UMKC Visits Central Arkansas On Saturday
12/27/2007 7:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Setting
After a week lay-off, the UMKC men's basketball team will close out 2007 with a road game at Central Arkansas on Saturday night in Conway, Ark. The Kangaroos and Bears will square off at the Farris Center beginning at 6 p.m.
On The Air
All UMKC men's basketball games can be heard on Sports Radio 810 WHB AM. 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 and all league contests 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.ucasports.com.
A Look At Central Arkansas
The Bears enter Saturday night's contest with a 9-3 overall record on the year. After dropping their season opener at Kentucky, UCA went on an eight-game winning streak from Nov. 7 to Dec. 5. The streak was then broken in a 65-52 loss at Tulsa on Dec. 9. In their last game, Central Arkansas dropped a 80-58 decision at Idaho in the team's second match-up of the season.
Three players are averaging double digits for UCA, as guard Nate Bowie is leading the team with 14.4 points and 3.9 assists. Guards Marcus Pillow and York Sims, meanwhile, are averaging 14.3 and 11.0 rebounds, respectively. Forward Durrell Nevels is having a strong year for the team, as he averages 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
The Bears have been hitting the glass hard, as they are +5.2 (40.8-35.6) on the year. The team, however, has 40 more turnovers than assists this season.
UCA Game Facts
- UCA hasn't played a game since Dec. 18. The team will have had an 11-day lay-off in between games when it faces the Kangaroos on Dec. 29.
- The Bears are a perfect 6-0 at home this season at the Farris Center.
- Central Arkansas is the alma mater of former NBA player Scottie Pippen. Pippen was an NAIA All-American at UCA as a junior and senior.
- UCA is in the second year of a four-year transition in its move from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I. The men's basketball team will not be eligible for postseason play until 2010-11.
- UCA guard Nate Bowie is a native of Kansas City, Mo. He attended Washington High School prior to playing two seasons at Colby Community College.
UCA vs. UMKC - The Series
UMKC claimed the first meeting in the all-time series against Central Arkansas last season in Kansas City, 80-68. Four Kangaroos scored in double figures in the victory, as Quinton Day paced the team with 25 points in the contest.
Last Contest
The Kangaroos rallied from a 10-point second half deficit to top Loyola Chicago, 77-66, on Dec. 22 in Kansas City. UMKC used a 19-2 spurt over an eight-minute span early in the second half to take control of the game. Four players scored in double figures for the team in the victory.
Notes From The Loyola Game
- The Kangaroos made 10 three pointers in the game, and they shot .526 (10-19) from long range in the contest. In the second half alone, UMKC made 7-of-11 three-point attempts.
- UMKC limited Loyola to just four three point field goals in 25 attempts. The .160 three point percentage is an opponent low for the team this season.
- The Kangaroos scored 54 second half points against the Ramblers after scoring just 23 points in the first half of the contest.
Still Looking For A Road Win
The Kangaroos head to the Farris Center looking for their first road win of the Matt Brown era on Saturday in Conway. UMKC is currently 0-6 at road venues this season, and the team has lost 20-of-its-last-21 road contests dating back to the 2006-07 season.
The team is averaging 70.3 points per game on the road this season, while it is shooting .415 from the floor and .367 from long range. Defense has been an issue, as the opponents are averaging 84.8 points on .538 shooting from the floor and .507 shooting from long range.
Taking Care Of The Basketball
The Kangaroos have been doing a superb job of taking care of the basketball over the past three games. The squad has committed 10 or fewer turnovers in each of the last three contests and in a total of four games this season. UMKC finished with just eight turnovers against Northern Iowa, nine against Wichita State and 10 against Loyola on Dec. 22.
Double Digit Dane
Junior Dane Brumagin has scored in double figures in each of the past five contests for the Kangaroos, and in eight of the past nine games. The forward finished just shy of 20 points against Loyola on Dec. 22, as he scored 19 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
On the year, the Montgomery City, Mo., native has reached double digits in 11-of-13 games, which includes five games with 20 or more points. Brumagin has been UMKC's high scorer in seven games on the year.
Brumagin's most prolific games of the season, and his career, came during a two-game stretch in early December when he scored 75 points in two games. The forward netted 40 points at Oakland on Dec. 6 on 12-of-17 shooting, and he followed it up with 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting at IPFW on Dec. 8.
Blackwell Coming On Strong
Senior Tim Blackwell has scored in double figures in each of the past four games. During the stretch, he is averaging 19.0 points on .475 (19-40) shooting from the floor and .526 (10-19) shooting from long range. The guard has also been getting to the free throw line frequently, as he's made 28-of-36 attempts.
Balance Is Key
The Kangaroos had four players score in double figures in the victory over Loyola Chicago on Dec. 22. It was the fifth game this season for the team to have at least four players with 10 or more points. On Nov. 24, UMKC had a season-high five players score in double figures in the 90-82 victory over Arkansas Tech.
UMKC now has four players on the year that are averaging 10 points or more per game. Dane Brumagin (18.9), Reggie Hamilton (12.4), Brent Stephens (11.8) and Tim Blackwell (10.6) are all in double figures.
Buckling Down Defensively
The Kangaroos have been playing their best defense of the season over the past three games. UMKC has been extending its defense out past the three point line, as its opponents have connected on just .207 (12-58) percent of its attempts. The squad has also has forced 46 turnovers over the course of the three games.
In the second halves alone during this stretch, the team has allowed just 28.0 points per game. The opposition is shooting just .380 from the field and .107 from long range.
Second Half Surges
The Kangaroos have scored 50 or more points in a half this season on three occasions. All three outbursts have come in the second halves of games. UMKC scored 61 points in the second half at Oakland on Dec. 6 and 54 points in games against Arkansas Tech and Loyola Chicago.
Blackwell Finishes With 20-Plus Points For Second Straight Game
Senior Tim Blackwell tallied his second straight 20-point game last Saturday against Loyola Chicago, as he finished with a season-high 24 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Blackwell connected on 4-of-6 three-pointers and 10-of-13 free throw attempts in the game. The 24-point showing is the second highest output for the guard in 92 career games.
The Cameron, Mo., native has posted a pair of 20-point games this season and six such games in his UMKC career. He has scored in double figures in five games on the year and in 35 games in his career..
Hamilton Is Strong For UMKC
Freshman Reggie Hamilton scored in double figures for the third straight game and for the 11th time in 13 games this season. The guard finished with 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting against Loyola Chicago on Dec. 22.
The Harvey, Ill., native is second on the team in scoring with a 12.4 average. He is also leading the team in both assists (44) and steals (17) on the year.
More Than Just A Scorer
Junior Dane Brumagin has been UMKC's most consistent scorer this season, but the forward has also been one of the team's top rebounders. The Montgomery City, Mo., native has led the team on the boards in each of the last four games and in a team-best six contests on the season. His 5.2 rebounds per game are tops on the team. Against Loyola on Dec. 22, Brumagin tied a career-high with eight rebounds for the Kangaroos.
Hitting The Offensive Glass
The Kangaroos have finished with 10 or more offensive rebounds in seven of the 13 games this season. UMKC averages 11.1 offensive boards per game, which ranks fifth in The Summit League. The squad finished with a season-high 16 offensive boards in back-to-back games against Eastern Washington and Oakland earlier this season.
