Kansas State player who also contributed to the Wildcats' strong offensive performance in the first half.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to work hard and learn from this experience. Our team showed a lot of fight in the second half, but we dug ourselves too deep of a hole early on.”

— Molly Miller, Arizona State Head Coach

What’s next

Arizona State will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they host Oklahoma State, before traveling to face ranked Baylor on Saturday.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the challenges Arizona State faces in competing in the highly competitive Big 12 conference, but also showcases the team's resilience in mounting a late comeback effort. The Sun Devils will need to shore up their defensive intensity and three-point shooting if they hope to make a deep postseason run.