Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, November 8
Manhattan, Kan.
7 p.m. CT
Kansas State University
2-0,0-0Big 12
98
vs
71
Bellarmine
0-2,0-0ASUN
1
2
F
Bellarmine
30
41
71
Kansas St.
46
52
98
Offense Continues Sizzling Pace in 98-71 win over Bellarmine
Nov 08, 2025 | Men's Basketball
Box ScoreFinal Stats (.pdf)Postgame Quotes (.pdf)HighlightsJerome Tang Press ConferencePlayer Press ConferencePhoto Gallery
Four Wildcats scored in double figures led by junior P.J. Haggerty's game-high 23 points.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Four Wildcats scored in double figures, including the first career points/ assists double-double for junior P.J. Haggerty, as Kansas State moved to 2-0 on the young season with a 98-71 win over Bellarmine on Saturday night before 8,040 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
The offense continued its fast pace, as K-State (2-0) posted 90 or more points in the first 2 games for the first time in nearly 34 years while totaling the most points in that span since scoring 193 to open the 1991-92 season. The Wildcats posted the highest field goal percentage of the Jerome Tang era at 62.3 percent (33-of-53), including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from 3-point range. It was the highest field goal percentage since hitting on 62.5 percent against Alabama State on Dec. 11, 2019.
Haggerty led the way with his third career double-double and first points/assists double-double, as he finished with a game-high 23 points on 5-of-9 field goals and 11-of-12 free throws to go with a career-best 11 assists. It marked his first double-double since posting a pair of tradition points/rebounds double-doubles while playing at Tulsa in 2023-24.
Two Wildcats – senior Khamari McGriff and sophomore David Castillo – each went perfect from the field, becoming the 24th and 25th players in school history to go perfect from the field on 5 or more field goals. Castillo scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, while McGriff totaled 16 points on 8-of-8 field goals.
Junior Abdi Bashir Jr. also had double figures with 16 points with 5 3-pointers.
K-State broke open a back-and-forth affair with an 18-4 run near the midway point of the first half en route to taking a 46-30 lead into the halftime break. The lead grew to 19 points in early moments of the second half before a timeout by Bellarmine head coach Doug Davenport keyed a surge by the Knights, who closed to within 62-52 with 13:04 to play.
Bellarmine kept the pressure on K-State over the next 6 minutes, staying within 11 points, including 73-62 on back-to-back layups, before a 10-5 run by the Wildcats pushed the lead to 83-67 at the final media timeout. The squad then ended the game on a 15-4 run to put it away.
Bellarmine (0-2) saw four players score in double figures, including 19 points from sophomore Michael Wilson, Jr., and 18 points from senior Jack Karasinski. The Knights shot 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the field, but just 20 percent (4-of-20) from beyond the arc.
KEY PLAYER(S)
Haggerty collected his third career double-double, including his first double-double with double-digit points and assists, as he poured in 23 points on 5-of-9 field goals and 11-of-12 free throws to go with a career-high 11 assists. It marked his 25th game of 20 or more points in his college career.
Castillo chipped in a career-high 19 points off the bench, going a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range. He is just the eighth Wildcat to go 5-of-5 or better from beyond the arc, joining his high school coach Clent Stewart, who was in attendance at tonight's game.
KEY MOMENT(S)
K-State took control of the game with an 18-4 run midway through the first half, as the Wildcats led 28-14 at the third media timeout. The run included a 3-point play from senior C.J. Jones and 5 straight points from Haggerty and senior Nate Johnson during a 10-0 stretch.
Bellarmine closed to within 10 points in the second half after falling down by 19 points in the early moments of the second half, but K-State seemed to have an offensive answer to every challenge before ending the game on a 25-9 scoring spurt.
KEY STATS
K-State connected on 62.3 percent (33-of-53) from the field, including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from 3-point range, while hitting on 78.3 percent (18-of-23) from the free throw line. The Wildcats scored its 52 second-half points on 65.4 percent (17-of-26) shooting, including 60 percent (6-of-10) from 3-point range, and 75 percent (12-of-16) from the line.
