South Dakota State put on a show at the First Bank & Trust Arena, overwhelming Missouri-Kansas City 90-62 in a non-conference matchup. The Jackrabbits' impressive performance was led by Joe Sayler, who scored 22 points to pace the team. This convincing win was a reflection of South Dakota State's depth and talent, as they controlled the game from start to finish.
The Jackrabbits set the tone early, taking a 36-32 lead into halftime. However, it was the second half where they truly pulled away, outscoring Kansas City 54-30. Alec Squires and Matthew Mors were also key contributors for South Dakota State, with Squires adding 14 points and 5 rebounds, and Mors posting a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. This balanced attack allowed the Jackrabbits to maintain a comfortable lead throughout the second half.
Kansas City's Kasheem Grady II was the standout performer for the Roos, scoring 14 points in a losing effort. Karmello Branch and Jerome Palm also reached double figures, with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Despite these individual efforts, the Roos were unable to keep pace with the high-powered South Dakota State offense.
The margin of victory was a significant 28 points, highlighting the gulf in class between the two teams. South Dakota State's net ranking of 175 is a far cry from Kansas City's 347, and this result did little to suggest that the Roos are ready to bridge that gap. The Jackrabbits, on the other hand, will be pleased to have secured a dominant win, which should boost their confidence heading into their next matchup.
This game was classified as a Quadrant 4 matchup for South Dakota State, which made the convincing win all the more important. The Jackrabbits were able to avoid a potentially damaging loss, instead adding a solid victory to their resume. For Kansas City, this was a Quadrant 3 game, but the loss is unlikely to have a significant impact on their tournament chances, given their current net ranking.
The implications of this result are clear: South Dakota State has strengthened its resume with a dominant win, while Kansas City's struggles continue. The Jackrabbits' 10-11 record may not be overly impressive, but victories like this one matters in their pursuit of a postseason berth. As the season wears on, South Dakota State must build on this performance and secure more wins against quality opponents to boost their tournament chances. For now, this convincing win over Kansas City is a step in the right direction.