Preview // K-State Battles 13/13 Texas Tech Saturday Afternoon

Saturday, February 21

Lubbock, Texas

1:30 p.m. CT

Kansas State University

Texas Tech

Preview // K-State Battles 13/13 Texas Tech Saturday Afternoon

Feb 20, 2026 | Men's Basketball

K-State Notes (.pdf)Texas Tech Notes (.pdf)Watch [FOX]Listen Live [K-State Sports Network]Live Stats

The Wildcats have lost 10 straight at United Supermarkets Arena.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State (11-15, 2-11 Big 12) makes its third straight Saturday road trip to the Lone Star State, as the Wildcats battle No. 13/13 Texas Tech (19-7, 9-4 Big 12) at United Supermarkets Arena. Tip is set for 1:35 p.m., CT and will air nationally on FOX with Jason Benetti and LaPhonso Ellis on the call. Lubbock has been a house of horrors for the Wildcats, as they have lost 10 straight to the Red Raiders with the last win coming in 2014. K-State is 0-6 vs. Top 25 teams this season.

K-State made a coaching change on Sunday night, parting ways with fourth-year head coach Jerome Tang, who compiled a 71-57 record. Associate head coach Matthew Driscoll was named the interim head coach for the reminder of the season. Driscoll, who is in his first season at K-State, has extensive head coaching experience with 275 wins in 20 seasons as a head coach (LaRoche College and North Florida), including a school-record 248 in 16 years (2009-25) with Ospreys.

In snapping K-State's 6-game losing streak in Tuesday's 90-74 win over Baylor, Driscoll became just the second interim head coach in school history to win his debut and the first in nearly 20 years when Jimmy Elgas led the Wildcats to a 66-63 win over Iowa State on Feb. 8, 2006. In addition, Driscoll defeated his close friend and former boss Scott Drew in their first matchup.

Driscoll and Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland share the Drew coaching tree, as Driscoll served on Drew's original Baylor coaching staff from 2003-09 before taking the job at North Florida, while McCasland was on staff from 2011-16. They have never met as head coaches, while Driscoll is 0-1 vs. Texas Tech after losing 89-74 on Nov. 9, 2021 while at North Florida.

Despite losing All-American candidate JT Toppin to a season-ending injury on Tuesday, No. 13/13 Texas Tech is one of the nation's hottest team, having won 8 of its last 11 games, including a 78-75 win over top-ranked Arizona on Feb. 14. Sophomore Christian Anderson paces the Red Raiders at 19 points per game on 48 percent shooting with a Big 12-best 7.64 assists per game.

The series is tied at 26-all between the schools with Texas Tech having won the last 3.

GAME 27
KANSAS STATE (11-15, 2-11 Big 12) at 13/13 TEXAS TECH (19-7, 9-4 Big 12)
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 1:35 p.m. CT | United Supermarkets Arena (15,098) | Lubbock, Texas

TELEVISION
FOX (online link)

Jason Benetti (play-by-play)
LaPhonso Ellis (analyst)
Steve Scheer (producer)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network
Flagships: // KMAN 1350 & WIBW 580
Satellite Radio: Ch. 382
Online: Varsity Network [free] / www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]

Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
Stan Weber (lead analyst)

LIVE STATS
kstate.statbroadcast.com

COACHES
K-State: Matthew Driscoll [Slippery Rock '92]
Record at K-State: 1-0/1st Year
Career Record: 275-341/21st Year
vs. Texas Tech: 0-1 (0-1 on the road)

Texas Tech: Grant McCasland [Baylor '99]
Record at Texas Tech: 70-27/3rd Year
Career Record (Division I/II only): 281-115/12th Year
vs. K-State: 2-0 (1-0 at home)

LAST GAME STARTERS:
K-State (11-15, 2-11 Big 12)
G: #4 P.J. Haggerty
G: #10 David Castillo
G: #34 Nate Johnson
W: #15 Taj Manning
W: #21 Khamari McGriff

Texas Tech (19-7, 9-4 Big 12)
G: #11 Jaylen Petty
G: #4 Christian Anderson
F: #15 JT Toppin
F: #12 Donovan Atwell
F: #3 LaJuan Watts

SERIES HISTORY

Overall: Tied 26-26
Big 12 era: Texas Tech leads 23-19 (22-18 in regular season)
In Lubbock: Texas Tech leads 17-7
At United Supermarkets Arena: Texas Tech leads 16-4
Active Streak: Texas Tech, 3
Last Meeting: Texas Tech won 61-57 (1/14/2025)
Matthew Driscoll vs. Grant McCasland: 0-0

A K-STATE WIN WOULD…

Snap a 6-game road losing streak.
Be the first over the Red Raiders since 2023.
End a 10-game losing streak at United Supermarkets Arena.
Make the Wildcats 229-290 all-time in Big 12 play.
Give the Wildcats a 1768-1271 all-time record.

