Dean Wade scored 17 points as Kansas State crushed American 83-45 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams at Manhattan, Kan.

The Wildcats, who finished 21-14 last season and were an NCAA Tournament team, used a suffocating defense and the timely 3-point shot to win in convincing fashion.

Makol Mawien added 12 points in his Kansas State debut to go with eight rebounds. Cartier Diarra finished with 13 points, hitting all four of his 3-point attempts.

The Wildcats shot a scorching 54.7 percent (29-for-53) from the field and held the Eagles to just 30.4 percent (17-for-56). Larry Motuzis paced the Eagles with 17 points. Matt Cimino added eight points off the bench.

Kansas State shot 57 percent in the first half, when the Wildcats had 14 assists on 16 made field goals.

A 17-0 run, including 10 points from Wade, vaulted the Wildcats to an early 19-5 lead. Diarra and Wade each were 3-for-3 from 3-ball territory as Kansas State closed the half on an 18-4 run.

Mawien came out strong in his Division I debut. The 6-foot-9 sophomore forward poured in 10 points, collected six rebounds and had two blocked shots in the first half.

American, 8-22 a year ago and picked to finish ninth this season in the Patriot League, never recovered after jumping out to a 5-2 lead. The Eagles shot just 25 percent from the field and were outrebounded, 24-12 in the first half.