P.J. Haggerty, Kansas State take down pesky UL Monroe

Field Level Media|published: Sun 28th December, 16:42 2025

NCAA Basketball: Louisiana-Monroe at Kansas State

Dec 28, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Nate Johnson (34) is guarded by Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks forward Lavell Brondex (4) during the first half at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

P.J. Haggerty scored 23 of his 24 points in the second half and added eight rebounds as Kansas State defeated Louisiana-Monroe 94-85 on Sunday afternoon in Manhattan, Kan.

Haggerty, held to a single point and 0-for-6 shooting in the opening stanza, got going quickly to open the second, hitting a pair of free throws, completing a traditional three-point play, then connecting on two more layups to give him a quick nine points as Kansas State used a 15-6 run to take a 61-42 lead.

Abdi Bashir Jr. scored 11 for Kansas State (9-4), which also got 14 points and six rebounds from Nate Johnson and nine points and six assists from Elias Rapieque. The Wildcats, who won their fourth in a row, had 25 assists on 33 made field goals.

Louisiana-Monroe (3-11) refused to buckle after K-State's big surge, as the Warhawks used a 13-1 run to cut the deficit to 70-62. Krystian Lewis made six free throws during the push as part of his 25-point day.

Lavell Brodnex chipped in 21 points and eight rebounds for the Warhawks, who have lost four straight. MJ Russell had 17 points and five rebounds.

Following a pair of Haggerty free throws, a sloppy sequence led to a wide open Lewis 3-pointer, drawing the Warhawks within seven at 72-65 with 7:54 left. Louisiana-Monroe then cut it to 87-83 with 3:14 to play on a Brodnex layup.

Johnson answered with a 3-pointer, and the Wildcats closed it out from there.

The Warhawks got off to a hot start, building an 11-5 lead over the first three minutes, which Russell capped with a stepback 3-pointer.

The visitors maintained their advantage for much of the first half, shooting 50% from the field and getting 11 points (on 17 attempts) at the free throw line. Brodnex paced all scorers with 15 points at the break.

Kansas State finally regained the lead at 26-24 on a 3-pointer by Taj Manning with 7:08 to play in the half. The Wildcats then ripped off an 8-0 run capped by a Khamari McGriff layup to go up 36-28 at the 3:33 mark.

David Castillo hit a layup with 18 seconds left to provide Kansas State a 46-36 lead at halftime.

--Field Level Media