Nino Williams scored a game-high 16 points and Rodney McGruder added 15 to lead 25th-ranked Kansas State to a 70-50 win against South Dakota Monday at Bramlage Coliseum.
Kansas State (11-2) used a late 12-0 run to separate itself from a pesky South Dakota team that stole 13 passes and forced 17 turnovers. The Wildcats made seven 3-pointers and used a 39-24 rebounding edge to improve their non-conference, home winning streak to 48 games.
Karim Rowson scored 14 points and Juevol Myles had 13 in his return trip to Manhattan to lead South Dakota (6-9). Myles played in 19 games as a sophomore at KSU during the 2010-11 season.
Dave Boots was denied in his first chance at win No. 500 as coach of the Coyotes, but saw his team pull within five, 44-39, with eight minutes to go after trailing 24-8 at the same mark of the first half.
Jordan Henriquez converted a three-point play to make it 47-39. Moments later, Rowson intentionally fouled Williams, who was breaking away for an uncontested score. Williams made both free throws and Shane Southwell hit a 3 on the ensuing possession that made it 52-39 with 6:18 to go. Southwell added a layup and a jumper from the wing that completed the 12-0 run. He finished with 12 points.
USD registered a season-low for points scored two days after scoring a season-best 95 points in a road win against Omaha. The Coyotes made five first-half field goals and trailed 30-18 at halftime.
Brandon Bos made South Dakota’s only two 3-pointers and had 11 points. USD was 2 of 11 from beyond the arc after making 11 threes against Omaha.
Kansas State shot 50 percent from the field and was 7 of 18 from three-point range. The Wildcats used 11 offensive rebounds to score 15 points.
The New Year’s Eve contest was both teams’ final tune-up before diving into the conference season. South Dakota hosts North Dakota State Thursday and South Dakota State Saturday at the DakotaDome.
Courtesy: Bryan Boettcher, USD
