BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The high-flying Kansas State offense was forced into a season-high 19 turnovers leading to 27 Indiana points, as the No. 25/24 Hoosiers remained unbeaten with an 86-69 win over the Wildcats on Tuesday night before 12,342 fans at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The Wildcats (5-2), whose offense entered the game averaging more than 90 points per game, were held to a season-low in both points and field goal percentage (42.1), while the nation’s leading scorer – junior P.J. Haggerty – finished with a season-low 16 points on 7-of-17 shooting and 6 turnovers. The reigning National Player of the Week saw his school-record streak of games scoring 20 or more points to open the season come to an end at 6 games.
Haggerty was joined in double figures by seniors C.J. Jones and Nate Johnson who finished the night with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Junior Elias Rapieque posted a season-high 9 points to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals in 22 minutes.
The Hoosiers (6-0) were led by senior transfers Reed Bailey and Tayton Conerway, who combined for 40 points. Bailey converted on 13 of 15 attempts from the free throw line to finish with a game-high 21 points, while Conerway had 19 points on 7-of-14 field goals.
K-State struggled from the opening tip, as Indiana jumped out to a 20-4 lead while holding the Wildcats to a 1-of-11 start from the field and 7 turnovers. A 10-0 run sparked by the play of Johnson, Jones and Rapieque enabled the Wildcats to climb back to within a possession on three different occasions. However, a pair of free throws by the Hoosiers before the final media timeout ignited a 13-3 run to end the half that pushed the lead back out to 12 points.
Indiana’s momentum continued out of the halftime break, as the Hoosiers scored 10 of the first 12 points to go ahead 49-29 and forced a timeout by head coach Jerome Tang less than 4 minutes into the second half. Haggerty, who was held to 6 points in the first half, helped start a 13-4 run that pulled the Wildcats to within 67-57 with less than 9 minutes remaining.
However, a 3-point play by Conerway on the next possession ended any hopes of a further comeback, as the Hoosiers rattled off 10 of the next 12 points to push back ahead 77-59 with 5:39 to play. The home team extended the lead to as many as 23 points before the Wildcats closed the game with 3-pointers from sophomore David Castillo and Jones for the final margin.
In addition to the 27 points scored off turnovers, Indiana also took advantage of a season-high 25 personal fouls by K-State, converting on 22 of 29 attempts from the free throw line. The Hoosiers shot 47.4 percent (27-of-57) from the field, including 57.7 percent (15-of-26) in the second half.
K-State hit on a season-low 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field, including just 33.3 percent (8-of-24) in the first half. The Wildcats were better in the second half, shooting 48.5 percent (16-of-33) from the field, including 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from 3-point range.
The win continued the Hoosiers’ mastery of the Wildcats as they have now won 10 straight in the series, including all 5 matchups at famed Assembly Hall.
KEY PLAYER(S)
For an Indiana squad headlined by senior transfers Tucker DeVries (19.2 ppg.) and Lamar Wilkerson (17.0 ppg.), it was the lesser-known players in Reed Bailey and Tayton Conerway, who provided a lift as they combined for 40 points. Wilkerson still finished with 14 points, while DeVries had a team-high 5 assists and 6 rebounds to go along with 9 points.
K-State got a season-high 15 points from senior C.J. Jones, who finished 5-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
KEY MOMENT(S)
A combined 23-5 run between the first and second halves flipped a one possession game into a 20-point lead for the home team. K-State had closed an early 16-point deficit (20-4) into a narrow 26-24 Indiana lead before a decisive 13-3 run ended the half in a 12-point advantage. The Hoosiers then left no doubt with a 10-2 run that pushed the lead to 69-49 with nearly 17 minutes to play.
KEY STATS
The points off turnovers were too much to overcome, as Indiana scored 27 points off a season-high 19 turnovers by K-State.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
Opening statement…
“Hey, first want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the opportunity I have to coach these guys. You know, do this. This is my first time ever coaching in assembly hall. I have a lot of really growing up as a kid, you know, watching basketball and the legend Bobby Knight. And, you know, Pat Knight, I consider him a friend. Just all the great memories of those coach Knight’s teams. And you know, then Mike Davis, all the great coaches that have come through here, but you know, particularly coach Knight, just that family and what they mean to the game of basketball. It’s an honor to be able to do this, this. They were better than us tonight. They kicked our butt. They were tougher. I mean, like from top to bottom, like, it all starts with me. I did a poor job preparing this team tonight, and Aaron obviously did a way better job of preparing his and so they won every statistical category that matters in the game of basketball today, and so this was just a complete butt whipping. Credit to them. Great environment. Looking forward to moving, getting better.”
