K-State shakes off start to dominate UNCG, 93-64
Courtesy of K-State Sports
Manhattan, Kan.–Kansas State erupted for 60 points in the second half to shake off a one-point halftime deficit, as the Wildcats opened the 2025-26 season with a 93-64 win over UNC Greensboro on Tuesday night before 7,765 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
Three Wildcats scored in double figures, including a pair of 20-point performances from junior P.J. Haggerty (27 points) and senior Nate Johnson, who narrowly missed the school’s first recorded triple-double, with 22 points and game-highs of 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Junior Abdi Bashir Jr. scored all 16 of his points in the second half, hitting on 6-of-7 field goals, including 4-of-5 from 3.
It marked the first time in nearly 18 years that a pair of Wildcats each went over 20 points in an opener and the first since Michael Beasley and Blake Young went for 32 and 22 points, respectively, against Sacramento State on Nov. 9, 2007.
Down 34-33 at the half, the Wildcats (1-0) came out of the locker room a different team, scoring 22 of the first 31 points to take a 12-point lead and force a timeout by UNCG head coach Mike Jones at the 13:25 mark. Unfortunately for the Spartans, the timeout only slowed the Wildcats’ momentum as they rattled off 15 straight points – all on 3-pointers from Bashir and Johnson – to go ahead 70-45 with under 10 minutes to play. The lead grew to as many 32 points (89-57) after Haggerty’s last points of the night with 3:12 left.
K-State shot just over 50 percent (34-of-67) from the field, including 59.5 percent (22-of-37) in the second half, while hitting on 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from 3-point range. Eleven of the Wildcats’ 14 makes from beyond the arc came after halftime. The 14 3-pointers tie for the seventh-most in any game, while the 11 in the second half tie for the second-most in any half.
The 60-point second half marked just the 11th time that the Wildcats have scored 60 or more points in any half, as it ties for the ninth-most points in any half and are the most since a 63-point second half against UAPB on Dec. 1, 2024.
UNCG (0-1) led by as many as 10 points in the first half before K-State closed to within one at the break. The Spartans were led by graduate Justin Neely, who had 15 points to go with a team-high 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 32 minutes. Freshman Lilian Marville added 14 points in his college debut, while junior Domas Kauzonas chipped in 10 points.
Key Players
Johnson was just one rebound and assist short of the school’s first triple-double in his debut, as he poured in 22 points on 8-of-11 field goals, including 6-of-7 from 3-point range, to go with game-highs in both assists (9) and rebounds (9). His 6 made 3-pointers were a career-high and the most by any Wildcat in a season opener in at least 23 seasons.
Haggerty led the way with 27 points, connecting on 10-of-20 field goals and 6-of-7 free throws to go with 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and a block in 32 minutes. It was the most points in a debut since Michael Beasley scored 32 points against Sacramento State on Nov. 9, 2007.
Key Moments
K-State scored 15 points before the first media timeout to seize control of the game. Bashir gave the Wildcats the lead for good on his first 3-pointer to break a 40-all tie before a layup by Haggerty and a 3-pointer by freshman Andrej Kostic pushed the lead to 48-42 with 15:38 remaining.
After a basket by the Spartans closed the gap to 55-45 with just over 13 minutes left, the Wildcats scored 15 straight points, all coming from 3-pointers from Bashir and Johnson, to push the lead to 25 points (70-45) with 9:39 to play.
Key Stats
K-State scored its 60 points in the second half on 59.5 percent (22-of-37) shooting, including 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from 3-point range. The Wildcats outscored the Spartans, 18-10 in the paint, 10-3 in second-chance points, 14-2 in fast-break points and 14-0 from the bench.
In contrast, UNCG made just 9 of 26 field goals (34.6 percent) in the second half, including 3 of 11 (27.3 percent) from 3-point range, with 9 turnovers.
K-State continues its homestand to open the 2025-26 season on Saturday night when the Wildcats play host to Bellarmine (0-1) at Bramlage Coliseum.