UMKC Welcomes IPFW To Municipal Auditorium On Thursday Night
2/10/2010 12:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
THE SETTING
The UMKC men's basketball team will return to Municipal Auditorium for a pair of games this weekend beginning with a Thursday night match-up against IPFW. The game pitting the 'Roos against the Mastodons will begin at 7:05 p.m. and be broadcast live on Metro Sports. IPFW enters the contest tied for fifth in the league standings with a 6-7 record, while UMKC is in seventh with a 4-8 mark.
ON THE AIR
Radio: 810 AM WHB (Steven Davis - p-b-p; Steven St. John - color)
Television: Metro Sports (Neil Harwell - p-b-p; Doug Elstun - color)
Web: Roo Vision (UMKCKangaroos.com)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
LAST TIME OUT
UMKC dropped a 78-57 road decision at South Dakota State on Saturday night in Brookings. The Jackrabbits stormed out to an 18-4 lead and never looked back in the 21-point victory. Junior Jay Couisnard paced the 'Roos with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 16 of which came in the opening half.
THE COACHES
Head Coach Matt Brown is in his third season with the UMKC men's basketball program, where he has compiled an 28-58 overall record and has coached three players to all-Summit League recognition. Former forward Dane Brumagin was a second team all-league honoree and Reggie Hamilton was an all-newcomer team selection in 2007-08, while Brumagin earned an honorable mention all-league nod in 2008-09. Last season, Brown guided the 'Roos to a pair of wins over Missouri Valley Conference foes Wichita State and Bradley. It was just the third time in school history for the team to beat two MVC teams in the same season.
Dane Fife is in his fifth season as the head coach of the IPFW men's basketball program, where he has compiled a 59-82 overall record. Fife, who at 30 is the youngest current NCAA Division I men's basketball coach, has guided the Mastodons to a double digit win total in each of his four seasons on the sidelines.
UMKC-IPFW - FIRST MEETING - JAN. 16, 2010
The Kangaroos dropped a 78-69 road decision at IPFW on Jan. 16 at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. UMKC trailed by eight points at the break before the 'Dons stretched their lead to as many as 21 midway through the second half. The 'Roos had just one player finish in double digits with Trey McKinney-Jones leading the way with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Four IPFW players were in double figures with Jeremy Mixon pacing the squad with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Forward Deilvez Yearby, meanwhile, was one block shy of a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks.
SCOUTING IPFW
The Mastodons bring a two-game losing streak into Thursday night's contest that has dropped their record to 11-12 overall and 6-7 in league play.
Two IPFW players are averaging in double figures in scoring with Deilvez Yearby pacing the way with 14.8 points on 44.6 percent shooting. The forward is also pacing the squad with 8.9 rebounds and 57 blocks on the year. Guard Ben Botts is second on the team with an 11.7 average, while shooting 44.5 percent from long range with 53 treys.
The 'Dons are shooting .418 from the floor, .363 from long range and .682 from the charity stripe en route to 67.9 points per game. The squad is also getting out rebounded by a margin of 1.7 per game.
IPFW GAME NOTES
• Last weekend, IPFW dropped home games to Oral Roberts (71-68) and Centenary (80-78) at Memorial Coliseum by a collective five points. Prior to the losing streak, the 'Dons were on a three-game winning streak, as they posted road victories at North Dakota State, Western Illinois and IUPUI. Both the IUPUI and ORU games went to OT.
• The 'Dons are third in The Summit League with a .363 three-point field goal percentage and 158 three-point field goals. Individually, Ben Botts is second with a .445 three-point clip and fourth in three-point makes with 53.
• Deilvez Yearby ranks second in the league in rebounding (8.9), third in blocks (2.6) and ninth in scoring (14.8).
THE SERIES
Thursday's game will be the seventh meeting all-time between UMKC and IPFW with the series being even at three apiece. The two squads have defended their home courts in the series as neither team has been able to post a road victory.
'ROO TIDBITS
• After playing 192-of-200 minutes over the previous five games, Jay Couisnard was limited to just 24 minutes in the road loss at South Dakota State. During the six-game stretch, however, the forward has been extremely productive, averaging 17.8 points per game on 51.4 percent shooting.
• Sophomore LaTreze Mushatt reached double digits for the first time in four games at North Dakota State, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. The forward scored 10 straight 'Roo points over an eight-minute stretch late in the second half, which included the go-ahead bucket with 1:18 left.
• Trey McKinney-Jones did not make a field goal and averaged just 3.0 points per game during UMKC's road trip to the Dakotas. The guard was a combined 0-for-7 with six turnovers in the two contests.
• Junior Spencer Johnson is in a rut over the past four contests, as he is averaging 3.0 points on 5-of-24 shooting (.208) and .222 (2-9) from long range. The forward, however, is pulling down six boards per game during the stretch.
