JACKS OPEN 2026-27 SEASON AT K-STATE - South Dakota State University Athletics

Tuesday, November 3

Manhattan, Kan.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Kansas State

A man in a blue basketball uniform dribbles a ball by a defender in a white uniform

Kalen Garry at K-State in November 2023

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

11/1/2026 4:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Andrew Pedersen

Game 1: South Dakota State at Kansas State
Date and Time	Tuesday, Nov. 3 - 7 p.m. CT
Location	Manhattan, Kan.
Site	Bramlage Coliseum
Television/Stream	ESPN+
Audio	GoJacks.com
Live Stats	GoJacksLive.com
Tickets	KStateSports.com
South Dakota State	Game Notes \| Home Page
Kansas State	Home Page

South Dakota State returns to the hardwood for the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, when the Jackrabbits open the campaign at Kansas State. The two sides are scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. inside Bramlage Coliseum.

Both teams look for bounce-back seasons as they get things rolling to begin the 2026-27 slate. The Jackrabbits went 14-18 overall a season ago in the first year of head coach Bryan Petersen's tenure. Kansas State experienced a second-consecutive losing season a year ago and finished the 2025-26 schedule with a 12-20 record. The Wildcats head into the 2026-27 season under a new coaching staff with Casey Alexander entering his first season as head coach. Alexander has accumulated over 300 victories in 15 seasons as a head coach at three different institutions at the Division I level. His most recent stop was at his alma mater, Belmont.

South Dakota State brings a 15-player roster into the campaign. Seven returners are joined by eight newcomers with a blend of each expected to make contributions for the Jackrabbits this season.

Highlighting SDSU's returners is junior Joe Sayler. The White River, S.D., native was an honorable mention to the All-Summit League Team for his play during the 2025-26 season. He is one of three of The Summit League's honorable mentions returning to their programs this year.

Sayler averaged 17.9 points across 16 conference games last season. He also played a team-high 35.4 minutes per contest, while he grabbed 3.9 rebounds and dished 2.1 assists. Sayler shot 46.6% from the field and 47.1% behind the 3-point line. He was picked as The Summit League's Preseason Player of the Year and a Preseason All-Summit League First Team choice.

Another returner to highlight is Kalen Garry. A 2024-25 All-Summit League honorable mention performer, Garry is a Preseason Second Team All-Summit selection heading into this campaign. Garry enters the year with 960 career points and nears SDSU's 1,000 point club which consists of 53 Jackrabbits. The De Smet, S.D., native is one of eight known Division I men's players spending a fifth season of college (redshirted in 2022-23) with their initial program of enrollment.

The Jacks had a newcomer also picked as a Preseason All-Summit League Second selection. Junior Jesse Van Kalsbeek is one of two newcomers to The Summit League that earned preseason recognition. Van Kalsbeek led the NAIA level last season scoring 27.8 points per game, while he finished second in rebounds with a 12.4 clip. He was honored as the Bevo Francis Award winner, given annually to the player who had the final overall season in small college basketballl. Van Kalsbeek was also recognized as the NAIA Player of the Year, GPAC Player of the Year and an NAIA All-American.

SDSU's contingent of returners also includes Trey Buchanan, Jadyn Cascio Jensen Davis Kern, Jaden Rogers and Alec Squires. Squires played in all 32 games last year and started 13. Rogers appeared in 15 last year, while Buchanan played in nine before a season-ending injury.

The Jackrabbits' eight newcomers feature three with Division I experience in Jon Mekonnen, EJ Ryans and Myles Thompson. Making their collegiate debuts are Blake Ellwein, Semaj Stampley, Cam Swearengen and Youssouf Yatabare.

SDSU's last matchup versus Kansas State in November 2023 saw the two sides' first meeting in 60 years. The result of the game featured a similar outcome as the Jacks fell, 91-68. The Jackrabbits are 0-4 all-time against the Wildcats. SDSU made three trips to Manhattan from 1959-1963 with the closest decision a 91-65 defeat in January 1959.

COVERAGE INFORMATION
South Dakota State's matchup at Kansas State streams on ESPN+. Live stats for the game are available on GoJacksLive.com. Every SDSU men's basketball game can be heard on the Jackrabbit Sports Network, at GoJacks.com.watch or on the Varsity App. To keep up with the Jackrabbits, follow along with the program on their social media accounts @GoJacksMBB or visit GoJacks.com.

-GoJacks.com-