The Wildcats had 24 assists on 33 made field goals with a career-high 11 by junior P.J. Haggerty.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
Opening Statement…
"Man, first of all, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me the blessing to do what I do. I tell the guys all the time, it's just a joy to do what I love in a place I love, with people I love. The other day, Marcus Freeman, Head Coach at Notre Dame, said, man if you don't appreciate what you have, you'll lose it, and so that goes both ways as a staff and as players, appreciating being here and just loving this place. Our fans and everyone appreciating what Gene Taylor and President Linton are doing here at the university. All the coaches got to go see the volleyball team play the other night. Man, they were rocking and rolling. It's just a blast being around here right now. So, thankful for that, thankful for the win tonight. I have a lot of growing to do. This is very unusual for me. I got to embrace that. We're going to outscore people, and get better at that. Because we got some dudes, they can shoot that thing, and I found myself in the game. We're up 20, and I'm frustrated, and I feel like that energy was affecting the guys, and so I got to get better at that. Then we got some things we got to get better at, but thankful for the win."
On if there was any frustration as a result of the defensive play…
"Yeah, but then I look at the stat sheet, and they're 4-of-20 from three. And the game plan was to take away their threes. And we didn't want to have a repeat of the Newman game where they are a three point shooting team, and we give them threes. And this might be one of the least three-point attempt games they've had. And so, our guys did a great job there. But when you see guys score buckets at the rim, it just frustrates you. But if we're taking away the rim, then maybe they're knocking down threes. But then on the other end, 73% of our buckets were assisted. And so, I've got to give them energy in those moments like, 'hey okay, let's turn this thing up, because we don't turn the ball over 18 times. Let's say we get up nine more shots, right? Shooting 60% from three, and 62% from two, and now we score 115 points. So, I gotta embrace that part of it better."
On the progression of David Castillo…
"Yeah, his strength, that's definitely something that showed up. From, I think even last game to this game, he's put in a ton of work on a shooting right. He can really shoot the ball, every time he shoots it, I think it's going in when he sets his feet, I think it's going in and even from last game to this game, just relaxing. So now when you've put in all that work, you want to see those results happen right away. I thought he relaxed, and he just played a really incredible game, numbers wise. Then there's the next step that he is going to take. I'm so proud of David, I am. I'm so proud of all these dudes, we got weapons. I think so many teams are gonna have to figure out what they're going to take away and so, you can't take everything away. As our forwards continue to improve, Kamari [McGriff] had a great game. I thought Dorin [Buca] had really good minutes when he was in there. Having another big who doesn't shoot the ball so you can guard traditionally. He was really good, and so Elias [Rapieque] is improving. Mobi [Ikegwuruka] is improving. I'm just really pleased with how we're coming along."
On PJ Haggerty's play tonight…
"I still don't think PJ Haggerty has played well, he was just okay, and 11 assists is good and all of that. But, there's a whole nother level he can get to, and he'll get there. So this is an average PJ, right? And then a special PJ is gonna come. But, it's what he signed up for, and I love having him, though. Late clock, he can go get a shot. He can make a play for somebody else. He's starting to read a bunch of stuff out there and make calls. Let's run this, let's run that and so, I love that about him. But, he's a double double guy. Every night. He had 10 against Missouri too. And I know that wasn't a real game, but it was an SEC team. And so, he's capable of having double digit assists every night. He's capable of being an eleven to one turnover guy instead of eleven to three. He's capable of all of that."
