KANSAS STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Junior P.J. Haggerty paced five Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 24 points, as Kansas State recorded its second 100-point game of the season in a 106-76 win over South Dakota on Saturday afternoon before 7,287 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats (8-4), which scored a season-high 108 points in the win over Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 8, notched their second 100-point performance in the last 3 games while tying the school single-season record with the 1966-67, 1979-80, 1993-94 and 1997-98 teams. It also matched the 1993-94 and 1997-98 teams for the most 100-point games at home in a single season.
K-State shot better than 60 percent from the field for the third time this season, as the Wildcats connected on 62.1 percent (41-of-66), including 50 percent (12-of-24) from 3-point range, and 75 percent (12-of-16) from the free throw line. The team hit on better than 56 percent in each half, including a season-high 57 first-half points on a season-high 67.6 percent (23-of-34) shooting. The 41 made field goals are the most in 115 games under Jerome Tang and the most since totaling 43 vs. UTSA more than 34 years ago on Nov. 23, 1991.
The Wildcats were particularly lethal inside the 3-point arc, hitting on 69.1 percent (29-of-42) of their 2-point attempts, including a school-record tying 56 points in the paint. The team also had 56 points in the paint against Cal earlier this season as well as against South Dakota in 2010 and Miami in 2023. The team also dished out 23 assists, including 5 each from junior Abdi Bashir Jr. and sophomore David Castillo, and posted a 44-28 advantage on the glass.
Haggerty posted his eighth game of 20 or more points this season, leading the way with 24 points on 10-of-12 field goals and 3-of-4 free throws to go with a game-high 6 rebounds and 3 assists in just over 26 minutes. He has now scored in double figures in all 12 games, while posting the second-most points (274) in that span behind Michael Beasley (310) in 2007-08.
Joining Haggerty in double figures were Castillo with 16 points, Bashir and senior Nate Johnson with 15 points each and senior Khamari McGriff with 10 points.
Haggerty went perfect from the field in the first half, making all 8 of his attempts in the paint, as he
helped power an early 11-0 run that the Wildcats built into as much as a 24-point lead, including 57-34 at the halftime break. The second half was much of the same, as the home team's lead grew to more than 30 points less than 3 minutes into the half while it stood at a game-high 36 points with 9:25 left. The team broke the 100-point mark after a pair of free throws by junior Dorin Buca with 3:02 remaining.
South Dakota (7-7) was led by 19 points from junior Isaac Bruns, while senior Cameron Fens and freshman Jesse McIntosh had 17 and 15 points, respectively. The Coyotes shot 41.8 percent (26-of-67) from the field, including just 32.4 percent (12-of-37) in the first half.
K-State has now won 11 meetings with South Dakota, including all 5 at Bramlage Coliseum.