MANHATTAN, Kan. (Interstat) — Kansas State cruised past South Dakota 106-76 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats, led by PJ Haggerty’s game-high 24 points, overwhelmed the Coyotes with a potent first-half offensive display, taking a 57-34 lead into halftime. Kansas State’s transition game was decisive, outscoring South Dakota 27-12 on fast breaks and 56-38 in the paint. Four Wildcats scored in double figures, with David Castillo adding 16 points. Isaac Bruns led South Dakota with 19 points. The victory improved Kansas State to 8-4, while South Dakota fell to 7-7. Attendance was 7,287.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (Interstat) — The Kansas State Wildcats unleashed a devastating offensive display from the opening tip, overwhelming the South Dakota Coyotes 106-76 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats, improving to 8-4, left little doubt about the outcome early, erupting for 57 first-half points on a scorching 70% shooting from the field. The Coyotes, who fell to 7-7, struggled to match Kansas State’s pace and efficiency throughout the contest. The most important part of the game was Kansas State’s immediate and sustained offensive onslaught in the first half, which effectively decided the contest within the first ten minutes. The Wildcats scored on their first four possessions, quickly building a double-digit lead they would never relinquish. A 12-2 run midway through the half, fueled by transition baskets and interior dominance, stretched the lead to 23 points and silenced any notion of an upset. South Dakota never got closer than 17 points after that initial burst, as Kansas State’s offensive machine, operating at a blistering 138.4 rating, proved relentless. Guard PJ Haggerty led the Wildcats with 24 points, six rebounds and three assists, spearheading the attack. He was one of four Kansas State players to score in double figures, joined by David Castillo with 16 points, and Nate Johnson and Abdi Bashir, who each added 15. Bashir also contributed six rebounds and five assists. The Wildcats’ size and athleticism were major factors, as they blocked nine shots, with Khamari McGriff swatting four, and outscored South Dakota 56-38 in the paint and 27-12 on fast breaks. South Dakota was led by Isaac Bruns, who scored 19 points, and Cameron Fens, who added 17 points and six rebounds. Jesse McIntosh chipped in 15 points. The Coyotes shot just 41.8% from the field and a damaging 55% from the free-throw line, missing nine attempts. Kansas State finished the game shooting 62.1% from the field and 50% from three-point range. South Dakota managed 41.8% shooting overall and a respectable 47.4% from beyond the arc, but it was far from enough to keep pace. The Wildcats’ victory was their second in a row following a win at Creighton, while South Dakota saw a two-game winning streak snapped. An announced crowd of 7,287 watched the game. Kansas State will host Louisiana-Monroe on Sunday, Dec. 28. South Dakota returns home to face Mt. Marty on the same date.

Preview: South Dakota Coyotes at Kansas State Wildcats MANHATTAN, Kan. (Interstat) — The Kansas State Wildcats look to build on a signature road win when they host the South Dakota Coyotes in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats (7-4) are coming off an 83-76 victory at then-Creighton on Dec. 13, their most impressive result of the season. Guard David Castillo, a key sophomore, scored 19 points in that win and is averaging 17.2 points over his last five games. Kansas State has shown a high ceiling, scoring 108 points in a blowout of Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 8, but has also endured a three-game skid against high-major opponents earlier in the month. South Dakota (7-6) enters having won two straight, including an 80-71 home victory over Dakota State on Wednesday. The Coyotes are powered by guard Isaac Bruns, who has been on a scoring tear. Bruns is averaging 24.4 points over his last seven games, including a 29-point performance in a win over Prairie View on Dec. 13. However, the Coyotes have struggled on the road this season, with all six losses coming away from home, including double-digit defeats at Missouri and Wyoming. This matchup pits Kansas State’s strength at home — where they are 6-1 this season — against a South Dakota team seeking a statement road victory before Summit League play begins. The Wildcats’ upcoming schedule intensifies with Big 12 Conference play starting in January, making this a final opportunity to fine-tune against a mid-major opponent. For South Dakota, containing Castillo and weathering the environment at Bramlage will be critical. The Coyotes have proven they can score in bunches, averaging 84.2 points per game, but rank outside the top 300 nationally in scoring defense. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST Saturday. Kansas State hosts Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 28 in its next outing, while South Dakota returns home to face Mt. Marty the same day.