UMKC Hits the Road for Non-Conference Battle with North Dakota

The 'Roos step back out of conference on Wednesday for a contest with North Dakota on the road. The Kangaroos and UND are meeting for the fifth time (all coming in the Matt Brown era) and UMKC lead the series 3-1 overall, and have won the last three meetings, including a 78-75 victory in Kansas City last season.

North Dakota, which does not have an official mascot right now (formerly the Fighting Sioux, transitioning), is 1-4 overall on the season with a win against Crown College in its lone home game. Last time out, they took Summit League favorite South Dakota State to the brink on the road, but fell on a buzzer-beating three, 71-70. They are a new member of the Big Sky Conference.

UND is led by a balanced attack, with Aaron Anderson averaging a team-best 12.0 points per game along with 4.2 boards an outing. Josh Schuler is putting up 10.6 points per contest, while Lenny Antwi is at 7.2 per outing. The leading rebounders are Jamal Webb (4.5) and Alonzo Traylor (4.8).

As a team North Dakota averages 64.4 points per game, while allowing 70 per contest. It shoots 40 percent, while holding opponents to 41 percent with a -2.4 rebound margin.

In UMKC’s last game the 'Roos got 37 points off the bench against Western Illinois. The starters scored only 26 points. In addition, all three of the double-figure scorers in the game came off the bench.

Nelson Kirksey and Alton Tanner each scored double-digit points against WIU, marking the first newcomers to do that this season for the 'Roos. UMKC has played at least 10 players in every game this season, and at least 11 in all but one game. Eight of those have scored in double figures this season, but only one averages in double figures (Korver, 10.1 ppg).

The 'Roos hottest player has been Thomas Staton. He is averaging 11.8 points per game in his last four games, all off the bench.

Also, junior center Fred Chatmon had career-bests across the board on Thursday vs. IUPUI, scoring 20 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and blocking four shots. He ranks No. 81 in the nation with 1.86 blocks per game coming into this week.

A win would mean UMKC has won the last four meetings against UND, all under Matt Brown (It would also move to 2-0 in Grand Forks). It would also be the fourth consecutive time that the 'Roos have bounced back from a loss with a victory.

UMKC will then hit the road to play its second top-five opponent of the season as it heads to No. 5 Louisville on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. CT tip-off. The game will be televised on ESPN3.