Kansas State pushed past Baylor 69-61 Monday in a battle of desperate Big 12 teams in Manhattan, Kan.

Star guard Jacob Pullen scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Wildcats to a much-needed victory. After last year’s Elite 8 run, Kansas State (14-7, 2-4 Big 12) began the season ranked in the Top 5, but has struggled throughout January.

Monday’s win ends a two-game slide and helps the Wildcats build momentum heading into Saturday’s showdown at archrival and sixth-ranked Kansas.

Kansas State dominated the first half, but missed a handful of easy opportunities around the basket and failed to put Baylor away.

The Bears, who trailed 25-18 at half, opened the second half with a 12-4 run, capped by a LaceDarius Dunn 3-pointer that gave Baylor its first lead since the opening basket.

But the Wildcats answered with a flurry of 3-pointers from Pullen, Rodney McGruder and Will Spradling to build a 10-point lead at the 12-minute mark.

Baylor (13-6, 3-3 Big 12) got within five with under a minute to go, but Kansas State hit 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Quincy Acy led the Bears with 14 points off the bench, and Dunn finished with 13. Prized freshman Perry Jones III added 11 points and nine rebounds for Baylor, which, like Kansas State, has struggled to build off of a run to the Elite 8 last season.

The Bears will look to bounce back at home against Colorado on Saturday.