(Continued from page 23)

better ball reversal off that and opened up the floor a little bit."
• "We just tried to adjust a little bit with our four and five in the second half," Boots added, "and I thought that helped us a little bit."
• The tide turned, however, when Jordan Henriquez converted a three-point play, beginning a 10-0 run for the Wildcats.
• Williams was intentionally fouled on a breakaway layup and sank both free throws. On the Wildcats' ensuing possession Shane Southwell drained a 3-pointer. The next time down the floor, Southwell got a bucket in the lane, and the time after that he scored from the baseline, and Kansas State led 56-39 with 5:23 to play.
• The Coyotes could not muster another comeback.
• "They just turned it up defensively," Boots said. "We tried to get it inside, didn't have much there. We drove to the basket, they blocked a couple shots."
• Kansas State created distance early and largely maintained it throughout the first half after jumping out to an 11-2 lead in the first five minutes. The Coyotes pulled within 15-8 minutes later when Brandon Bos converted a traditional three-point play and then sank a 3-pointer.
• Kansas State's size in the post continually posed a problem for South Dakota. The combination of seven-footers Henriquez and Adrian Diaz made it difficult for the Coyotes to score inside early. Henriquez returned to the bench shortly after committing two quick fouls, but fellow reserve D.J. Johnson picked up the slack by scoring a second chance basket right after entering the game.
• That shot started a 9-0 run that gave the Wildcats a 24-8 edge with 7:43 to play in the first half. Kansas State was outrebounding the Coyotes 14-5. At that point in the game, South Dakota was making less than 15 percent of its field goals.
• "We struggle at this level, how physical the kids are, not only inside but on the perimeter," Boots said. "They bump you on cuts, it's hard to get an uncontested shot off."
•

• GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- As disappointing as their loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday had been -- especially since it cost them the NFC's No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye -- the Green Bay Packers had no time to feel sorry for themselves.
• With those same Vikings coming to Lambeau Field on Saturday night for an NFC wild card game, the work week is already underway. And coach Mike McCarthy as already stressing the positives.
• "I mean, there's nothing but positives right now," McCarthy said at a 7:45 a.m.

(Continued on page 25)