Junior P.J. Haggerty delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 28 of his game-high 34 points in the second half, leading a short-handed Kansas State (K-State) to an 81-78 victory over Utah. This win at Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday night, witnessed by 8,061 fans, ended the Wildcats’ five-game losing streak to start Big 12 play. K-State had only 10 players available due to injuries, missing key contributors Abdi Bashir Jr. and Khamari McGriff, who had both started the previous 18 games.
Head coach Jerome Tang made adjustments to the starting lineup, bringing in juniors Dorin Buca and David Castillo alongside Haggerty, senior Nate Johnson, and junior Taj Manning. Despite the adversity, K-State managed to seize its first Big 12 win, with Haggerty hitting a critical jumper that broke a 77-all tie, followed by Johnson’s clutch free throws that sealed the game with just 6.7 seconds left. The Utes had a chance to tie but missed a last-second 3-point attempt.
Haggerty’s incredible 34 points marked the 10th-highest scoring output by a Wildcat in a Big 12 game and was the most since Markquis Nowell scored 36 at Texas on January 3, 2023. He recorded 15-of-29 field goals, including 1-of-4 from beyond the arc, along with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in over 39 minutes of play. He was supported by Castillo, who also had a strong game with 20 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, while Johnson contributed 17 points and a game-high 6 assists.
Both teams showcased impressive shooting statistics, with K-State hitting exactly 50% of their shots (31-of-62) and 52.2% from three-point range. Utah shot 49.2% from the field, displaying a competitive matchup. This performance kept K-State on pace for a historic season, averaging 85.3 points per game and showing significant improvement, including intra-team scoring feats—K-State has recorded 80 or more points in 13 of their first 19 games, a first in school history.
Haggerty’s performance also places him at the top nationally with a total of 444 points this season, and he ranks third in scoring average at 23.4 points per game. Meanwhile, his teammate Bashir Jr., although sidelined, is still noteworthy in the national rankings for his three-point shooting proficiency.
As K-State prepares for their upcoming game against No. 19 Kansas, the Wildcats are aiming to continue their success at home and narrow the all-time series deficit against their rival. The historic rivalry has seen K-State emerging victorious in recent matchups at Bramlage Coliseum, giving fans hope for another thrilling encounter. With the energy and skill demonstrated against Utah, K-State aims to not only break their opponents’ winning streak but also solidify their strong standing within the Big 12 conference.