The South Dakota State men’s basketball team just pulled off a signature win to open their 2026-27 season, going on the road to beat Kansas State 68-66 on Tuesday, November 3. This isn’t just any road victory, either. It’s the Jackrabbits’ first win in program history against the Wildcats, and they did it while shorthanded!
Man Down, Rook Steps Up: Davis Kern Delivers a Statement
Let’s be real, going into Manhattan, Kansas, missing your presumed starters Jesse VanKalsbeek and Alec Squires due to injuries, especially coming off a 14-18 losing season in 2025-26, sounds like a recipe for a tough night. But nobody told redshirt freshman Davis Kern that. Stepping in for Squires, Kern absolutely went off. The kid dropped a massive 24 points in 38 minutes, hitting 7-for-15 from the field and an incredible 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. He even snagged eight rebounds for good measure. What a way to announce yourself to the college basketball world!
Jackrabbits Go Buck Wild From Deep
Kern wasn’t the only one lighting it up, though. Jon Mekonnen, a transfer from Colorado State, put up 14 points in his debut, showing he’s ready to make an impact. Returning guards Kalen Garry and Joe Sayler chipped in 14 and 10 points respectively, and together they were money from deep, shooting a combined 4-for-8 from three-point range. As a team, the Jackrabbits were feeling it from downtown, sinking 10-for-24 attempts for a sweet 41.7% from three, even if their overall field goal percentage was 43.9% (25-for-57). SDSU built an early lead, heading into halftime up 35-28. Kansas State tried to mount a comeback, even getting ahead 54-49 in the second half, but the Jackrabbits slammed the door shut, closing the game on a crucial 19-12 run to seal the historic victory.
This is exactly the kind of early season fireworks we love to see. Can the Jackrabbits keep this momentum rolling? They’ll look to go 2-0 this Friday, November 6, when they head home to face NAIA Briar Cliff at 8:30 p.m. You know they’ll be fired up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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