DRISCOLL NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH

Veteran head coach Matthew Driscoll was named interim head coach on Sunday night after the university parted ways with fourth-year head coach Jerome Tang. This is the first time K-State has relieved a sitting head coach with games still left in the regular season.
The winningest coach in both North Florida and Atlantic Sun Conference history during a 16-year stint (2009-25) with the Ospreys, Driscoll joined the staff on May 23. He won 248 games at North Florida, including 144 in ASUN play, while guiding the school to 3 regular-season championships and the league's tournament championship and a NCAA Tournament bid in 2015.
This is the fifth instance in school history where an interim head coach has been used to replace a sitting head coach. However, the previous four such scenarios involved health situations.
Assistant coach Darryl Winston served as interim head coach for the last 15 games of the 1984-85 season after Jack Hartman suffered a heart attack. Winston posted a 5-10 record and Hartman returned for the 1985-86 season.
Assistant coach Jimmy Elgas served as interim head coach for 2 games during the 2005-06 season after Jim Wooldridge underwent neck surgery, posting a 1-1 record. Wooldridge returned to coach the last 7 games.
Most recently, Bruce Weber missed 2 games during the 2021-22 season due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols with assistant coach Shane Southwell serving as interim head coach vs. Texas on Jan. 4, 2022 while assistant coach Jermaine Henderson served as interim coach at West Virginia on Jan. 8, 2022.

HAGGERTY ECLIPSES 2,000 CAREER POINTS

Junior P.J. Haggerty reached a person milestone at No. 3/3 Houston (2/14/26) last Saturday, as he became the fifth current Division I player to eclipse 2,000 career points, joining Gonzaga's Graham Ike, Indiana's Tucker DeVries, Oklahoma's Nijel Pack and SMU's Jaron Pierre Jr. The No. 3 scorer nationally at 23.3 points per game, who also ranks second in points (583), field goals made (214) and attempted (441), posted his 19th game of 20 or more points vs. the Cougars, which is the most by a Wildcat in a single season since Michael Beasley had 26 in 2007-08.

LAST TIME OUT

Junior P.J. Haggerty and senior Nate Johnson became the first Wildcat duo to each record a 30-point game since 2008, as K-State led from start to finish in a 90-74 win in interim coach Matthew Driscoll's debut on Tuesday before 6,789 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
Haggerty (34 points) and Johnson (33 points) combined for 67 of the Wildcats' 90 points on 26-of-39 (66.7 percent) shooting from the field, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range. They are the first duo to go for 30 or more points since Michael Beasley (44 points) and Bill Walker (31 points) accomplished the feat at Baylor on Feb. 23, 2008.
In addition to his career-high 33 points, Johnson dished out a game-high 9 assists to go with a game-best 6 steals and 5 rebounds in playing nearly 39 minutes. He went 11-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, and made all 6 of his free throws. Haggerty knocked down 15 field goals for the second time this season, as he posted his fifth 30-point game of the season, which ties for the most since 2007-08.
The win snapped K-State's 6-game losing streak, as Driscoll defeated his close friend and former boss Scott Drew in their first matchup. Driscoll is just the second interim coach in school history to win his debut and the first in nearly 20 years when Jimmy Elgas led the Wildcats to a 66-63 win over Iowa State on Feb. 8, 2006 in place of Jim Wooldridge.
All 11 wins by K-State (11-15, 2-11 Big 12) this season have come when scoring 80 or more points.
The Wildcats shot 50 percent or better from the field for the 10th time this season, hitting on 56.7 percent (34-of-60) from the field, including 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from 3-point range, while making 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the line.
While the offense got a majority of the headlines, it was the defense that propelled the Wildcats to their first victory in nearly a month, as they held the Bears to 40 percent (26-of-70) shooting, including just 12.5 percent (3-of-24) from 3-point range, while forcing 19 turnovers.