• Sophomore Dustin Dibble did not make the road trip to the Dakotas last weekend after suffering a concussion in the Tuesday practice leading up to the games.
• Junior Bakari Lewis has four or more assists in six of the last 10 games to give him a team-high 62 assists on the year. In league games, Lewis is fourth with 45 assists (3.8 p/game) and he's second in the league with a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• UMKC limited Western Illinois to a .373 field goal percentage on Jan. 21. The mark was the lowest shooting percentage for a Division I opponent this season.
• Sophomore Trey McKinney-Jones is sixth in The Summit League in field goal percentage at .494 (84-170). He is one of just four guards among the top-10 in the category.
• UMKC committed just nine turnovers in the road loss at Southern Utah on Jan. 30. It was the fifth game this season that the squad has finished with 10 or fewer turnovers.
• The X factor? UMKC is 7-3 this season when junior Spencer Johnson reaches double figures.
• Junior Spencer Johnson has moved into the top-15 in UMKC history in career rebounding, ranking 11th with 386 caroms. He also ranks 27th in the record books in career scoring with 578 points.
• Freshman Kirk Korver has made two or more three pointers in eight games on the season and he is one of four 'Roo players tied for the team lead with 22 long balls.
• Foul trouble has been consistently plaguing junior Jay Couisnard, as the forward has had four or more fouls in 14 games with five disqualifications.
• The 'Roos are 7-1 on the year when attempting more free throws than its opposition with its lone loss coming at IPFW on Jan. 16.
• In wins, UMKC is averaging 72.7 points on .455 shooting from the floor and .358 from long range in victories. The squad has also shot 60 more free throws than its opponent. The opposition, meanwhile, shoots .432 from the field, .356 from distance and averages 17.5 turnovers per game.
• In losses, the 'Roos average 60.8 points with a .408 field goal percentage and a .338 mark from three-point land. The opposition, meanwhile, shoots .495 from the floor, .358 from long range and has attempted 121 more free throws than UMKC.
• The 'Roos are shooting .448 from the floor and .363 from long range at home and .412 from the field and .333 from long range on the road.
• In five games at Municipal, UMKC is shooting .407 from the floor, .350 from long range and .707 from the charity stripe. In contrast, the opposition is shooting .435 from the field, .321 from three-point land and .725 from the free throw stripe.
• Junior Spencer Johnson has made 46 consecutive starts and has started 53 of the last 54 contests.
• UMKC's reserves average 18.4 points per game.
'ROOS REACH DOUBLE DIGITS; TOP 08-09 LEAGUE WIN TOTAL
UMKC reached double digits (10) in victories with its 58-56 win at North Dakota State on Feb. 4. The win was also the squad's fourth league victory which tops last season's final win total. The 'Roos have already surpassed the 2008-09 overall win (7) and road win totals (3).
OH SO CLOSE
During the current streak where the 'Roos have dropped seven-of-nine games, five of the games have been decided by five points or less.
J.C. JOINS D-D CLUB
Junior Jay Couisnard recorded his first career double-double at North Dakota State, finishing with 18 points and 13 rebounds. The 13 caroms were a career-high for the Houston, Texas, native. Couisnard is the third 'Roo player to record a double-double this season along with Spencer Johnson and LaTreze Mushatt.
UNDERSIZED JOHNSON CONTINUES BATTLING ON THE BOARDS
Junior Spencer Johnson grabbed 10 boards in the road win at North Dakota State on Feb. 4. The performance was his third double digit rebound game this season and the 10th of his UMKC career. The Illinois native is pacing the squad on the glass for the second straight year, pulling down a team-high 5.8 boards per game. Should Johnson continue to lead the squad on the glass, he will become the first player since Jimmy Keller (1997-99) to pace the team on the boards in consecutive seasons.
MUSHATT BREAKS OUT OF MINI-SLUMP
Sophomore LaTreze Mushatt broke out of his mini-slump, by finishing with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the road win at North Dakota State. The performance was the forward's first game in double digits in four games and it came on the heels of him playing just five minutes at Southern Utah.
On the year, Mushatt has provided the 'Roos with a steady scoring option, as he has reached double figures in 13 contests on the year. In the road win at Centenary on Dec. 5, the Michigan native tallied his first career double-double, as he finished with 17 points and 10 boards.
Mushatt is averaging 10.5 points, while shooting .457 from the floor. He is also second on the team with 5.3 rebounds per game, while also dishing out 43 assists, which are the third most on the team.
COOZY HITS 20-POINT MARK FOR FOURTH TIME THIS SEASON
Junior Jay Couisnard notched his fourth 20-point game of the season despite playing just 24 minutes due to foul trouble in the road loss at South Dakota State. The forward finished with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting with 16 points coming in the first half.
Couisnard has been UMKC's most consistent scorer, as he's reached double figures in a team-best 19 games. The forward has been the team's leading scorer in each of the past three games and in 13 contests on the year. He has also surpassed the 15-point mark in 10 games. His career-best performance came in his return to his hometown of Houston, when he netted 24 points in the win at Houston Baptist.