On how they guarded P.J. Haggerty…
“It’s gonna be that way all year long, right? Nebraska did the same thing. I mean, he’s, that’s what he’s gonna face. When you’re an All-American, you got to figure out ways, and we as a staff have to figure out some ways to help him get some easier ones, like we took him off the ball some and that kind of thing. But, I mean, he’s gonna face that all year long. This is the league we play in, teams we play against us, you know? That’s what’s gonna happen. And if it shows that it bothers him that much, right? Teams are just gonna do it more, you know? I mean, so that’s so there’s, he’s an All American for a reason, right? These moments, you got to step up and be an All-American.”
On the defensive struggles to start the year…
“Yeah, I told y’all earlier in the year that we had to learn how to guard, but it wasn’t like we played bad defense. (Lamar) Wilkinson and (Tucker) DeVries combined for 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting. That’s their two studs. We did a great job on them. We just didn’t do a very good job on the other guys who are auxiliary role players, right? And those guys stepped up, and they did a great job. I mean, they shot. I thought like our lane protection or rim protection has to improve, right? And whether that means we have to play some different guys or maybe do some different scheme and stuff to help us, that’s what we have to do, but we’ve got to improve that. But I mean, when you turn the ball over 19 times, and especially when they’re live ball turnovers, there’s no defense for that, right? When our defense is set, we’re pretty good, but we got to stop turning the ball over.”
FIRST HALF
Indiana got off to a quick 8-0 start before junior P.J. Haggerty scored K-State’s first points on a runner. Junior Dorin Buca knocked down a pair of free throws to pull the Wildcats to within 9-4, however, the Hoosiers responded with 11 straight points to take a 20-4 lead into the second media timeout with 11:33 to play.
The timeout seemed to spark K-State as a 3-pointer by senior Nate Johnson started a 10-0 run that pulled the Wildcats to within 20-14 after a steal and dunk by junior Elias Rapieque. After 2 free throws by the Hoosiers, a Johnson jumper started run of 6 straight points that got the squad to within a possession at 22-20. The visitor stayed within a possession before a 10-2 run put the home team up 36-26, forcing a timeout by head coach Jerome Tang with 2:22 before halftime.
Indiana finished the half with a free throw and a layup to go up 39-27 at the break. The Hoosiers outshot the Wildcats, 38.7 to 33.3 percent, while they made 5 more 3-point field goals (7-2). Johnson and Rapieque combined for 15 of the team’s 27 points.
SECOND HALF
Indiana enjoyed another impressive start to a half, outscoring K-State, 10-2, to go ahead 49-29 and forcing Tang to call a timeout at the 16:45 mark. A jumper by senior C.J. Jones and a 3-pointer by junior Abdi Bashir Jr. got the Wildcats to within 51-34 before the first media timeout, however, the Hoosiers scored 8 of the next 13 to go back ahead by 20 points at 59-39.
The teams traded baskets over the next few possessions before consecutive Haggerty baskets helped start a 13-4 run that pulled K-State to within 67-57. Haggerty scored 8 points during the run, while Johnson added a 3-pointer and Jones a jumper. The run was short lived, as Indiana scored 10 of the next 12 points to go back ahead 77-59 with 5:39 to play.
From there, the Hoosiers led by as many as 23 points before a pair of 3-pointers from sophomore David Castillo and Jones provided the 86-69 final margin.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
The Wildcats (5-2), whose offense entered the game averaging more than 90 points per game, were held to a season-low in both points and field goal percentage (42.1), while the nation’s leading scorer – junior P.J. Haggerty – finished with a season-low 16 points on 7-of-17 shooting and 6 turnovers. The reigning National Player of the Week saw his school-record streak of games scoring 20 or more points to open the season come to an end at 6 games.
Haggerty was joined in double figures by seniors C.J. Jones and Nate Johnson who finished the night with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Junior Elias Rapieque posted a season-high 9 points to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals in 22 minutes.
The Hoosiers (6-0) were led by senior transfers Reed Bailey and Tayton Conerway, who combined for 40 points. Bailey converted on 13 of 15 attempts from the free throw line to finish with a game-high 21 points, while Conerway had 19 points on 7-of-14 field goals.
K-State struggled from the opening tip, as Indiana jumped out to a 20-4 lead while holding the Wildcats to a 1-of-11 start from the field and 7 turnovers. A 10-0 run sparked by the play of Johnson, Jones and Rapieque enabled the Wildcats to climb back to within a possession on three different occasions. However, a pair of free throws by the Hoosiers before the final media timeout ignited a 13-3 run to end the half that pushed the lead back out to 12 points.
