Kansas State made quick work against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 8 as the Wildcats came ready for the Delta Devils. This would be K-State’s first win after a four-game losing streak, and a big win it was. The Wildcats had their largest point margin of the season so far, leading by 59 points.
K-State’s offense was vastly different to start this game compared to their prior matchup against Seton Hall, where the ‘Cats struggled early from the perimeter, shooting 1-6 from three.
In this one, K-State started the game on a 4-1 run. Most of these points came off fast breaks, as the Wildcats moved down the court with swift speed. This run forced the Delta Devils to call their first timeout.
Shortly following the timeout, guard P.J. Haggerty would make the Wildcats’ first three of the night. K-State’s free-throw shooting was a major factor, as the Wildcats went 7-8 from the line five minutes into the game. This success, both beyond the arc and at the line, helped K-State jump out to a 21-8 lead.
“I mean, losing is never a good feeling,” Haggerty said. “My preparation is just finding my spots within the offense. Shots went in for all of us, so we have to keep stacking, keep winning.”
Defensively, the Wildcats came to play. Mississippi Valley State had to call another timeout after making just one of its previous 10 field goal attempts about halfway through the first.
There would be a couple of scoring droughts in the first half for the Delta Devils, as K-State looked ravenous for a win after losing the previous four games. Haggerty was nearly perfect when it came to shooting in the first half, scoring 15 points on just two misses. The Wildcats led 55-21 going into halftime.
“Guys were getting each other shots rather than trying to get their own,” K-State head coach Jerome Tang said. “It just makes the game so much easier, and so the goal is to continue that.”
To begin the second half, Haggerty and guard Abdi Bashir Jr. each drained a three to get the Wildcats going. The second half also saw K-State go on a 12-2 run, while forcing seven turnovers over five minutes.
The three-point shots continued to rain as Bashir, Haggerty and guard David Castillo each made three or more in the second half. The Wildcats were considerably better from three-point range than in their last game against Seton Hall. K-State shot 53% from the arc, whereas previously they mustered 20%. Although the Delta Devils got better as the game went on, it was too little too late, as the Wildcats won 108-49.
Haggerty was on fire, scoring 28 points on 11-14 shooting. Castillo followed him off the bench and scored 19. Bashir drained five three-pointers, shooting 50% from the arc with 15 points. Guard Nate Johnson finished with 14 points and led the team in assists, with six.
“When he [Castillo] was coming off the bench earlier this season, we scored 26 points a game off the bench,” Tang said. “For him to come and say ‘Coach, I think coming off the bench might be better for the team’ just speaks volumes to who he is as a person.”
With their losing streak now in the rearview mirror, the Wildcats will look to keep their success going, starting with Creighton on Saturday, Dec. 13.