On what David Castillo's future role looks like…
"I believe he can be a defensive stopper. He's got great feet and he's got a toughness about him that allows him to. A couple times he had their number five running offense at 45 feet. When you make a team like that run offense that high, it just kills their timing and rhythm and, I've said it before, I'm saying it again, at some point in time in his career, soon, he's going to be a PG [Point Guard] one, and this year is a growing year for him to learn from an All American and develop his own savviness in it, so I'm excited. I want him to really enjoy this, and really work hard and really embrace learning all the little things you got to learn that is going to allow him to be that in the future, but also not think about the future too much. Just think about right now. We could be really good and he can be a big part of that, and already is."
On Khamari McGriff's performance tonight…
"I mean, he caught the ball and he finished, and he was real efficient. I thought defensively he, for the most part, was on point. Khamari [McGriff], man that left hand, right shoulder, it's big time. So, we just have to continue to figure out ways to get him to that point. And when you put four guards out there though, who are they gonna tag off of so his ball screen, make sure he sets it, make sure the guard goes over the top, open up and roll,it's gonna be there for him. And he can have more games like that. And then, he did it in 13 minutes, or something like that. So, maybe I should have been playing them more."
FIRST HALF
The two teams went back and forth in the early going before K-State broke a 10-all tie with an 18-4 run, which included 13 points off turnovers. Senior C.J. Jones started the run with an old-fashioned 3-point play before a pair of free throws by Johnson. Following a layup by the Knight, the Wildcats scored 10 in a row, which included 5 straight from Haggerty followed by 5 straight from Johnson.
Bellarmine pulled to within 30-20 at the 5:42 mark then to within 11 on two occasions before a 3-pointer from Bashir sparked a 9-4 run to end the half that pushed the lead to 46-30.
The Wildcats shot 59.3 percent (16-of-27) from the field, including 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from 3-point range, as Bashir and Haggerty led all scorers with 12 points each.
SECOND HALF
K-State used to the paint to open up a 55-36 lead, forcing a timeout by Bellarmine head coach Doug Davenport at the 17:35 mark, as senior Khamari McGriff and junior Elias Rapieque combined for 9 points. However, the timeout sparked the Knights as they rattled off 6 straight to close to within 55-42 and forced a timeout by Tang with 16:21 to play.
Bellarmine kept pace with K-State, staying within 15 points, over the next 6 minutes before back-to-back layups got the Knights to within 73-62 with 7:07 remaining. However, a Haggerty layup plus 2 free throws sparked a response, as the Wildcats used a 10-5 run to pull ahead 83-67 at the final media timeout. The team then ended the game on a 15-4 run.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
TEAM NOTES
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State continues its homestand next week when the Wildcats play host to California (2-0) on Thursday at Bramlage Coliseum. Tip is set for 8 p.m., CT and will air on CBS Sports Network as well as the K-State Sports Network. Tickets are available one at kstatesports.com/tickets, by calling (800) 221.CATS and in-person at the Athletic Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The offense continued its fast pace, as K-State (2-0) posted 90 or more points in the first 2 games for the first time in nearly 34 years while totaling the most points in that span since scoring 193 to open the 1991-92 season. The Wildcats posted the highest field goal percentage of the Jerome Tang era at 62.3 percent (33-of-53), including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from 3-point range. It was the highest field goal percentage since hitting on 62.5 percent against Alabama State on Dec. 11, 2019.
Haggerty led the way with his third career double-double and first points/assists double-double, as he finished with a game-high 23 points on 5-of-9 field goals and 11-of-12 free throws to go with a career-best 11 assists. It marked his first double-double since posting a pair of tradition points/rebounds double-doubles while playing at Tulsa in 2023-24.
Two Wildcats – senior Khamari McGriff and sophomore David Castillo – each went perfect from the field, becoming the 24th and 25th players in school history to go perfect from the field on 5 or more field goals. Castillo scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, while McGriff totaled 16 points on 8-of-8 field goals.
Junior Abdi Bashir Jr. also had double figures with 16 points with 5 3-pointers.
