Council's Huge Day Helps No. 19 Kansas Edge NC State

Saturday, December 13

Raleigh, N.C.

4:30 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

8-3,0-0Big 12

North Carolina State

7-4,0-0ACC

OT 1

Kansas

NC State

Council's Huge Day Helps No. 19 Kansas Edge NC State

12/13/2025 7:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Melvin Council Jr. had career highs of 36 points and nine made 3-pointers to help No. 19 Kansas edge N.C. State 77-76 in overtime on Saturday in a thriller.

Council had made just 5 of 27 3s coming into the game, but took advantage of open looks early then largely carried the Jayhawks (8-3) down the stretch — including scoring Kansas' last 13 points of regulation and feeding Flory Bidunga's go-ahead dunk with 51.9 seconds left in the OT. Council's 36 points were the most by a Jayhawk since Jalen Wilson had 38 on Jan. 17, 2023 at Kansas State. Council's nine made three-pointers are the second-most ever by a Kansas player in a game. Terry Brown had 11 in 1991, also against N.C. State.

"We had one guy that was probably the best performer that I've had on the road in 23 years as the head coach at Kansas," Coach Bill Self said of Council. "He was unbelivable. He made hard shots. They dared him to shoot and then when he made a couple, he started looking at a big basket. He was unbelivable. When you look at his entire line, nine threes, seven rebounds, four assists, no turnovers, he played 43 minutes; that's a pretty good stat line. I'm really happy for Mel. I'm really happy for our team."

Trailing by one, N.C. State (7-4) had one final possession to win it, inbounding from near halfcourt with 1.0 second left. But Darrion Williams' fading 3 on the catch missed everything to end the game and give Kansas the road win.

Kansas freshman star Darryn Peterson had 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. But he abruptly checked out of a tight game with 2:15 left and didn't return, watching from the bench in an exit coming shortly after he missed seven games with a hamstring strain.

Council finished 13 of 27 from the floor and 9 of 15 from behind the arc to go with seven rebounds and four assists. Tre White also finished in double figures with 12 points, while also adding six rebounds and three assists. Bidunga finished with 11 rebounds to go with eight points in 32 minutes after picking up two early fouls.

Quadir Copeland scored 19 points to lead the Wolfpack, while Williams finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Up next

Kansas: The Jayhawks return home to face Towson on Tuesday.

N.C. State: Texas Southern visits the Wolfpack on Wednesday.