Troy’s 12-game winning streak is no more.

No. 15 Kansas State pulled away in the second half for a 42-13 victory at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan., on Saturday, decisively winning a matchup of 2022 conference champions. The loss was the Trojans’ first in nearly a year, when they fell 32-28 to Appalachian State on a last-second Hail Mary touchdown pass last Sept. 17.

There was no drama on Saturday, as Kansas State quarterback Will Howard passed for three touchdowns and ran two more for the reigning Big 12 champions. Philip Brooks scored twice for the Wildcats, on a 2-yard run and a 39-yard pass from Howard.

Defending Sun Belt champion Troy (1-1) got within 14-10 late in the second quarter but gave up a touchdown just before the half. Kansas State (2-0) drove 66 yards in just 39 seconds, with Howard finding Brooks for the 39-yard score and a 21-10 lead with just 10 seconds to go in the half.

Kansas State utilized a short field to score another touchdown late in the third, Howard’s 2-yard run with 3:47 to play. The Wildcats converted twice on third-and-long during the drive, which put them up 28-10.

Troy went three-and-out on four straight possessions to begin the second half. Two of those ended on third-down sacks by Kansas State’s Khalid Duke.

The Trojans got back within two scores on Scott Taylor Renfroe’s 37-yard field goal with 13:58 to play, but Kansas State then drove 77 yards in eight plays to put the game away. Treshaun Ward hauled in a 1-yard shovel pass from Howard to make it 35-13 with 8:48 left, then Howard scored on a 1-yard sneak with 2:50 remaining to set the final score.

Gunnar Watson passed for 167 yards and a touchdown for Troy, but the Trojans could never establish a running game. A week after rushing for a school-record 248 yards in a win over Stephen F. Austin, Kimani Vidal was held to 83 yards on 17 attempts — 46 yards coming on one third-quarter run.

Watson’s touchdown pass came on a leaping grab by Chris Lewis, who hauled in a 21-yarder with one hand in the end zone in the second quarter, cutting Kansas State’s lead to four. Lewis, a Kentucky transfer, caught five passes for 50 yards.

Howard completed 21 of 32 passes for 250 yards, including a 9-yard score to Jadon Jackson on the game’s opening series. Brooks’ 2-yard run made it 14-0 early in the second, with Renfroe’s 24-yard field goal putting Troy on the board later in quarter.

Troy’s Reddy Steward snuffed out one Kansas State drive with an end zone interception in the second quarter. Javon Solomon had the Trojans’ only sack.

Troy is back home next Saturday, hosting James Madison at Veterans Memorial Stadium in a key Sun Belt Conference battle. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., with television coverage on NFL Network.