Kansas State fought hard against top‑ranked Houston on Saturday but fell 78‑64, extending the Cougars’ 18‑game home winning streak at the Fertitta Center.
Game flow
K‑State (10‑15, 1‑11 Substantial 12) surged early, leading for almost 11 minutes and opening a 15‑6 stretch after back‑to‑back three‑pointers from C.J. Jones and P.J. Haggerty. Houston (23‑2, 11‑1 Big 12) responded with staunch defense, limiting the Wildcats to just four points for the remainder of the half and forcing seven turnovers.
After a 1‑of‑12 start, Houston rallied in the final 11 minutes of the first half, scoring 27 points to take a 33‑19 lead at halftime. A dunk by freshman Chris Cenac Jr. Sparked an 8‑0 run that gave the Cougars a permanent edge.
The second half saw Houston widen the gap to 24 points (47‑23) with threes from Cenac and senior Emanuel Sharp. K‑State narrowed the margin to 47‑32 on a 9‑0 run, but a three from sophomore David Castillo cut the deficit to 59‑49 with just over seven minutes left. Senior Milos Uzan’s three‑pointer ignited a 10‑4 surge that pushed the lead to 69‑53 and the Cougars held on for the 78‑64 win.
Key performances
P.J. Haggerty led all scorers with 23 points, including the three‑pointer that moved him past the 2,000‑career‑point milestone. He became the fifth active Division I player to reach that mark, joining Graham Ike, Tucker DeVries, Nijel Pack and Jaron Pierre Jr.
Senior Nate Johnson recorded his third career double‑double (12 points, 10 rebounds). Junior Taj Manning matched his career‑high with 10 points. For Houston, Emanuel Sharp similarly scored 23 points, whereas Milos Uzan and freshman sensation Kingston Flemings each added 12.
Shooting was poor on both sides: Houston hit 40.7 % (24‑of‑59) and Kansas State 35.1 % (20‑of‑57). The teams combined for 32 turnovers and 45 personal fouls, with K‑State scoring 26 points off 15 Cougar turnovers.
Beyond the box score
- K‑State dropped its sixth straight game, falling to 1‑11 in Big 12 play—a tie for the worst start in the conference era.
- The Wildcats have now lost three straight to Houston since conference play began.
- Houston leads the all‑time series 6‑5 and is 3‑0 in the Big 12 era.
- K‑State has used ten different lineups this season; the starting five featured Haggerty, Johnson, Castillo, Manning and Khamari McGriff.
- Injuries left K‑State with only ten available players, eight of whom saw game time.
What’s next
Kansas State returns home Tuesday night to host Baylor at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats will appear to snap their losing streak and improve their road record.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Kansas State vs. Houston game?
Houston defeated Kansas State 78‑64.
Who led Kansas State in scoring?
Junior P.J. Haggerty led Kansas State with 23 points.
What career milestone did P.J. Haggerty achieve during the game?
He surpassed 2,000 career points, becoming the fifth active Division I player to do so.
How do you think Kansas State can turn this season around before the Big 12 tournament?
