Jizzle James led Cincinnati with 24 points as five Bearcats scored in double figures in their defeat of Kansas State, 91-62. The Bearcats shot 16-for-28 from beyond the arc and also held K-State to just 6-for-25 from three, an impressive feat on both ends of the basketball. 

The loss for the Wildcats puts them at 10-14 and 1-10 in conference play, while Cincinnati moves to 13-12 and 5-7 in conference play. 

Leading the way for K-State was junior guard P.J. Haggerty, who scored 24 points on 11-for-18 shooting. The junior guard didn’t get much help from his teammates, though, with the rest of the team shooting 32% from the field. 

From the tip, the game was never in doubt for Cincinnati. The Bearcats opened the contest with a 17-7 run, forcing K-State head coach Jerome Tang into a quick timeout due to the lack of effort and hustle on both ends of the floor.

“They got to have some pride,” Tang said. “It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on this purple.”

However, things didn’t get much better for the Wildcats because out of the timeout, Cincinnati took it up another notch, hitting a three, getting a steal and a breakaway dunk, forcing coach Tang into another timeout just 55 seconds later.

That run by the Bearcats was pretty indicative of the rest of the first half as they held down K-State and got anything they wanted on the offensive end. Cincinnati finished the first half 9-for-14 from three and had 13 assists on 20 made baskets.

Bearcats forward Jalen Celestine had 16 points in the first half, pacing Cincinnati, which had three guys in double figures at the break. K-State was once again led by PJ Haggerty, who had 11 points in the first half, but the Wildcats still trailed 53-31. 

Out of the break, K-State scored the first four points, which was needed for any hope of a comeback. That hope, however, was quickly stymied by Cincinnati going on a 10-0 run, extending their lead to 28 points.

While the second half was more competitive than the first half, the game’s outcome was never in question, and Cincinnati did a good job of keeping the home Wildcat crowd quiet. When the final horn blew, there were not many positives to take from the defeat against Cincinnati. 

“These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform,” Tang said. “There will be very few of them in it next year. I’m embarrassed for the university, I’m embarrassed for our fans, our student section. It is just ridiculous.”

K-State is still playing short-handed with injuries to key starters and depth pieces, but with or without those players, the Wildcats will need to find a way to win.

Now going on the road, K-State will face No. 3-ranked Houston in a lopsided battle. However, the Wildcats have been better on the road than at home as of late, which can be a positive mindset heading into the matchup against the Cougars.

The matchup against Houston will take place on Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on Peacock.