UMKC Returns To Municipal To Face Arkansas Tech On Saturday
11/22/2007 11:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Setting
The UMKC men's basketball team will return to Municipal Auditorium on Saturday afternoon to face the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys at 12:05 p.m. The Kangaroos bring a 1-3 overall record into the contest, while ATU has a perfect 3-0 record on the year.
“Buck Day”
With the change in the game time for Saturday's game against Arkansas Tech, UMKC is tabbing the contest as a "Buck Day". All tickets, including lower level seating, for the game will be $1. This offer, however, is only valid at the door.
On The Air
All UMKC men's basketball games can be heard on Sports Radio 810 WHB AM or 97.3 FM. Fans can also hear the games online at www.810whb.com. “The Voice of the Kangaroos” Danny Clinkscale will call the play-by-play action for UMKC for the seventh straight season.
On The Web
Fans can watch all UMKC home games live on SummitTV. Fans can access SummitTV through www.umkckangaroos.com or www.thesummitleague.org. More than 275 men's and women's games will be featured as part of the $49.95 annual subscription package.
Live Stats
Fans can follow the action as it happens via live stats at www.umkckangaroos.com.
A Look At Arkansas Tech
The Wonder Boys enter Saturday's game with a perfect 3-0 overall record after picking up victories over Rhema Bible College (98-55), Dallas Baptist (83-81) and Northeastern State (60-56). ATU is averaging 80.3 points on .483 shooting this season, and it averages 46.0 rebounds and 13.0 assists.
Three players are averaging in double digits on the year with guard Terrance Whiters leading the way with 16.3 points and 4.0 assists. Forward Troy Marcus is the top rebounder with 8.7 boards per game, while chipping in 8.3 points.
ATU Game Facts
- Arkansas Tech is an NCAA Division II program that competes in the Gulf South Conference (GSC). The University, which is located in Russellville, Ark., has an enrollment of 7,480.
- ATU was picked to finish eighth in the West Division of the GSC. Guard Terrance Whiters, meanwhile, was named to the GSC preseason men's basketball team.
- Head Coach Mark Downey served as the head men's basketball coach at Independence Community College in Independence, Kan., from 1999-2001. While at ICC, he led the Pirates to a 47-23 record and was named the Region VI and Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
- Arkansas Tech has three Division I transfers on its roster in Terrance Whiters (Loyola Chicago), Darren Tarver (George Mason) and Renard Allen (University of New Orleans).
ATU vs. UMKC - The Series
Saturday's meeting between UMKC and Arkansas Tech is the first in the all-time series between the two programs.
Last Contest
UMKC held its own over the first 20 minutes of the game against Arizona on Monday night at the McKale Center, as UA led just 37-29 at the half. The Wildcats, however, used an 11-0 run early in the second half to break the game open before running out 81-62 winners. Arizona shot 70 percent in the second half and 64.1 percent for the game. UA limited the Kangaroos to a .350 percent mark from the floor and .259 clip from long range.
Notes From The UA Game
- UMKC finished with nine steals against the Wildcats. It was the second straight game that the Kangaroos had nine steals.
- UA shot 70 percent in the second half and .641 for the game against UMKC. The Wildcats also shot 47 percent from long range.
- The Kangaroos and Wildcats were even on the boards, 30-30. It was the first time this season that UMKC didn't get outrebounded in a game.
Unlucky 62
There's something about the number 62. The Kangaroos have finished with 62 points in all three road losses at Kansas, Northern Arizona and Arizona this season.
Hail To The Three
The Kangaroos are averaging 26 three point attempts per game this season. The team is connecting on 8.8 of those chances, while shooting .337 from the behind the three-point arch.
Carrying The Load
Senior Brent Stephens has scored in double digits in each of UMKC's four games to start the 2007-08 season. The forward, who is averaging a team-best 18.0 ppg., has led the team in scoring in two games on the year. Against Washburn on Nov. 13, he scored a career-high 28 points, which included an 11-of-11 night from the free throw line.
Cleaning Up The Mess
The Kangaroos have held the huge advantage on the offensive glass in each of the last two games. UMKC has pulled down 27 offensive rebounds to just 11 for its opposition. Against Arizona on Monday night, the Kangaroos finished with a season-high 15 offensive boards.
