First Half Deficit Dooms 'Roos Against Jackrabbits, 77-61

Summit League favorite South Dakota State built a big first half lead and cruised to a 77-61 win over Kansas City on Thursday night at Municipal Auditorium in men's basketball action.

The Jackrabbits (11-5, 2-1 SL) jumped out to a 12-4 lead by the 14:13 mark of the opening half and never trailed the rest of the night. Kansas City (4-11, 1-3 SL) got to within three on a Nelson Kirksey tip-in with 10:08 on the clock, but SDSU answered with an 8-0 run less than two minutes later.

The end of the period is what ended up costing the 'Roos though, as an old fashioned three-point play by sophomore Alton Tanner with 4:26 left ended up being their last points of the half. South Dakota State turned an 11-point lead into a 29-point advantage, going on an 18-0 rally to end the stanza.

The three-point shot was on for the Jacks as they hit 10-of-17 in the first half, including four from both Chad White and Jordan Dykstra. Summit League Preseason Player of the Year Nate Wolters led all scorers with 16 though, including six assists and three steals. SDSU also shot 58.1 percent, while holding UMKC to 32 percent shooting. Kirksey was the 'Roos leading scorer at the break with nine.

Kansas City's offense came alive the half two, shooting 55.6 percent, while SDSU cooled off from three-point range, going 2-of-10. Thomas Staton and Estan Tyler each had 10 points in the period for the 'Roos, but they couldn't get the margin closer than 14, which happened with just more than a minute remaining.

UMKC out-scored the Jacks by a 41-28 score in the second half, as SDSU took the pedal off the gas with five minutes left.

Wolters finished the game with 23 points and seven assists, while Dykstra had 21 points. For the game SDSU shot 50.9 percent and had 21 assists.

Kansas City was paced by Staton for the third straight game as he put up 14 points, while Kirksey finished with 12 and Tyler had 10. Staton also had a game-high five assists. As a team the 'Roos shot 44.2 percent overall, but drilled 6-of-11 threes in the final half.

The Kangaroos will continue the homestand on Saturday night at 5:15 when it takes on North Dakota State, who is currently 3-0 in conference play, and has the league's best overall record at 12-3. The game will be played at Municipal Auditorium for the final time this season, and it will be televised on KSMO in Kansas City.