UMKC Welcomes League Favorite Jackrabbits To Municipal Auditorium Thursday

The 'Roos look to snap a six-game skid when they continue conference play on Thursday against league favorite South Dakota State. It is one of three home games being played at Municipal Auditorium, and will be the first there against a conference opponent since January of 2011. It will be the 14th meeting between the 'Roos and Jackrabbits, with SDSU holding an 8-5 lead in the series. The Jacks have won the last two contests, and six of the last seven. The last win for UMKC came on Jan. 27, 2011 by a 63-58 score on the road.

Matt Brown is 4-6 vs. SDSU’s Scott Nagy, while Nagy has an 8-5 record against the 'Roos.

South Dakota State comes in with a 10-5 overall mark and a 1-1 record in Summit League play. The Jackrabbits were picked to win the conference. The Jacks signature win this season came on December 22. That is when they defeated previously unbeaten and nationally ranked New Mexico. SDSU, however, is coming off a loss.. They dropped a contest 65-62, to conference rival North Dakota State last Saturday.

They are led by preseason Summit League Player of the Year Nate Wolters, who averages 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. Jordan Dykstra puts up 12.5 points and 7.1 boards a game, while Tony Fiegen is averaging 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds a contest.

As a team the Jacks lead the conference in scoring at 71.8 points per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.3. They also shoot 45.1 percent from the field.

UMKC is also coming off a defeat. A 77-65 loss to  new conference member University of Nebraska-Omaha this past Monday. Thomas Staton scored a career-high and team season-high 23 points in that game, with 21 of those points coming in the second half. The 'Roos had 11 steals at Omaha which was the first double-digit steal performance since grabbing 13 vs. Oral Roberts on 12/28/11.

In the last five games, three players are averaging in double-figure points. Estan Tyler (10.4), Thomas Staton (11.0), and Nelson Kirksey (11.0). Fred Chatmon leads the team with 8.6 boards a game during that stretch, and has two 13 and a 16-rebound game this year already.

The game will be broadcast on 102.9 FM / 1140 AM (w/Steven Davis & Steven St. John) and KSMO TV 62 (Neil Harwell & JC Pearson).

Kansas City will host North Dakota State on Saturday night at Municipal Auditorium at 5:15 p.m. The game will again be televised on KSMO in the Kansas City region.