K-State Snaps Skid, Outlasts Utah in Gritty 81-78 Win Behind PJ Haggerty’s Heroics
Kansas State finally got the monkey off its back.
After five straight losses to open Big 12 play, the Wildcats dug deep and delivered a much-needed 81-78 win over Utah at Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday night. It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy - but it was gritty, emotional, and exactly what this team needed to stop the bleeding.
In a game that saw nine lead changes and a furious final push from the Utes, K-State leaned on its defense when it mattered most. Utah missed six of its final seven shots, and when Terrence Brown’s last-second three clanged off the iron, the Wildcats had their first conference win of the season.
And they earned every bit of it.
PJ Haggerty vs. Terrence Brown: A Scoring Duel Worth the Price of Admission
This one turned into a classic Big 12 shootout - not just between teams, but between two elite scorers who refused to back down.
Utah’s Terrence Brown was electric. He poured in 33 points on 24 shots, slicing through K-State’s defense with a mix of perimeter shooting and aggressive drives. Every time the Wildcats looked like they were pulling away, Brown had an answer.
But PJ Haggerty had the final word.
The sophomore guard exploded for 34 points, with 28 of them coming after halftime. Utah tried everything - traps, doubles, switching defenders - but Haggerty kept finding ways to get to his spots. He added eight rebounds and four assists to round out a performance that was as clutch as it was commanding.
And when it came down to crunch time, K-State’s offense had one plan: give him the ball and get out of the way.
“My teammates trusted me to take those shots,” Haggerty said postgame. “They tell me, just take shots and they will live or die with me. I took good shots, they went in, and we came out with the win.”
It’s hard to argue with the results.
David Castillo Shines in Return to Starting Lineup
David Castillo’s selfless attitude earlier in the season - volunteering to come off the bench to spark the second unit - earned him plenty of respect in the locker room. But after a recent slump and a rash of injuries, he was back in the starting five Tuesday night. And he made the most of it.
Castillo came out firing, scoring 17 points in the first half and finishing with 20. At times early on, he was outscoring Utah by himself. He knocked down six threes and gave K-State the early jolt it needed to stay in the fight.
Injuries may force him to stay in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future, but that’s not something he’s sweating.
“I’m fine with whatever,” Castillo said. “I’m going to do whatever the team needs.”
That kind of mindset - paired with the ability to go off like he did Tuesday - could be a game-changer for the Wildcats moving forward.
Shorthanded but Not Shaken: K-State Adapts Without Key Starters
This win becomes even more impressive when you consider who wasn’t on the floor.
K-State was missing four players, including three regular starters. Abdi Bashir, the team’s top outside shooter, is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his foot. The Monmouth transfer had been averaging 11.3 points per game.
Khamari McGriff, another starter, was a game-time decision but ended up sitting out in street clothes. He’s been a steady presence in the frontcourt, averaging 10.3 points and 4.2 rebounds.
Elias Rapieque and Mobi Ikegwuruka were also unavailable - the third and fourth absences on the night.
With the rotation thinned out, head coach Jerome Tang turned to a starting lineup that featured Dorin Buca at center, Castillo at guard, and Taj Manning at forward, alongside the usual duo of Haggerty and Nate Johnson. And the bench stepped up, too - Andrej Kostic and CJ Jones both hit timely shots to keep the offense humming.
“It’s next man up,” Haggerty said. “(Castillo) hit six 3-pointers.
(Kostic) came in and made some shots. So did CJ.
We’ve got everybody just doing their role and playing a big part in our team.”
Tang’s Celebration Says It All
When Brown’s last shot missed and the buzzer sounded, Jerome Tang didn’t hold back. He sprinted to the student section and broke into a dance - something fans in Manhattan have seen before after big wins. The players followed suit, raising their arms in triumph and soaking in the moment with the home crowd.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a release of frustration, a statement of resilience, and maybe - just maybe - the beginning of a turnaround.
“Shout out to the fans and the student section,” Haggerty said. “Keep coming to the games and just keep believing in us.”
Looking Ahead
K-State now sits at 10-9 overall and 1-5 in Big 12 play, tied with Utah at the bottom of the standings. But with the losing streak snapped and momentum finally swinging in their direction, the Wildcats have a chance to build on this.
And the timing couldn’t be more dramatic - next up is a home showdown with in-state rival Kansas on Saturday.
One win doesn’t fix everything, but it sure changes the vibe. And for a K-State team that’s been fighting to find its footing, Tuesday night felt like the first step in the right direction.