Indiana’s momentum continued out of the halftime break, as the Hoosiers scored 10 of the first 12 points to go ahead 49-29 and forced a timeout by head coach Jerome Tang less than 4 minutes into the second half. Haggerty, who was held to 6 points in the first half, helped start a 13-4 run that pulled the Wildcats to within 67-57 with less than 9 minutes remaining.
However, a 3-point play by Conerway on the next possession ended any hopes of a further comeback, as the Hoosiers rattled off 10 of the next 12 points to push back ahead 77-59 with 5:39 to play. The home team extended the lead to as many as 23 points before the Wildcats closed the game with 3-pointers from sophomore David Castillo and Jones for the final margin.
In addition to the 27 points scored off turnovers, Indiana also took advantage of a season-high 25 personal fouls by K-State, converting on 22 of 29 attempts from the free throw line. The Hoosiers shot 47.4 percent (27-of-57) from the field, including 57.7 percent (15-of-26) in the second half.
K-State hit on a season-low 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field, including just 33.3 percent (8-of-24) in the first half. The Wildcats were better in the second half, shooting 48.5 percent (16-of-33) from the field, including 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from 3-point range.
The win continued the Hoosiers’ mastery of the Wildcats as they have now won 10 straight in the series, including all 5 matchups at famed Assembly Hall.
KEY PLAYER(S)
For an Indiana squad headlined by senior transfers Tucker DeVries (19.2 ppg.) and Lamar Wilkerson (17.0 ppg.), it was the lesser-known players in Reed Bailey and Tayton Conerway, who provided a lift as they combined for 40 points. Wilkerson still finished with 14 points, while DeVries had a team-high 5 assists and 6 rebounds to go along with 9 points.
K-State got a season-high 15 points from senior C.J. Jones, who finished 5-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
KEY MOMENT(S)
A combined 23-5 run between the first and second halves flipped a one possession game into a 20-point lead for the home team. K-State had closed an early 16-point deficit (20-4) into a narrow 26-24 Indiana lead before a decisive 13-3 run ended the half in a 12-point advantage. The Hoosiers then left no doubt with a 10-2 run that pushed the lead to 69-49 with nearly 17 minutes to play.
KEY STATS
The points off turnovers were too much to overcome, as Indiana scored 27 points off a season-high 19 turnovers by K-State.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
Opening statement…
“Hey, first want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the opportunity I have to coach these guys. You know, do this. This is my first time ever coaching in assembly hall. I have a lot of really growing up as a kid, you know, watching basketball and the legend Bobby Knight. And, you know, Pat Knight, I consider him a friend. Just all the great memories of those coach Knight’s teams. And you know, then Mike Davis, all the great coaches that have come through here, but you know, particularly coach Knight, just that family and what they mean to the game of basketball. It’s an honor to be able to do this, this. They were better than us tonight. They kicked our butt. They were tougher. I mean, like from top to bottom, like, it all starts with me. I did a poor job preparing this team tonight, and Aaron obviously did a way better job of preparing his and so they won every statistical category that matters in the game of basketball today, and so this was just a complete butt whipping. Credit to them. Great environment. Looking forward to moving, getting better.”
On how they guarded P.J. Haggerty…
“It’s gonna be that way all year long, right? Nebraska did the same thing. I mean, he’s, that’s what he’s gonna face. When you’re an All-American, you got to figure out ways, and we as a staff have to figure out some ways to help him get some easier ones, like we took him off the ball some and that kind of thing. But, I mean, he’s gonna face that all year long. This is the league we play in, teams we play against us, you know? That’s what’s gonna happen. And if it shows that it bothers him that much, right? Teams are just gonna do it more, you know? I mean, so that’s so there’s, he’s an All American for a reason, right? These moments, you got to step up and be an All-American.”
On the defensive struggles to start the year…
“Yeah, I told y’all earlier in the year that we had to learn how to guard, but it wasn’t like we played bad defense. (Lamar) Wilkinson and (Tucker) DeVries combined for 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting. That’s their two studs. We did a great job on them. We just didn’t do a very good job on the other guys who are auxiliary role players, right? And those guys stepped up, and they did a great job. I mean, they shot. I thought like our lane protection or rim protection has to improve, right? And whether that means we have to play some different guys or maybe do some different scheme and stuff to help us, that’s what we have to do, but we’ve got to improve that. But I mean, when you turn the ball over 19 times, and especially when they’re live ball turnovers, there’s no defense for that, right? When our defense is set, we’re pretty good, but we got to stop turning the ball over.”