K-State broke open a back-and-forth affair with an 18-4 run near the midway point of the first half en route to taking a 46-30 lead into the halftime break. The lead grew to 19 points in early moments of the second half before a timeout by Bellarmine head coach Doug Davenport keyed a surge by the Knights, who closed to within 62-52 with 13:04 to play.
Bellarmine kept the pressure on K-State over the next 6 minutes, staying within 11 points, including 73-62 on back-to-back layups, before a 10-5 run by the Wildcats pushed the lead to 83-67 at the final media timeout. The squad then ended the game on a 15-4 run to put it away.
Bellarmine (0-2) saw four players score in double figures, including 19 points from sophomore Michael Wilson, Jr., and 18 points from senior Jack Karasinski. The Knights shot 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the field, but just 20 percent (4-of-20) from beyond the arc.
KEY PLAYER(S)
Haggerty collected his third career double-double, including his first double-double with double-digit points and assists, as he poured in 23 points on 5-of-9 field goals and 11-of-12 free throws to go with a career-high 11 assists. It marked his 25th game of 20 or more points in his college career.
Castillo chipped in a career-high 19 points off the bench, going a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range. He is just the eighth Wildcat to go 5-of-5 or better from beyond the arc, joining his high school coach Clent Stewart, who was in attendance at tonight's game.
KEY MOMENT(S)
K-State took control of the game with an 18-4 run midway through the first half, as the Wildcats led 28-14 at the third media timeout. The run included a 3-point play from senior C.J. Jones and 5 straight points from Haggerty and senior Nate Johnson during a 10-0 stretch.
Bellarmine closed to within 10 points in the second half after falling down by 19 points in the early moments of the second half, but K-State seemed to have an offensive answer to every challenge before ending the game on a 25-9 scoring spurt.
KEY STATS
K-State connected on 62.3 percent (33-of-53) from the field, including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from 3-point range, while hitting on 78.3 percent (18-of-23) from the free throw line. The Wildcats scored its 52 second-half points on 65.4 percent (17-of-26) shooting, including 60 percent (6-of-10) from 3-point range, and 75 percent (12-of-16) from the line.
The Wildcats had 24 assists on 33 made field goals with a career-high 11 by junior P.J. Haggerty.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
Opening Statement…
"Man, first of all, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me the blessing to do what I do. I tell the guys all the time, it's just a joy to do what I love in a place I love, with people I love. The other day, Marcus Freeman, Head Coach at Notre Dame, said, man if you don't appreciate what you have, you'll lose it, and so that goes both ways as a staff and as players, appreciating being here and just loving this place. Our fans and everyone appreciating what Gene Taylor and President Linton are doing here at the university. All the coaches got to go see the volleyball team play the other night. Man, they were rocking and rolling. It's just a blast being around here right now. So, thankful for that, thankful for the win tonight. I have a lot of growing to do. This is very unusual for me. I got to embrace that. We're going to outscore people, and get better at that. Because we got some dudes, they can shoot that thing, and I found myself in the game. We're up 20, and I'm frustrated, and I feel like that energy was affecting the guys, and so I got to get better at that. Then we got some things we got to get better at, but thankful for the win."
On if there was any frustration as a result of the defensive play…
"Yeah, but then I look at the stat sheet, and they're 4-of-20 from three. And the game plan was to take away their threes. And we didn't want to have a repeat of the Newman game where they are a three point shooting team, and we give them threes. And this might be one of the least three-point attempt games they've had. And so, our guys did a great job there. But when you see guys score buckets at the rim, it just frustrates you. But if we're taking away the rim, then maybe they're knocking down threes. But then on the other end, 73% of our buckets were assisted. And so, I've got to give them energy in those moments like, 'hey okay, let's turn this thing up, because we don't turn the ball over 18 times. Let's say we get up nine more shots, right? Shooting 60% from three, and 62% from two, and now we score 115 points. So, I gotta embrace that part of it better."
