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Summit League basketball: South Dakota State holds off Kansas City

Published

2 years ago

January 26, 2024

Summit League basketball: South Dakota State holds off Kansas City

BROOKINGS — Usually if a basketball team has a stretch in a game where they outscore their opponent 20-0, they’re going to win that game.

South Dakota State had a 20-0 run in the first half of their Summit League game against Kansas City on Thursday, and they did indeed secure a 75-66 win in front of 2,012 Frost Arena fans.

But the Kangaroos did not go quietly.

Trailing by 15 late in the first half after that huge scoring stretch by the Jacks and by 10 at the break, UMKC came out hot in the second half, cutting the Jackrabbit lead to three points eight minutes in and taking a 61-59 lead with 6:32 to go.

It was tied at 66 with 2:46 to go when Luke Appel expanded the range on his patented one-hander, sinking a left-handed hook to put the Jacks on top for good, starting a 9-0 run to close out the game and send SDSU to 5-1 in Summit League play (12-9 overall).

“I just knew the shot clock was running out,” said Appel, who made the game-winner after grabbing the rebound when his first attempt was blocked by UMKC’s Jeff Ngandu. “I had just got blocked again so I just had to get something up there.”

“It was a good shot,” teammate Charlie Easley nodded approvingly.

UMKC’s Jeff Ngandu blocks a shot by SDSU’s Luke Appel in the second half of their Summit League game on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 at Frost Arena in Brookings.

Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live

After Matt Mims had made it a two-score game with a pair of free throws, Zeke Mayo, who struggled much of the night, made an aggressive drive through the lane for a layup that made it a six-point lead and put the Kangaroos away.

“You have to love conference games – there’s always gonna be some excitement and there was tonight,” said Jacks coach Eric Henderson. “(UMKC) got hot in the second half. They made some hard shots. I was proud of our guys showing resiliency and finishing the game.”

The Jacks started slow, as both teams were a little sleepy on offense in the early going. Then came the 20-0 run, in which the Jacks defense kept the Kangaroos (8-13, 2-4) out of the paint and their offense dominated by sending it in there. The only two 3-pointers they made all night — both by Mims — also came during the 20-0 stretch.

“Our urgency defensively was really good and we rebounded better during that stretch,” Henderson said. “They only had four paint touches in the first half. We got ‘er cookin’. When you’re able to get stops and play with good pace on the offensive end you’ve seen this team be pretty efficient.”

SDSU coach Eric Henderson gets a hug from UMKC coach Marvin Menzies after their Summit League game on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 at Frost Arena in Brookings. The Jacks won 75-66.

Appel had 19 points to lead both teams, while Mims had 15. William Kyle had 13 points and seven boards and Easley had 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Mayo had nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

The Jacks shot 49 percent to UMKC’s 36. SDSU outscored the visitors 17-3 at the line and 48-14 in the paint. The ‘Roos (who were led by Jamar Brown’s 17 points) were 15-of-38 from deep to SDSU’s 2-for-11, but ultimately SDSU’s dominance inside won out.

“Credit to (UMKC), they hit shots in the second half,” Easley said. “They started off hot and that’ll get you back in the game. They made it close — the next step for us is learning how to close games better.”

Women extend winning streak to eight

The Jackrabbit women picked up their eighth win in a row and improved to 6-0 in Summit League action with a 72-49 win over Kansas City at the Swinney Center in Kansas City.

Tori Nelson and Paige Meyer had 14 points each to lead the Jackrabbits (14-5 overall), with Nelson adding six rebounds, four assists and three steals and Meyer dishing a game-high five assists. Madison Mathiowetz had 12 points and five boards and Brooklyn Meyer added 11 points, seven rebounds and a whopping seven steals, a career-high.

No one scored in double figures for the Kangaroos, who shot 30 percent for the game and had 21 turnovers.

SDSU will return home to face Oral Roberts on Sunday for a 3 p.m. tip.

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.

