Davis Kern absolutely exploded for 24 points last night, leading South Dakota State to a jaw-dropping 68-66 upset over Kansas State in their season opener. Talk about starting the season with a bang for the Jackrabbits and a gut punch for the Wildcats, who were playing at home in Manhattan, Kan.
Kern Takes Over Early, K-State Fights Back
The guy was on fire right from the jump. Kern hit three three-pointers in the first 11 minutes, racking up 11 points and helping South Dakota State grab an early 21-14 lead. The Jackrabbits kept that momentum, even with Kern not scoring for the final nine minutes of the half, taking a 35-28 lead into the break. Jon Mekonnen and Kalen Garry chipped in nine points each in that first half to keep K-State at bay.
But you knew K-State wasn’t just gonna roll over, right? They came out swinging in the second half. Jaden Schutt and Brandon Rechsteiner immediately knocked down threes, then Isaiah Abraham added another, pushing the Wildcats into a 40-38 lead with 16:48 left on the clock. At one point, K-State was even up by seven. Reserve Pape N’Diaye was a beast for them, leading the Wildcats with 18 points and grabbing eight boards, while Abraham and Rechsteiner each finished with 16 points. It looked like K-State was about to snatch control.
Jackrabbits Rally, Kern and Garry Deliver Clutch Blows
This is where South Dakota State showed some serious grit. They rallied hard over the final 11:39. K-State tied it up at 60-all with just 3:13 left thanks to Abraham’s bucket. The tension was palpable! But Kern, he stepped up huge. He answered right back with a pair of free throws and then a clutch three-pointer to put the Jackrabbits back in front. Then, with 1:40 left, Kalen Garry absolutely buried another three-pointer, extending the lead to 68-62. Mekonnen finished with 14 points, Garry also had 14 points along with eight rebounds, and Joe Sayler added 10 points. Kern himself shot 7 of 15 from the field, including five threes, and went 5 of 6 from the line. South Dakota State managed to stay in front the rest of the way, holding on for the massive upset.
What a way to kick off the season! South Dakota State gets to carry this huge win into their next game, hosting Briar Cliff on Friday. Kansas State, on the other hand, is gonna have to quickly shake off this stunning loss when they host Cal State Northridge, also on Friday. You know K-State will be looking for redemption after getting blindsided like that.
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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