SDSU men stun Kansas State in season opener
Davis Kern scored 24 points as the Jackrabbits defeated the Wildcats 68-66 in Manhattan, claiming their first win over the program in five meetings.
By Samantha Reed ·
South Dakota State men’s basketball players secured a 68-66 victory over Kansas State on Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum. The result marks the Jackrabbits’ first win in their season and their first win over a Power Conference opponent since December 2021. The game ended after Kansas State missed a final-second jumper to tie the score.
Davis Kern, a redshirt freshman making his collegiate debut, scored a game-high 24 points for South Dakota State. He shot 7 of 15 from the field and 5 of 8 from three-point range. His scoring pace helped the visitors establish an early lead. Kern’s performance represents the highest point total for a Jackrabbit in a season opener since Douglas Wilson scored 24 points against UT Rio Grande Valley in 2019.
The Jackrabbits built a 25-14 lead with 7:12 remaining in the first half. Kalen Garry finished a fastbreak layup to cap a 9-0 scoring run for SDSU. A Semaj Stampley added a three-pointer seconds before halftime to extend the margin to 35-28. Garry finished the game with 14 points, three assists, and eight rebounds. The eight rebounds tied Kern for the team high in the match.
Kansas State responded aggressively in the second half. The Wildcats hit three consecutive three-pointers to take a 40-38 lead with just over three minutes elapsed in the period. Dezdrick Lindsay made two free throws to put K-State ahead 50-43 with 11:39 left in the game. South Dakota State trailed by six points twice during the stretch but refused to fall further behind.
The Jackrabbits erased a five-point deficit with 8:31 remaining. A nine-point run brought the teams back to within one possession. Kern added a five-point sequence of his own to put SDSU ahead 58-54 with 5:42 to play. The scores remained close through the final three minutes, with both teams tied at 58 and 60 at various points.
Kern converted two free throws with 2:51 left to put the visitors in front permanently. He followed a Kansas State turnover with a three-pointer to extend the lead to 65-60. Pape N’Diaye made two free throws for the Wildcats, but Garry answered with a three-pointer to push the advantage to 68-62 with 1:40 remaining.
Kansas State scored on two straight possessions to cut the deficit to two points with 39 seconds left. The teams then traded back-to-back turnovers, leaving South Dakota State with the ball and seven seconds on the clock. Joe Sayler was fouled and went to the line for a one-and-one opportunity. His free throw attempt missed, handing the ball to Kansas State for a final chance to tie the game.
Brandon Rechsteiner attempted a jumper in the paint as time expired. The shot did not fall, sealing the 68-66 loss for the Wildcats. South Dakota State shot 43.9% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. Kansas State shot 41.5% from the field and 28.6% from deep. The Wildcats made 14 of 18 free throw attempts, a 77.8% clip that kept them in the game.
Jon Mekonnen scored a career-high 14 points on 6 of 11 shooting for South Dakota State. He also recorded three steals. Sayler and EJ Ryans each dished out four assists. Sayler added 10 points, and Trey Buchanan recorded two steals. This is the first road win to open a season for the Jackrabbits since a 67-55 victory at Eastern Illinois in 2010-11.
South Dakota State hosts Briar Cliff College on Friday at First Bank & Trust Arena in a doubleheader with the women’s basketball team. Tipoff is slated for approximately 8:30 p.m. The Jackrabbits have not beaten a Big 12 opponent since defeating Iowa State 71-68 in December 2020.
