Game time: Dec. 1, 8:00 p.m. EST
Where: Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, KS
TV: ESPN+
VITALS: After a 5-0 start, Kansas State is coming off consecutive losses where the offense stagnated against its first taste of legitimate competition. The Wildcats now face a Bowling Green team that's held its own in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), but they are still favored to bounce back against the Falcons. PJ Haggerty still leads the country in scoring, averaging 26.3 points this season. However, he took a significant step back against Indiana, scoring just 16 points with six turnovers and four personal fouls.
Betting line: K-State (-12.5)
O/U: 160.5
Moneyline: KSU -900, BGU +575
PROJECTED STARTERS
WILDCATS
G P.J. Haggerty: 26.3 PTS, 5.0 REB, 5.7 AST
G Abdi Bashir Jr.: 12.7 PTS, 2.1 REB, 2.1 AST
G Nate Johnson: 13.6 PTS, 6.0 REB, 4.1 AST
F Khamari McGriff: 10.3 PTS, 3.6 REB, 0.9 AST
F Elias Rapieque: 3.9 PTS, 2.9 REB, 1.3 STL
KEY K-STATE STATS
SCORING OFFENSE: 89.4 POINTS/GAME (4th in Big 12)
SCORING DEFENSE: 80.4 POINTS/GAME (16th in Big 12)
TEAM 3-POINT SHOOTING: 42.9% (1st in Big 12)
OPPONENT 3-POINT SHOOTING: 30.9% (6th in Big 12)
REBOUNDING: 34.4 REBOUNDS/GAME (15th in Big 12)
OPPONENT REBOUNDING: 31.1 REBOUNDS/GAME (4th in Big 12)
PROJECTED STARTERS
FALCONS
G Javon Ruffin: 9.9 PTS, 2.4 REB, 1.9 AST
G Justin Thomas: 5.0 PTS, 4.7 REB, 3.7 AST
G Javontae Campbell: 17.4 PTS, 4.1 REB, 4.0 STL
F Sam Towns: 11.6 PTS, 7.3 REB, 1.3 AST
F Troy Glover: 6.7 PTS, 3.3 REB, 1.1 BLK
KEY BOWLING GREEN STATS
SCORING OFFENSE: 85.6 POINTS/GAME (4th in MAC)
SCORING DEFENSE: 65.7 POINTS/GAME (1st in MAC)
TEAM 3-POINT SHOOTING: 34.4% (7th in MAC)
OPPONENT 3-POINT SHOOTING: 30.1% (3rd in MAC)
REBOUNDING: 37.7 REBOUNDS/GAME (6th in MAC)
OPPONENT REBOUNDING: 32.7 REBOUNDS/GAME (5th in MAC)
QUOTABLE: "That's what he's gonna face," K-State coach Jerome Tang said of PJ Haggerty after the Indiana loss. "When you're an All-American, you gotta figure out ways. We, as a staff, have to figure out ways to help him get some easier ones. But, I mean, he's gonna face that all year long. This is the league we play in and the teams we play against. That's what's gonna happen. And if it shows that it bothers him that much, teams are just gonna do it more. He's an All-American for a reason, and in these moments, you've got to step up and be an All-American."
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