'Roos Host Mavericks In Coaches Vs. Cancer Game Saturday

The 'Roos start the second half of conference play on Saturday as Omaha comes to town for a 5:15 contest. The Mavericks knocked off UMKC last time the two met in late December, but both squads are coming off road wins in league play entering the night.

It will be the second time UMKC has faced the Mavericks in Kansas City, and second as a member of the Summit League. Earlier this season in Omaha, UNO grabbed a 77-65 win.

Last season they met for the first time as Division I schools, with Kansas City taking the game at home by a 77-74 score. This will be only the third meeting between the two schools in the Division I ranks.

Omaha is 6-16 overall and 3-6 in the Summit league after knocking off South Dakota on the road Thursday. UNO is in its second year as a Division I school after transitioning from D-II.

The Mavericks are led by Justin Simmons with 15.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while forward John Karhoff has posted 12.0 points per outing. They are led in rebounding by Alex Welhouse at 4.8 per contest.

As a team the Mavs allow 83.4 points per game and .491 shooting percentage. They also have a -7.9 rebound margin and -2.5 turnover margin. Offensively they score 70.2 points a game and shoot 46.3 percent.

In Tuesday night’s loss to Houston Baptist, Fred Chatmon pulled in a career-best 17 rebounds and recorded his third double-double of the season. His 17 boards were the most for a 'Roo since Spencer Johnson recorded 18 vs. Western Illinois on January 22, 2011. Chatmon has now recorded double-digit rebounds in his last two games, moving his total to five  this year. The Junior forward is the only player on the team to have one this season, and one of two to have one in his career here (Trinity Hall being the other).

As mentioned in previous articles the 'Roos are lead by the trio of Chatmon, Estan Tyler and Thomas Staton, but have started to receive support from Hall recently as he returns from his injury.

As UMKC’s offense has started to get hot its defense has cooled off. In the last five games the 'Roos have shot .498, but have allowed opponents to shoot .531 percent during that stretch.

Kansas City next heads to North Dakota State on Thursday for a 7:00 p.m. contest with the league-leading Bison.