FAST-PACED OFFENSE

After scoring 80 or more points for the 15th time in 26 games vs. Baylor (2/17/26), which includes 8 games of 90 or more points and 2 games of 100 or more points, the Wildcats have continued their fast offensive start. The team is averaging 80.6 points on 46.1 percent shooting, including 36.7 percent from 3-point range. They are still on pace to post the highest field goal percentage since connecting on 48.4 percent in 1988-89. They rank among the top 35 in several categories, including 20th in fastbreak points (15.4), 21st in assists (17.8), 42nd in 3-point field goals/game (9.8) and 48^th in 3-point field goal percentage (36.7).
The 2095 points are the second-most points through the first 26 games, just behind the 2104 in 2009-10 and just ahead of the 2089 in 2007-08. It marks just the third time eclipsing 2000 points through the first 25 games.

POINTS IN THE FIRST 26 GAMES
2104, 2009-10 (92, 82, 80, 74, 83, 70, 83, 86, 71, 95, 87, 90, 85, 91, 68, 88, 87, 71, 69, 76, 79, 76, 79, 68, 91, 83)
2095, 2025-26 (94, 98, 99, 84, 98, 85, 69, 66, 67, 108, 83, 106, 94, 73, 76, 84, 73, 83, 81, 62, 54, 61, 82, 62, 64, 90)
2089, 2007-08 (94, 76, 77, 77, 73, 82, 77, 59, 82, 87, 90, 101, 77, 85, 84, 75, 72, 82, 84, 74, 74, 82, 75, 100, 64, 86)
2015, 2008-09 (96, 88, 82, 69, 83, 72, 63, 70, 74, 107, 73, 82, 83, 99, 53, 71, 51, 65, 77, 88, 85, 65, 65, 85, 74, 95)
1986, 1997-98 (93, 89, 89, 71, 101, 90, 67, 76, 70, 87, 111, 64, 62, 77, 62, 76, 78, 72, 66, 69, 81, 58, 62, 61, 95, 59)

'CATS SCORE 100+ POINTS TWICE

K-State has twice scored 100 or more points, including a season-high 108 vs. Mississippi Valley State (12/8/25) and 106 vs. South Dakota (12/20/25). The 2 100-point outings tie 4 other teams (1966-67, 1979-80, 1993-94 and 1997-98) for the most in a single season, while also matching the most at home.

MOST POINTS AT BRAMLAGE COLISEUM

K-State's 99-96 win over Cal on Nov. 13 made history, as the 195 combined points were the most-ever in Bramlage Coliseum, surpassing the 194 scored between K-State (106) and Marshall (88) on Dec. 2, 1995.
K-State posted the highest field goal percentage of the Jerome Tang era for the second straight game, as the Wildcats hit on 64.4 percent (38-of-59) from the field. It was the highest field goal percentage since shooting 66.0 percent vs. Wake Forest on March 14, 2017.

MOST POINTS AT T-MOBILE CENTER

The 98 points scored against Mississippi State (11/20/25) in the semifinals of the Hall of Fame Classic, which are the most by the Wildcats in 50 games at the T-Mobile Center topping the 87 scored in the first-ever game in the building against Florida A&M on Dec. 17, 2007.

HAGGERTY JOINS ELITE COMPANY

Junior P.J. Haggerty recorded his fifth 30-point game in the win over Baylor (2/17/26), which is the most since Michael Beasley had a school-record 13 in 2007-08. His 20 games of 20 or more points rank fifth on the single season list and are the most since Beasley's record 26 in 2007-08. He is the first Wildcat to score in double digits in the first 26 games since Jacob Pullen in 2009-10, while his 617 points are the second-most since Beasley's 678 points in 2007-08.

HAGGERTY, JOHNSON BOTH SCORE 30

Junior P.J. Haggerty (34 points) and senior Nate Johnson (33 points) became the fifth Big 12 duo and the second this season to each record a 30-point game vs. Baylor (2/17/26). They are the first Wildcat duo to go for 30 or more points since Michael Beasley (44 points) and Bill Walker (31) accomplished the feat at Baylor on Feb. 23, 2008. The 67 combined points are the fourth-most by two Wildcats and the second-most by a duo at Bramlage Coliseum.

JOHNSON FIRST TO POST STAT LINE

In addition to his 33 points vs. Baylor (2/17/26), senior Nate Johnson also produced 9 assists, 6 steals and 5 rebounds in his near 39 minutes of action. He is the first Wildcat to record a stat line of at least 30 points, 9 assists and 6 steals and just the seventh Division I player according to Basketball Reference.

