Kansas State faced a pivotal moment on Saturday with a chance to reshape their season against No. 13 Texas Tech. Unfortunately, the Wildcats stumbled, suffering a tough 100-72 defeat to the Red Raiders.
This loss highlighted why Kansas State remains anchored at the bottom of the Big 12 standings, a spot they’ve been in since conference play kicked off in January.
Despite the outcome, there were some bright spots for the Wildcats. Three players hit double figures: P.J.
Haggerty led with 17 points, Nate Johnson added 15, and Taj Manning chipped in 10. The scoring balance between Johnson and Haggerty is a sign of progress.
It was the second consecutive game where they combined for over 40 points. Haggerty, though seven points shy of his season average, continued his streak as the team’s scoring leader for the 16th straight game.
Khamari McGriff, David Castillo, and Andrej Kostic each contributed eight points. Kansas State’s decision to distribute the offensive load more evenly, rather than relying solely on Haggerty, mirrors their strategy in the win over Baylor and could prove beneficial as they continue through Big 12 play.
On the Texas Tech side, the absence of JT Toppin, the Big 12 Player of the Year frontrunner, due to an ACL injury, didn’t slow them down. Toppin had been a powerhouse, averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds before his injury.
Yet, the Red Raiders adjusted seamlessly. Donovan Atwell and Christian Anderson each scored over 20 points, and all five starters hit double figures.
Lejuan Watts and Luke Bamgboye added solid defensive contributions with six rebounds and two steals each.
The Red Raiders’ offensive prowess was on full display, reaching the 100-point mark for the second time in Big 12 play, leaving Kansas State struggling to keep up.
A recurring issue for Kansas State has been their perimeter defense. Earlier this season, they allowed Cincinnati to hit nine of their first 11 three-point attempts, leading to a significant loss.
Against Texas Tech, the problem reemerged. The Red Raiders connected on eight of their 18 first-half three-point attempts, shooting nearly 15% better from beyond the arc than Kansas State in the opening half.
They added five more threes in the second half, finishing with an impressive 54.8% from the field. Atwell was particularly lethal, hitting six triples, his highest since the victory over Colorado.
As Kansas State looks ahead, addressing these defensive lapses and building on their offensive balance will be key to climbing the Big 12 ranks.