Alas, we have a Kansas State victory.
In the Wildcats' first matchup without star guard PJ Haggerty, the team held strong for the upset win. Only the third conference win of the year, but every victory moving forward will hopefully instill some type of confidence or rhythm pouring into next season.
Here are the takeaways from the Tuesday night win:
KANSAS STATE: Khamari McGriff's near-career day
It's safe to say that Wildcats forward Khamari McGriff has struggled on the offensive end this season. Tonight, he shone in a way he hasn't since his arrival in Manhattan, KS. McGriff had 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, attacking the glass with seven rebounds and just one turnover. With Kansas State struggling from the perimeter, the inside presence was essential to keep the team afloat.
WEST VIRGINIA: Winning the bench points battle
The one thing keeping the Mountaineers in the game was the scoring from the second unit. Chance Moore and DJ Thomas combined for 30 points on 61.1 percent shooting, outscoring Kansas State's bench 30 to nine. Andrej Kostic went 2-of-5 from 3-point range for eight points, but no one produced outside of him. The Wildcats' inability to create anything off the bench has hindered any support from the second unit.
KANSAS STATE: Nate Johnson bouncing back
Despite five turnovers, Nate Johnson had the performance he needed against the Mountaineers. He neared a triple-double with 16 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. He had the game Kansas State required in Haggerty's absence.
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