'Roos Face Blue Tigers in Home Opener Tuesday Night

Trying to end a five game losing streak (lost last 4 of 2011-12) and forget the bad second half performance against Seton Hall last Friday, UMKC will host the Lincoln Blue Tigers in their home opener on Tuesday. This is the the fourth year in a row the 'Roos have faced a Division II team to open the home slate, and the fifth time in Brown's six seasons overall. Under Brown, Kansas City is 3-2 in home openers and 17-9 in non-conference home games.. The contest is counted as an exhibition for Lincoln, and a regular season game for Kansas City.

Lincoln, a Division II member of the MIAA, posted a 4-22 overall record last season, and went 4-16 to finish last in its conference. This season the Blue Tigers are 0-2 so far, playing in a season opening tournament against Minnesota State-Moorhead (L, 72-67) and Wayne State (L, 77-61).

The Blue Tigers are led by junior Shakir Preston, who is averaging 15.5 points a game, as well as a team-best eight assists. Junior center Sean Harris is averaging 14 points and hitting 85.7 percent from the floor, while junior forward Charles Cole has put up 13.5 ppg with four threes. Guard Cedric Ridle is the top returner, averaging 9.5 points and 8 rebounds per contest.

As a team Lincoln is being outscored by 10.5 points and out-rebounded by six per game, while shooting 46.2 percent.

The Kangaroos and Blue Tigers are meeting for the second time, with UMKC holding a 1-0 advantage. The last meeting came on November 17, 2009, with the 'Roos taking a 78-52 win.

The 'Roos are 4-1 against teams in the MIAA, with a 2-0 mark against Truman State, a 1-0 record vs. Lincoln, a 1-0 clip vs. Washburn, and a 0-1 record vs Northwest Missouri State. All of these meetings have taken place during the tenure of Matt Brown.

A win would move UMKC to 4-2 in home-opening games under Brown and the team would be .500 in season for the first time since December 22 of last season when it was 7-7.

Later this week the 'Roos will head to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tipoff in Uncasville, Connecticut. The 'Roos will face Albany on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT at the Mohegan Sun Arena, before facing either Loyola (Md.) or Norfolk State on Sunday.

Kansas City is meeting Albany for the first time ever. It has a 1-1 mark vs. Norfolk State, last meeting in 2003 in Kansas City with UMKC taking an 80-56 win. The 'Roos have never played Loyola (Md.).