On the progression of David Castillo…
"Yeah, his strength, that's definitely something that showed up. From, I think even last game to this game, he's put in a ton of work on a shooting right. He can really shoot the ball, every time he shoots it, I think it's going in when he sets his feet, I think it's going in and even from last game to this game, just relaxing. So now when you've put in all that work, you want to see those results happen right away. I thought he relaxed, and he just played a really incredible game, numbers wise. Then there's the next step that he is going to take. I'm so proud of David, I am. I'm so proud of all these dudes, we got weapons. I think so many teams are gonna have to figure out what they're going to take away and so, you can't take everything away. As our forwards continue to improve, Kamari [McGriff] had a great game. I thought Dorin [Buca] had really good minutes when he was in there. Having another big who doesn't shoot the ball so you can guard traditionally. He was really good, and so Elias [Rapieque] is improving. Mobi [Ikegwuruka] is improving. I'm just really pleased with how we're coming along."
On PJ Haggerty's play tonight…
"I still don't think PJ Haggerty has played well, he was just okay, and 11 assists is good and all of that. But, there's a whole nother level he can get to, and he'll get there. So this is an average PJ, right? And then a special PJ is gonna come. But, it's what he signed up for, and I love having him, though. Late clock, he can go get a shot. He can make a play for somebody else. He's starting to read a bunch of stuff out there and make calls. Let's run this, let's run that and so, I love that about him. But, he's a double double guy. Every night. He had 10 against Missouri too. And I know that wasn't a real game, but it was an SEC team. And so, he's capable of having double digit assists every night. He's capable of being an eleven to one turnover guy instead of eleven to three. He's capable of all of that."
On what David Castillo's future role looks like…
"I believe he can be a defensive stopper. He's got great feet and he's got a toughness about him that allows him to. A couple times he had their number five running offense at 45 feet. When you make a team like that run offense that high, it just kills their timing and rhythm and, I've said it before, I'm saying it again, at some point in time in his career, soon, he's going to be a PG [Point Guard] one, and this year is a growing year for him to learn from an All American and develop his own savviness in it, so I'm excited. I want him to really enjoy this, and really work hard and really embrace learning all the little things you got to learn that is going to allow him to be that in the future, but also not think about the future too much. Just think about right now. We could be really good and he can be a big part of that, and already is."
On Khamari McGriff's performance tonight…
"I mean, he caught the ball and he finished, and he was real efficient. I thought defensively he, for the most part, was on point. Khamari [McGriff], man that left hand, right shoulder, it's big time. So, we just have to continue to figure out ways to get him to that point. And when you put four guards out there though, who are they gonna tag off of so his ball screen, make sure he sets it, make sure the guard goes over the top, open up and roll,it's gonna be there for him. And he can have more games like that. And then, he did it in 13 minutes, or something like that. So, maybe I should have been playing them more."
FIRST HALF
The two teams went back and forth in the early going before K-State broke a 10-all tie with an 18-4 run, which included 13 points off turnovers. Senior C.J. Jones started the run with an old-fashioned 3-point play before a pair of free throws by Johnson. Following a layup by the Knight, the Wildcats scored 10 in a row, which included 5 straight from Haggerty followed by 5 straight from Johnson.
Bellarmine pulled to within 30-20 at the 5:42 mark then to within 11 on two occasions before a 3-pointer from Bashir sparked a 9-4 run to end the half that pushed the lead to 46-30.
The Wildcats shot 59.3 percent (16-of-27) from the field, including 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from 3-point range, as Bashir and Haggerty led all scorers with 12 points each.
SECOND HALF
K-State used to the paint to open up a 55-36 lead, forcing a timeout by Bellarmine head coach Doug Davenport at the 17:35 mark, as senior Khamari McGriff and junior Elias Rapieque combined for 9 points. However, the timeout sparked the Knights as they rattled off 6 straight to close to within 55-42 and forced a timeout by Tang with 16:21 to play.
