Grizzlies Outlast 'Roos In Sloppy Contest, 81-68

Kansas City went into the half tied at 33 with Oakland on Thursday night, but the Grizzlies jumped out quickly in the second period and outlasted the 'Roos in a turnover-laden contest, 81-68.

Kansas City (5-14, 2-5 SL) has now dropped 13 straight to Oakland (8-12, 3-3 SL), and has not won a game at OU since 2006. The two teams combined for 41 turnovers (UMKC 21, OU 20), 29 of which were in the opening stanza. The difference proved to be a 23-point second half performance from OU's Travis Bader though, drilling four threes and went 9-of-9 from the line.

The 'Roos were right with the Grizzlies in the opening five minutes, but scored only two points over a span of seven minutes as the hosts built a nine-point advantage with 7:29 to play, 21-12. Oakland pushed its lead to as many as 13 at the 5:33 mark, but Kansas City fought back, cutting it to six with 4:09 on the clock.

OU took a 33-24 lead with 3:03 left in the half on a three-point play by Drew Valentine, but UMKC closed the stanza on a 9-0 run with two buckets from Aaron Washington and a three with two seconds left from Nelson Kirksey.

The 'Roos forced OU into 17 turnovers in the period, while making 12 miscues themselves. The Grizzlies shot 66.7 percent while UMKC hit for 48.1 percent, but a 19-10 advantage in points off turnovers kept the Kangaroos in it. Estan Tyler led the 'Roos with nine points.

The Grizzlies scored the first eight points of the second half and never trailed again. At the 15:41 mark the home squad was up by a 51-39 score, but Kansas City cut it to five with 11:24 on the clock. OU committed only three turnovers in the second half though, while the 'Roos made nine miscues.

Kansas City could never get closer than five in the stanza though, as Oakland had an answer every time. A three by Thomas Staton with 2:31 on the clock cut it to 70-65, but the Grizzlies scored the next seven points to ice it. Valentine nabbed five steals in the half, while scoring 11 points for OU. Tyler's 11 points led the way for UMKC in the period.

The Grizzlies outscored UMKC 17-3 in points off turnovers in the final stanza, and played only six players in the period. Oakland also outscored Kansas City 19-6 from the free throw line.

Tyler finished with 20 points for the 'Roos, his second career 20-point game and second in a row. The only other player in double figures was Kirksey with 10 points. Bader finished with a game-high 30 points, while Valentine tallied 19 points, a building-record eight steals and eight boards. Corey Petros had 16 points and 10 rebounds for OU as well.

Kansas City will head to Fort Wayne, Indiana on Saturday for a contest with IPFW. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT.