24 points from Kern lead SDSU past Kansas State 68-66

South Dakota State defeated Kansas State 68-66 on Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.

The Jackrabbits, a Group of Five program, capitalized on superior three-point shooting to secure the win. SDSU hit 10 of 24 attempts from beyond the arc, converting at a 41.7% clip. The Wildcats attempted 28 three-pointers and made eight, a 28.6% success rate. Kansas State relied heavily on free throws to stay competitive, sinking 14 of 18 shots from the charity stripe for a 77.8% efficiency. South Dakota State outshot the home team from the field, finishing with a 43.9% shooting percentage compared to the Wildcats' 41.5%.

Davis Kern, a redshirt freshman, led all scorers with 24 points. He shot 7 of 15 from the field and 5 of 8 from deep. His 24 points represent the highest scoring output for a Jackrabbit in a debut game since Douglas Wilson scored 24 against UT Rio Grande Valley in 2019. Kern also grabbed eight rebounds, tying for the team lead. Kalen Garry contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. Jon Mekonnen recorded a career-high 14 points on 6 of 11 shooting and added three steals. Joe Sayler finished with 10 points and four assists. For Kansas State, Pape N'Diaye led the scoring with 18 points. Brandon Rechsteiner and Isaiah Abraham each added 16 points.

The game featured a late surge by South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits trailed by six points twice in the second half. With 8:31 remaining, SDSU was down 54-49 before mounting a 9-0 run. Kern scored five consecutive points to give the visitors a 58-54 lead with 5:42 on the clock. Kansas State tied the game at 58 and then at 60. Kern extended the Jackrabbit lead with two free throws and a three-pointer following a turnover, making it 65-60. Garry added a three-pointer to push the margin to 68-62 with 1:40 remaining. The Wildcats cut the deficit to 68-66 with 39 seconds left. A sequence of turnovers by both teams led to a final possession for Kansas State.

Brandon Rechsteiner took a last-second jumper in the paint to attempt to tie the game. The shot missed, ending the contest. This marked the first time South Dakota State has beaten Kansas State in their fifth all-time meeting. The previous closest contest between the two schools was a 23-point Kansas State victory in November 2023. The result also gave SDSU its first true road win to open a season since a 67-55 victory at Eastern Illinois in the 2010-11 campaign.

The win extended a recent trend for the Jackrabbits against major conference opponents. South Dakota State last beat a Power Five team in December 2021, defeating Washington State 77-74. The previous victory over a Big 12 opponent came in December 2020 when SDSU beat Iowa State 71-68 in Ames. Several players in the lineup, including Kern, A Semaj Stampley, and Blake Ellwein, played in their first collegiate games. South Dakota State is scheduled to host Briar Cliff at First Bank & Trust Arena on Friday.

The matchup highlighted the disparity in outside shooting between the two teams. Despite Kansas State's high free-throw percentage, the Jackrabbits' efficiency from long range proved decisive in the final minutes. The loss for Kansas State came at home in front of its own fans. The win for South Dakota State ends a long drought against the Wildcats and establishes an early benchmark for the season.