MANHATTAN, Kan. — P.J. Haggerty netted 34 points, Nate Johnson contributed a personal-best 33, and Kansas State comfortably defeated Baylor 90-74 on Tuesday night, marking the inaugural game for Wildcats’ interim head coach Matthew Driscoll.
Kansas State (11-15, 2-11 Big 12) never fell behind and maintained a lead of ten points or more for the majority of the second half, thereby concluding a six-match losing streak. Driscoll took over from the former head coach Jerome Tang, who was dismissed on Sunday evening following four seasons in charge.
“Coach Driscoll and staff performed admirably,” Bears coach Scott Drew remarked about his adversary. “I disliked facing them at this moment.”
Johnson’s layup extended the Wildcats’ advantage to 21 points with 10:39 remaining. He exceeded his former personal high of 31 points via a slam dunk with 1:37 left.
Haggerty connected on 15 of 23 attempts from the field. Johnson converted 11 of 16 shots and sank five of the Wildcats’ eight three-point shots. Johnson additionally dished out nine assists and tied his personal best with six takeaways.
“I did not arrive at Kansas State with the intention of becoming the lead coach,” Driscoll stated. “Coach Tang and I are incredibly close. He is a remarkable individual. He accomplished extraordinary feats at Kansas State.”
Isaac Williams IV tallied 16 points, pacing Baylor (13-13, 3-10), who have dropped four consecutive games. Tounde Yessoufou contributed 14 points for the Bears. Cameron Carr pitched in with 12 points and Dan Skillings Jr. accumulated 11 points. The Bears converted only three out of their 24 attempts from beyond the arc.
Johnson sank four three-pointers and recorded 16 points, and Haggerty contributed 13 points, aiding K-State in establishing a 41-34 lead by halftime. The Wildcats converted 5 of 11 shots from long range while Baylor failed on 11 of 12 tries from long distance.
“I’m exceedingly proud of our personnel and how they managed this situation,” Driscoll said, “and naturally, the athletes. Their steadfastness and capacity to surmount numerous challenges.”
Williams’ layup narrowed the gap for the Bears to 66-57 with 8:20 left, however, they failed to reduce the deficit further.
Driscoll aims to reach a 2-0 record Saturday, as Kansas State confronts the 13th-ranked Texas Tech.
The Associated Press supplied information for this report.