FIRST HALF
Indiana got off to a quick 8-0 start before junior P.J. Haggerty scored K-State’s first points on a runner. Junior Dorin Buca knocked down a pair of free throws to pull the Wildcats to within 9-4, however, the Hoosiers responded with 11 straight points to take a 20-4 lead into the second media timeout with 11:33 to play.
The timeout seemed to spark K-State as a 3-pointer by senior Nate Johnson started a 10-0 run that pulled the Wildcats to within 20-14 after a steal and dunk by junior Elias Rapieque. After 2 free throws by the Hoosiers, a Johnson jumper started run of 6 straight points that got the squad to within a possession at 22-20. The visitor stayed within a possession before a 10-2 run put the home team up 36-26, forcing a timeout by head coach Jerome Tang with 2:22 before halftime.
Indiana finished the half with a free throw and a layup to go up 39-27 at the break. The Hoosiers outshot the Wildcats, 38.7 to 33.3 percent, while they made 5 more 3-point field goals (7-2). Johnson and Rapieque combined for 15 of the team’s 27 points.
SECOND HALF
Indiana enjoyed another impressive start to a half, outscoring K-State, 10-2, to go ahead 49-29 and forcing Tang to call a timeout at the 16:45 mark. A jumper by senior C.J. Jones and a 3-pointer by junior Abdi Bashir Jr. got the Wildcats to within 51-34 before the first media timeout, however, the Hoosiers scored 8 of the next 13 to go back ahead by 20 points at 59-39.
The teams traded baskets over the next few possessions before consecutive Haggerty baskets helped start a 13-4 run that pulled K-State to within 67-57. Haggerty scored 8 points during the run, while Johnson added a 3-pointer and Jones a jumper. The run was short lived, as Indiana scored 10 of the next 12 points to go back ahead 77-59 with 5:39 to play.
From there, the Hoosiers led by as many as 23 points before a pair of 3-pointers from sophomore David Castillo and Jones provided the 86-69 final margin.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- K-State (5-2) fell at No. 25/24 Indiana in its first true road game of the season.
- Indiana now leads the all-time series, 20-12, including a 12-4 mark in games played in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have now won 10 straight in the series, including 5 in a row at Assembly Hall.
- K-State is now 16-17 vs. Top 25 opponents under head coach Jerome Tang.
- K-State is now 193-64 in non-conference games since 2006.
- 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 sixth straight game using this lineup.
- Haggerty now has 73 career starts (Tulsa/Memphis/K-State), N. Johnson now has 67 career starts (Akron/K-State), McGriff now has 49 career starts (UNC Wilmington/K-State) and Bashir now has 39 career starts (Monmouth/K-State)… This is the sixth start for Rapieque.
TEAM NOTES
- K-State scored its 69 points on 42.1 percent (24-of-57) shooting, including 40 percent (8-of-20) from 3-point range, with a season-low 10 assists and a season-high 19 turnovers.
- K-State shot 86.7 percent (13-of-15) from the free throw line.
- Indiana led the way in specialty stats, including 27-16 off turnovers, 32-24 in the paint, 11-4 in second-chance points and 14-11 in fast-break points.
- Indiana out-rebounded K-State, 35-28, including 11 offensive rebounds.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Three Wildcats scored in double figures, including 16 points from junior P.J. Haggerty, 15 points from senior C.J. Jones and 13 points from senior Nate Johnson.
- Haggerty saw his streak of game of 20 or more points to open the season end at 6 games.
- Haggerty finished with 16 points on 7-of-17 field goals and 2-of-3 free throws to go with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 36 minutes… He has now led the team in scoring in all 7 games.
- Jones scored in double figures for the first time this season with 15 points on 5-of-10 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and 2-of-2 free throws in 23 minutes off the bench… He now has 32 career games scoring in double figures, including 6 at K-State.
- Johnson scored his 13 points on 3-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range, and 5-of-6 free throws to go with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 33 minutes… He now has double figures in 45 career games, including 5 of 7 games this season.
WHAT’S NEXT
K-State opens a 3-game homestand on Monday night, as the Wildcats welcome Bowling Green (4-2) to Bramlage Coliseum. Tip is set for 7:01 p.m., CT and will air on ESPN3. Tickets are available starting at $17 online at kstatesports.com/tickets as well as by calling (800) 221.CATS or by visiting the Athletics 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.
