Kansas City
Utah Valley
'Roos Snap Three Game Skid With 70-63 Win Over Utah Valley
12/8/2010 11:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC men's basketball team (5-3, 0-2) snapped its three game losing streaking on Wednesday night with a 70-63 victory over Utah Valley (4-4) at the Swinney Recreation Center. For the second time this season, senior Spencer Johnson set a new career-high in rebounds with 15, to go along with 16 points, for his fourth double-double of the season.
Fellow senior Jay Couisnard and Bakari Lewis, meanwhile, were the only other 'Roos in double figures, finishing with 19 and 11 points, respectively.
In the first, the 'Roos jumped out to an early 13-7 lead after a Max Rockmann jumper in the paint.
Utah Valley would respond to UMKC's fast start with a 19-4 run, giving them a 26-17 lead with 8:26 left in the first half.
The Wolverines would go on to extend their lead to eight at 33-25, but the 'Roos then answered in a big time way.
Lewis would start the UMKC rally off with a jumper from the wing, off an assist from freshman Trinity Hall. UMKC then ended the half, 3:22 later, on a Couisnard jumper, giving them a 36-33 lead heading into the half.
The 'Roos would end the half on an 11-0 run, holding the Wolverines scoreless over the final 4:21 with Johnson leading the way with 10 rebounds and Couisnard adding 17 points.
Coming out of the break, UMKC would pick up right where it left off, scoring the first 11 points of the half capped by a Hall dunk on an assist from junior Dustin Dibble.
Utah Valley would finally end their scoreless drought with 12:54 left in the second, stopping a 22-0 UMKC run that stretched 11:27.
From there the Wolverines would use a 12-0 run to cut the UMKC lead to two at 47-45 with 9:22 remaining.
The 'Roos would again answer the UVU rally, scoring seven straight to extend their lead to nine, before building an 11 point advantage at 59-48 with 6:30 remaining in the game.
The Wolverines again battled their way back, cutting the UMKC lead to three at 63-60 with 1:15 to play, but three free throws from Reggie Chamberlain and two from Lewis in the game's final minute iced the game for the 'Roos.
On the glass, the 'Roos out-rebounded the bigger Wolverines 38-33, while limiting them to 36.5 percent shooting from the field.
The Blue and Gold will be back in action again on Saturday when it heads to Pocatello, Idaho, for an 8:05 p.m. tip-off against Idaho State.
