MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP)—Bob Huggins showed his famed courtside temper, earning his first technical foul as Kansas State’s coach in the Wildcats’ contentious 101-79 victory over Tennessee Tech on Saturday night.
There were four technicals in the game, two against each team, and 48 total fouls. Thirty-two of those were against Tennessee Tech, fueling Kansas State’s 32-for-43 night at the line.
Cartier Martin’s 28 points led the Wildcats (3-0), who struggled to take control for much of the game before they finally put the Golden Eagles (1-1) away with an 18-4 run in the final 5 1/2 minutes.
David Hoskins, one of three players hit with technical fouls, added 27 points for the Wildcats. Blake Young had four 3-pointers and scored 24 points for Kansas State, which appeared headed for an easy victory in the opening minutes.
Tennessee Tech missed its first seven shots—with three air balls over that span—before Amadi McKenzie scored from the lane more than 3 minutes into the game. The Golden Eagles hit 13 of their next 21 shots, though, and stayed close for much of the game.
They got within 46-42 early in the second half with the help of the technical against Huggins, who argued too strongly that Hoskins was fouled on a made basket. Belton Rivers hit both free throws and McKenzie dunked on the Golden Eagles’ ensuing possession.
Kansas State answered with an 8-2 run for its first 10-point lead, going up 54-44 on Martin’s basket with 16:11 left, but didn’t take a double-digit lead for good until Martin’s 3-pointer with 4 1/2 minutes to go made it 89-77.
Rivers led the Golden Eagles with 21 points, and Anthony Fisher added 16. McKenzie, who also had a technical, fouled out with 13 points.
McKenzie drew a technical in the first half when he dunked and then pointed tauntingly at Kansas State freshman center Jason Bennett. Martin hit both free throws and Akeem Wright scored on the resulting inbounds play, although Wright missed a chance at a 3-point play after being fouled on his basket.
Hoskins and Tennessee Tech’s Antjuan Koger were hit with a double technical for a second-half confrontation.
