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.

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.