UMKC Finishes Home Stand With SEMO On Saturday At Noon

The 'Roos finish their homestand on Saturday, heading back to Swinney Recreation Center for a noon game against Southeast Missouri State. Kansas City looks to snap a three-game skid, while the Redhawks have won four of their last six. During the tenures of UMKC’s Brown and SEMO’s Dickey, UMKC is leading the series 2-0, taking wins in each of the last two seasons. It will be the fifth meeting between the 'Roos and Redhawks, with the series tied 2-2.

In Kansas City, the 'Roos are 1-1 against SEMO, taking a 70-62 win two years ago. The last meeting went in favor of Kansas City as well, winning 74-69 on December 10 of last season in Cape Girardeau.

Southeast Missouri State comes into the contest with a 7-6 overall record, defeating New Orleans last time out. They have also lost to Kansas and Missouri this year, playing both close for a good portion of the game.

The Redhawks have seven players that see significant time on the floor, led by a duo of post players in Tyler Stone (16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg) and Nino Johnson (12.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg). Guard Corey Wilford puts up 14.5 points a contest as well, including 29-of-61 three-pointers for 47.5 percent.

As a team the Redhawks shoot 46.3 percent while holding opponents to only 37 percent. They out-rebound opponents by 2.4 per contest and have a 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Head Coach Dickey Nutt is in his fourth season as the head coach at SEMO, and has a 39-67 record there. Overall, he is in his 17th season as a head coach, boasting a 228-254 mark. He came to SEMO from Arkansas State University, where he coached from 1987-2008. He was the head man there from 1995-2008.

UMKC’s Estan Tyler has scored 15+ points in back-to-back games for the second time this season, and leads the 'Roos with 28.7 minutes played per game, nearly six more than the next closest player. Tyler has scored his four highest career point totals this year, and has been in double figures five times already (he only had four last year). He matched his career-high with 17 vs. Iowa State.

Nelson Kirksey has averaged 11.8 points per game in his last five outings, shooting better than 57 percent in each. He also has a team-best nine steals during the stretch. In the last five games, Kirksey leads the team with 11.8 points per contest, while Thomas Staton is averaging 11.6 points per outing and Estan Tyler is putting up 11.0 points per game. Nate Rogers is scoring 8.4 points during the stretch, and is tied for the lead with 11 threes (tied with Tyler).

Junior center Fred Chatmon tallied a career-best 32 minutes against Iowa State. He is the only player on the team with a double-double this year (vs. North Dakota).

The 'Roos 10 three-pointers made vs. Iowa State were the most since hitting 12 vs. North Dakota State on February 9, 2012.

Junior forward Trinity Hall sat out last game due to injury suffered on December 16.

Kansas City is looking to snap a three-game losing streak overall and salvage a win out of  the current three-game home stand, before hitting the road for the next two.

Kansas City will face Kansas State next Saturday, December 29 for a 6:00 p.m. contest in Manhattan. It will be televised on Fox Sports Kansas City.

It will be the 17th meeting between the 'Roos and Wildcats in Division I contests, with  K-State leading the series 15-1. The last meeting came on December 23, 2010, with the Wildcats taking an 80-64 decision. UMKC's lone win in the series came in the shocking 93-52 contest in Kansas City on December 30, 2003.