Bellarmine kept pace with K-State, staying within 15 points, over the next 6 minutes before back-to-back layups got the Knights to within 73-62 with 7:07 remaining. However, a Haggerty layup plus 2 free throws sparked a response, as the Wildcats used a 10-5 run to pull ahead 83-67 at the final media timeout. The team then ended the game on a 15-4 run.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State moves to 2-0 on the season for the fourth time in 5 seasons.
- K-State is now 190-62 in non-conference games since 2006.
- K-State is now 148-18 in home non-conference games since 2006.
- K-State is now 132-14 in non-conference games at Bramlage Coliseum since 2006.
- K-State is now 41-9 at Bramlage Coliseum under head coach Jerome Tang.
- K-State used a starting lineup of junior P.J. Haggerty, senior Nate Johnson, junior Abdi Bashir Jr., junior Elias Rapieque and senior Khamari McGriff… This is the first time using this lineup… It marked the first career start at K-State for Rapieque.
- Haggerty now has 68 career starts (Tulsa/Memphis/K-State), N. Johnson now has 62 career starts (Akron/K-State), McGriff now has 44 career starts (UNC Wilmington/K-State) and Bashir now has 34 career starts (Monmouth/K-State).
TEAM NOTES
- K-State scored its 98 points on 62.3 percent (33-of-53) shooting, including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from 3-point range, and had 24 assists on 33 made field goals.
- The 62.3 field goal percentage is the highest of the Jerome Tang era (105 games) and the highest since shooting 62.5 percent vs. Alabama State on Dec. 11, 2019.
- The 191 points through the first 2 games are the most since 1991-92 (193 points).
- K-State made 14 3-pointers for the second consecutive game, tying seven others for the seventh-most in a game in school history… Five different players had at least one triple, including 5 each from Abdi Bashir Jr. and David Castillo.
- K-State had 24 assists on 33 made field goals.
- K-State had narrow advantages on points off turnovers (20-19), second-chance points (17-15) and bench points (31-21) while Bellarmine had a 46-38 edge in the paint.
- K-State held a 36-22 rebounding margin, including 11 offensive rebounds.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Four Wildcats scored in double figures, including 23 points from junior P.J. Haggerty, 19 points from sophomore David Castillo, 16 points from senior Khamari McGriff and 15 points from junior Abdi Bashir Jr.
- Haggerty posted his third career double-double, including first points/assists, with a game-high 23 points on 5-of-9 field goals and 11-of-12 free throws and a career-best 11 assists... It was his first double-double of any kind since 2023-24 while playing at Tulsa… He has now scored in double figures in 66 of 74 games in college, including 25 20-point games.
- Castillo scored a career-high 19 points, going 7-of-7 from the field and 5-of-5 from 3-point range... He is the eighth Wildcat to go 5-of-5 or better from the 3-point line… It marked just his second double-digit scoring game and first since 17 points vs. UAPB (12/1/24).
- McGriff scored his 16 points on 8-of-8 field goals, which was the best shooting performance since David N'Guessan went 9-of-9 vs. Abilene Christian on Dec. 6, 2022… He has now scored in double figures in 24 career games.
- Castillo and McGriff are the 24th and 25th Wildcats to go 5-of-5 or better from the field.
- Bashir scored his 15 points on 5-of-10 field goals, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range… He has now scored in double figures in 38 of 68 games in college.
- Nate Johnson had a game-high 7 rebounds to go with 9 points, 4 assists and 2 steals.
WHAT'S NEXT
K-State continues its homestand next week when the Wildcats play host to California (2-0) on Thursday at Bramlage Coliseum. Tip is set for 8 p.m., CT and will air on CBS Sports Network as well as the K-State Sports Network. Tickets are available one at kstatesports.com/tickets, by calling (800) 221.CATS and in-person at the Athletic Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
BU
KState
FG%
.459
.623
3FG%
.200
.609
FT%
.647
.783
RB
22
36
TO
13
18
STL
12
5
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
11
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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