Kansas City
Southeast Missouri State
'Roos Down SEMO, 70-62, To Open Season 3-0
11/20/2010 10:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC men's basketball team (3-0) continued its perfect start on Saturday night, picking up a 70-62 win over Southeast Missouri State (0-3) at the Swinney Recreation Center. In the game, the 'Roos out-shot the Redhawks from the field, 50 percent to 37.3 percent, including, 46.7 percent to 28.6 from three-point range.
Senior Bakari Lewis led the 'Roos scoring attack, registering a season-high 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-4 from downtown. Fellow senior Jay Couisnard was the only other UMKC player in double-figure, finishing with 14 points to go along with five rebounds and a career-high four blocks.
The Redhawks took early control of the contest, opening the game on an 8-3 run, before extending their lead to as many as six. UMKC would answer with a 13-3 run capped by a Spencer Johnson jumper with 11:13 to play in the first half.
UMKC would then build their lead to as many as five at 23-18, before SEMO began its comeback, closing the half out on an 11-4 run to take a 29-27 lead into the half.
The Redhawks would open up the second half with the first basket, but the 'Roos would quickly respond with a 17-5 run featuring eight points from Lewis that pushed their lead to eight at 44-36 with 12:37 remaining.
UMKC would then extend its lead to as many as 13 at 62-49 on a pair of Lewis free throws before closing out the contest, 70-62.
In the game, Spencer Johnson finished with a game-high seven rebounds along with six points, while sophomore Max Rockmann registered nine points on 3-of-4 shooting in 15 minutes of action. On the glass, the 'Roos out-rebounds SEMO 37-30, while recording seven blocks.
The Blue and Gold will be back in action again on Wednesday when they welcome in SIU Edwardsville to the SRC for a 7:05 p.m. tip.
