Pirates Take Trip to Kansas State Looking to Notch Three Game Win Streak

Published: Friday, December 5, 2025

by Nick Diodato

MANHATTAN, K.S. – The Seton Hall Pirates (8-1) will travel to the Bramlage Colosseum in Kansas to face the Kansas State Wildcats (5-3) Saturday afternoon.  

The Pirates are coming off a commanding win against Central Connecticut State on Wednesday, winning 77-61 in their final game at Walsh Gymnasium this season.  

It was a complete team effort, with Budd Clark leading the way, posting a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists.  AJ Staton-McCray was doing it all as well, putting up 12 points and three steals, while shooting 56% from the field. 

Seton Hall’s three-point shooting was another factor that drove them to their eighth win, shooting 55% on 20 shots. Central Connecticut State, on the other hand, looked very sloppy on both offense and defense. They shot 38% from three, 43% from the field, and gave the Pirates 29 points off turnovers.  

Looking at Kansas State, this will only be the second time the Pirates will face them, with Seton Hall winning the only matchup. The last time both teams faced off was in December of 1940, nearly 85 years ago.  

Kansas State started the season off 5-0 but has hit a rough patch recently. The Wildcats are coming in on a three-game losing streak, with their most recent loss being on Monday to Bowling Green, 82-66.  

They were held to a season low in this game in points (66), field goal percentage (39%), and free throw percentage (54.5%). They also only connected on 6/23 attempted threes, shooting 26%.  

Kansas State has five players scoring in double figures, with Junior guard P.J. Haggerty being the clear star of the team. Haggerty declared for the NBA draft at the end of last season, before withdrawing a month before. Haggerty is averaging 25 points, five assists, five rebounds, and one steal per game, while leading the nation in scoring.  

For the Pirates, that same pressure and high intensity defense they have had all season will be the key for this matchup. Besides Haggerty, Kansas State has guys who can put up 10 to 15 points at the drop of a dime, such as David Castillo or Nate Johnson.  

Seton Hall is 8th in scoring defense, 4th in blocks, and 13th in steals across the country, so defense will be the test of the matchup.  

Pregame coverage begins at 3:45 p.m., while tipoff is set for 4 p.m., with Jack Pine and Lauren Reese on the call for 89.5 FM WSOU. 

Nick Diodato can be reached at nick.diodato@student.shu.edu.

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