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Kansas

Kansas State beats Iowa State for transfer portal FCS breakout DT

Published

16 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Kansas State beats Iowa State for transfer portal FCS breakout DT

MANHATTAN — Right when you thought Kansas State football might be done for the day, the Wildcats landed a seventh commitment from the transfer portal on Monday, Jan. 5.

Gardner-Webb defensive tackle De’Arieun Hicks committed to K-State, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder has three years of eligibility and totaled 21 tackles, with 4.5 being for a loss in 2025.

Hicks reportedly had a visit to Iowa State on Monday, after spending Jan. 3 with the Wildcats, and he chose to play football in Manhattan.

Hicks was a standout for the FCS program out of the Big South, playing 373 snaps and making four starts on the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ defensive line. He was the Big South’s sixth-highest graded defensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus, with the league’s 12th-best pass rush grade.

Hicks totaled 10 pressures, with seven quarterback hurries and a pair of sacks across 12 games.

Out of high school in Richmond, Indiana, Hicks wasn’t given a grade by 247Sports.

Kansas State was in desperate need of defensive linemen from the transfer portal following the departures of Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder and Andy Burburija, the latter of whom reopened his recruitment after initially signing with the Wildcats. The Wildcats also signed Adrian Bekibele, Kingston Hall and Carnell Jackson Jr. during December’s signing period.

Hicks’ size is certainly appealing, giving the Wildcats a solid prospect to develop. Given the Wildcats’ need at the position, Hicks could have an opportunity to get on the field quickly.

Hicks joins Oklahoma State running back Rodney Fields Jr., Texas A&M receiver Izaiah Williams, Illinois corner Kaleb Patterson, Oklahoma State linebacker Jacobi Oliphant, Miami (Ohio) safety Koy Beasley and Missouri offensive lineman Keiton Jones as those who committed to the Wildcats on Monday.

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com

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City Hall intruder fatally shot by employee in Lawrence, Kansas, officials say

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

City Hall intruder fatally shot by employee in Lawrence, Kansas, officials say

An intruder was fatally shot by an armed city employee inside Lawrence City Hall in Kansas on Monday morning, officials said.

The 28-year-old man “forced his way into the building then broke through a door” on the fourth floor and into a secured area about 8 a.m., according to a police statement.

This led to an altercation with an armed city employee, Police Chief Rich Lockhart told reporters outside City Hall, about two miles north of the University of Kansas campus.

“During that altercation, the 28-year-old subject was shot and killed by the city employee,” the chief added.

The intruder wasn’t immediately identified, and it wasn’t clear if he was armed.

Authorities didn’t immediately name the city employee or his job. But police did characterize the civil servant as “trained and authorized to carry a firearm.”

The fourth floor is home to the city manager, city attorney and budget manager.

Officials said they did not know why the man went to the fourth floor, and “it’s not someone that’s known to us,” Lockhart said.

City Hall was closed and should reopen Tuesday. A municipal court in the building won’t open again until Thursday.

City Manager Craig Owens said he was grateful no city employees were hurt.

“I want to express my gratitude to the Lawrence, Kansas, Police Department work during the disturbing incident,” he said.

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IU football lands Kansas State transfer edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi

Published

2 days ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

IU football lands Kansas State transfer edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi

Indiana’s portal haul continued to grow Sunday as multiple outlets reported the addition of Kansas State edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi.

Osunsanmi has played in 36 games over the last four years and has 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Most of that production came over the last two seasons. He has a total of 47 QB pressures during his college career.

In 2025 he played in six games and had 20 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He suffered a season-ending injury in October.

He saw action in all 13 games in 2024 as a reserve defensive end and on special teams, recording 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 303 defensive snaps and 31 special teams plays.

In 2023 he saw time in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker, a rush end on passing downs and on special teams. He was tied for team-high honors with five tackles on kickoff coverage.

He played in four games in 2022 and preserved his redshirt.

The 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Osunsanmi has one year of eligibility remaining.

The Wichita, Kan. product (Wichita East H.S.) was regarded as the 232nd-best overall player in the nation for the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.

Osunsanmi will help fill the void left by outgoing edge rushers Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley.

More transfer portal information:

For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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