Kansas State Athletics
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Junior P.J. Haggerty paced all scorers with a game-high 23 points and 6 assists while senior Nate Johnson added 14 points, as Kansas State opened exhibition play with a 100-91 loss at Missouri on Friday night at Mizzou Arena.
Haggerty scored his 23 points on 8-of-14 field goals, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and 5-of-7 free throws to go with his game-high 6 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in 25 minutes. Johnson made 5-of-11 shots, including 2-of-5 from long range, to go with a team-high 6 rebounds.
Four Tigers scored in double figures, including 16 points each from junior Anthony Robinson II and graduate Jayden Stone, as the home team connected on 54.8 percent (34-of-62) from the field with 54 points in the paint and 29 fast-break points. Missouri returns 3 starters and 7 lettermen from one of the most potent offenses in the country, ranking ninth nationally at 83.6 points per game.
The Wildcats shot nearly 50 percent from the field (49.3 percent; 33-of-67), while getting 44 points in the paint and 35 points from their bench, as head coach Jerome Tang used a platoon-type system for much of the first half. Nine other players scored at least 5 points, including 7 points from junior Elias Rapieque and freshman Andrej Kostic.
Haggerty, Johnson and Rapieque were joined in the starting lineup by junior Abdi Bashir Jr. and senior Khamari McGriff, playing the first 3 minutes before being replaced by sophomore David Castillo, senior C.J. Jones, Kostic, sophomore Mobi Ikegwuruka and junior Dorin Buca for the next 3 minutes. The platooning went on every 3 minutes until the original starters came back in at the 8:43 mark in the midst of a 14-0 run by the Tigers.
Robinson scored 11 of his 16 points during the pivotal 14-0 run in which Missouri took control of the game. The Tigers flipped a 16-10 deficit into a 24-16 lead before a timeout by K-State head coach Jerome Tang with 8:43 to play before halftime. The lead grew to 46-32 with 2:10 remaining before the Wildcats closed to 47-39 at the break on a layup by Haggerty.
K-State twice closed to within 6 points in the early moment of the second half, including 63-57 on a 3-pointer by Johnson and 65-59 on a pair of free throws by Johnson. However, the explosive Tigers scored 17 of the next 21 points to take a commanding 82-63 lead with 8:16 to play. Six different players scored during the run, including 5 points from sophomore Annor Boateng and 4 points from senior transfer Shawn Phillips Jr.
The Wildcats scored the last 7 points, including a layup by Buca, a 3-pointer from junior Taj Manning and a pair of free throws from Jones.
Joining Robinson and Stone in double figures were Phillips, who had a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, and Boateng, who 15 points off the bench.
The Tigers also took advantage of their opportunities at the free throw line, converting on 26-of-34 attempts, while the Wildcats made 15-of-21 attempts.
Up next
K-State concludes exhibition play on Friday, Oct. 31 when the Wildcats play host to Division II Newman at Bramlage Coliseum for a 7 p.m., CT tip.