HAGGERTY HAS RARE 30-10 GAME

Junior P.J. Haggerty had 31 points and a career-tying 10 rebounds vs. Tulsa (11/17/25) to become the first Wildcat since Michael Beasley in 2008 to post a rare 30-point, 10-rebound double-double. He scored 27 of his 31 points in the second half, which are the fifth-most in any half.

TRIO OF 'CATS POST 20-POINT GAMES

K-State had three players record 20-point games in the win over Cal, as junior P.J. Haggerty led the way with 23 points to go with 21 from senior Khamari McGriff and 20 from senior Nate Johnson.
The trio is the first to each have 20-point games since Dean Wade (34 points), Kamau Stokes (23 points) and Barry Brown Jr. (21 points) did it against Iowa State on Dec. 29, 2017.

McGRIFF, CASTILLO GO PERFECT

Two Wildcats - senior Khamari McGriff and sophomore David Castillo - each went perfect from the field, becoming the 24th and 25th players in school history to go perfect from the field on 5 or more field goals in the 98-71 win over Bellarmine on Nov. 8. They are the first teammates to accomplish the feat in the same game.
Castillo scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, while McGriff totaled 16 points on 8-of-8 field goals. Castillo is just the eighth Wildcat to go 5-of-5 from beyond the arc, joining his high school coach Clent Stewart who was in attendance.

NOTES ON 13/13 TEXAS TECH

Led by third-year head coach Grant McCasland, No. 13/13 Texas Tech enters Saturday's game with a 19-7 record, including a 9-4 mark in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders had won 3 straight, including an upset of No. 1 Arizona, before a 72-67 loss at Arizona State on Tuesday night. They are 12-1 at home this season.
Texas Tech is averaging 81.4 points on 46.4 percent shooting, including 38.9 percent from 3-point range, while allowing 72.3 points on 43.8 percent shooting, including 31.3 percent from 3-point range. The Red Raiders are out-rebounding their foes, 37.7 to 34.2, and turn the ball 10.7 times per game. They are shooting 71 percent from the free throw line.
Texas Tech is one of top 3-point shooting teams in the country, ranking sixth in 3-pointers/game (11.4), 11th in percentage and 22nd in 3-point
attempts/game (29.2).
Aside from the injured JT Toppin, who was averaging a double-double with 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, three other Red Raiders are scoring in double figures led by sophomore Christian Anderson, who is averaging 19 points on 48 percent shooting, including 44 percent from 3-point range, to go with a Big 12-high 191 assists. Senior Donovan Atwell is averaging 12.5 points with a team-high 94 makes from 3-point range, while junior LeJuan Watts is averaging 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
McCasland has 425 wins in his head coaching career, which includes stints at Midland College (2004-09) at the NJCAA level, Midwestern State (2009-11) in the D2 ranks and Arkansas State (2016-17), North Texas (2017-23) and now Texas Tech (2023-present) at the Division I level.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be 53rd meeting between K-State and Texas Tech in a series that dates to 1955. The series is tied at 26 wins each with the Red Raiders holding a 23-19 edge in the Big 12 era, including 22-18 in the regular season.
Texas Tech has a 17-7 record at home in the series, including 10 straight wins since 2015. The last K-State win in Lubbock came by a 60-56 score on Feb. 25, 2014. The Red Raiders have won 3 straight overall in the series.

LAST 5 MEETINGS [3-2]

Date	Rank	Result	Score	Location
2/28/2022	—/12	L	68-73	Lubbock
1/21/2023	13/—	W	68-58	Manhattan
2/11/2023	12/—	L	63-71	Lubbock
1/13/2024	—/—	L	59-60	Lubbock
1/14/2025	—/—	L	57-61	Manhattan

LAST MEETING:
TEXAS TECH 61, K-STATE 57 (Jan. 14, 2025)

Senior Elijah Hawkins' layup with 5:28 remaining proved to be the game-winner in a defensive slugfest, as Texas Tech held on late for a 61-57 win over K-State in the last meeting on Jan. 14, 2025 in Manhattan.
In a game where points were at a premium it was Texas Tech which was able to grind out a key Big 12 victory, as the teams combined for 13 points in the final 10:07. K-State did not score in the final 5:50 of the game, making just 1 of its last 12 field goals, including 8 straight misses to finish the game.

UP NEXT:
K-State plays its second consecutive road game on Wednesday night when the Wildcats travel to Boulder, Colo., to take on Colorado (14-12, 4-9 Big 12) at the CU Events Center. Tip is set for 8 p.m., CT on FS1. This will be the first visit to Boulder since 2011. Last year, the Wildcats posted a 65-56 win over the Buffaloes at home.