Hamilton Continues To Impress
Freshman Reggie Hamilton scored in double figures for the third time in four games at Arizona on Monday night. The guard finished with 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting to go along with six assists. Hamilton is third on the team with an 11.5 scoring average, while leading the team with 3.8 assists per game.
Quick Hands
The Kangaroos have collected nine steals as a team in each of the last two games. The figure is a season-high for the team. Against the Wildcats, four UMKC players - Jeremiah Hartsock, Brent Stephens, Spencer Johnson and Akeem Hemingway - each had a pair of steals.
Helping Hand
Freshman Reggie Hamilton tallied his second collegiate game with five or more assists on Monday at Arizona, as he finished with six helpers in the contest. The figure was one off of his career-high of seven assists that he set in his collegiate debut at Kansas on Nov. 11.
Taking Care Of The Ball
Against a pressure oriented Wildcat defense, UMKC did an outstanding job taking care of the basketball. The Kangaroos finished with just nine turnovers in the game against Arizona, while forcing UA in 14 miscues.
At The Charity Stripe
The Kangaroos have been solid at the free throw line, as they have connected on .758 (50-66) attempts this season. Although UMKC has been strong at the line, its opposition has been to the line more frequently. UMKC's opponents have made more free throws (67) than the Kangaroos have attempted. The opposition have attempted 96 free throws on the year.
Shooting Down 100....again
After not making a three pointer for just the seventh time in the last 36 games on Monday at Arizona, junior Dane Brumagin will make his second attempt at knocking down his 100th career three pointer against Arkansas Tech on Saturday. The Montgomery City, Mo., native currently ranks 10th all-time in school history with 99 career makes.
Streak Ends At 18
Senior Brent Stephens stretched his made free throw streak to 18 before missing his third attempt against Arizona on Monday night. Despite the streak coming to an end, the Oklahoma native has been nearly perfect from the line this season, as he has connected on 22-of-24 attempts for a .917 percentage.
Stephens has been a strong free throw shooter throughout his career in Blue and Gold. He has connected on .792 (141-178) of his attempts, which currently ranks fifth in school history.
Brumagin Scores 27 To Pace Team At NAU
Junior Dane Brumagin became the second Kangaroo (Brent Stephens) to score 20 or more points this season, as he finished with 27 on 9-of-16 shooting at Northern Arizona on Nov. 17. Among his nine makes were six three point field goals, which tied a career-high for the forward.
The Montgomery City, Mo., native finished with 11 points in the first half, before scoring all 14 of UMKC's points over the first five and a half minutes of the second half.
The scoring outburst was the fifth time in his career that he's scored 20 or more points. The 27 points are the third most that he's scored in a single game in 63 career games.
Blackwell Moves Into 13th On Career Scoring Chart
Senior Tim Blackwell moved past his former teammate Dee Ayuba into 13th place on the career scoring chart on Monday at Arizona. The Cameron, Mo., native finished with seven points to push his career total to 714 in Kangaroo Blue and Gold.
Stephens Surpasses 500; Brumagin Approaching The Mark
With his 16-point scoring effort at Arizona, senior Brent Stephens pushed his career total to 510 points in a Kangaroo uniform, which ranks 27th all-time. Junior Dane Brumagin, meanwhile, sits just seven points off of the figure, as he has 493 points in his career. Brumagin currently ranks 28th on the list.
Dibble Signs NLI With UMKC During Early Signing Period
Head Coach Matt Brown signed Dustin Dibble to a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period. The 6-4, 190-lb., guard averaged 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game last season at Petoskey High School in Petoskey, Mich., last season.
About The Jayhawk Invitational
The round robin Jayhawk Invitational features four teams - UMKC, Kansas, Arizona and Northern Arizona. Washburn (at UMKC, at KU) and Adams State (at UA and at NAU) will also participate in the event, as each school will play in two games. Below is the complete schedule for the Invitational.
Nov. 11
at Kansas 85, UMKC 62
at Northern Arizona 78, Adams State 65
Nov. 13
at UMKC 79, Washburn 75
at Arizona 76, Northern Arizona
Nov. 15
at Kansas 92, Washburn 60
Nov. 17
at Northern Arizona 77, UMKc 62
Nov. 19
at Arizona 81, UMKC 62
Nov. 21
at Kansas 87, Northern Arizona 46
at Arizona 88, Adams State 64
Nov. 25
Arizona at Kansas