On the year, Couisnard is pacing the team and ranks 11th in The Summit League with a 14.0 points per game average, while shooting .423 from the floor and .367 from long range. He also leads the team in free throw makes (85) and attempts (125).
JUST TREY-MENDOUS
Sophomore guard Trey McKinney-Jones has shot 70 percent or better from the floor in five games and 50 percent or better in 13 contests. The guard made 8-of-9 shots in the win at Centenary on Dec. 5 as the 88.9 percentage is the high mark for a 'Roo player this season. Overall, McKinney-Jones ranks sixth in the league with a .494 shooting clip, and he has the highest field goal percentage among guards in the league.
The UMKC men's basketball team will return to Municipal Auditorium for a pair of games this weekend beginning with a Thursday night match-up against IPFW. The game pitting the 'Roos against the Mastodons will begin at 7:05 p.m. and be broadcast live on Metro Sports. IPFW enters the contest tied for fifth in the league standings with a 6-7 record, while UMKC is in seventh with a 4-8 mark.
ON THE AIR
Radio: 810 AM WHB (Steven Davis - p-b-p; Steven St. John - color)
Television: Metro Sports (Neil Harwell - p-b-p; Doug Elstun - color)
Web: Roo Vision (UMKCKangaroos.com)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
LAST TIME OUT
UMKC dropped a 78-57 road decision at South Dakota State on Saturday night in Brookings. The Jackrabbits stormed out to an 18-4 lead and never looked back in the 21-point victory. Junior Jay Couisnard paced the 'Roos with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 16 of which came in the opening half.
THE COACHES
Head Coach Matt Brown is in his third season with the UMKC men's basketball program, where he has compiled an 28-58 overall record and has coached three players to all-Summit League recognition. Former forward Dane Brumagin was a second team all-league honoree and Reggie Hamilton was an all-newcomer team selection in 2007-08, while Brumagin earned an honorable mention all-league nod in 2008-09. Last season, Brown guided the 'Roos to a pair of wins over Missouri Valley Conference foes Wichita State and Bradley. It was just the third time in school history for the team to beat two MVC teams in the same season.
Dane Fife is in his fifth season as the head coach of the IPFW men's basketball program, where he has compiled a 59-82 overall record. Fife, who at 30 is the youngest current NCAA Division I men's basketball coach, has guided the Mastodons to a double digit win total in each of his four seasons on the sidelines.
UMKC-IPFW - FIRST MEETING - JAN. 16, 2010
The Kangaroos dropped a 78-69 road decision at IPFW on Jan. 16 at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. UMKC trailed by eight points at the break before the 'Dons stretched their lead to as many as 21 midway through the second half. The 'Roos had just one player finish in double digits with Trey McKinney-Jones leading the way with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Four IPFW players were in double figures with Jeremy Mixon pacing the squad with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Forward Deilvez Yearby, meanwhile, was one block shy of a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks.
SCOUTING IPFW
The Mastodons bring a two-game losing streak into Thursday night's contest that has dropped their record to 11-12 overall and 6-7 in league play.
Two IPFW players are averaging in double figures in scoring with Deilvez Yearby pacing the way with 14.8 points on 44.6 percent shooting. The forward is also pacing the squad with 8.9 rebounds and 57 blocks on the year. Guard Ben Botts is second on the team with an 11.7 average, while shooting 44.5 percent from long range with 53 treys.
The 'Dons are shooting .418 from the floor, .363 from long range and .682 from the charity stripe en route to 67.9 points per game. The squad is also getting out rebounded by a margin of 1.7 per game.
IPFW GAME NOTES
• Last weekend, IPFW dropped home games to Oral Roberts (71-68) and Centenary (80-78) at Memorial Coliseum by a collective five points. Prior to the losing streak, the 'Dons were on a three-game winning streak, as they posted road victories at North Dakota State, Western Illinois and IUPUI. Both the IUPUI and ORU games went to OT.
• The 'Dons are third in The Summit League with a .363 three-point field goal percentage and 158 three-point field goals. Individually, Ben Botts is second with a .445 three-point clip and fourth in three-point makes with 53.
• Deilvez Yearby ranks second in the league in rebounding (8.9), third in blocks (2.6) and ninth in scoring (14.8).
THE SERIES
Thursday's game will be the seventh meeting all-time between UMKC and IPFW with the series being even at three apiece. The two squads have defended their home courts in the series as neither team has been able to post a road victory.
'ROO TIDBITS
• After playing 192-of-200 minutes over the previous five games, Jay Couisnard was limited to just 24 minutes in the road loss at South Dakota State. During the six-game stretch, however, the forward has been extremely productive, averaging 17.8 points per game on 51.4 percent shooting.
• Sophomore LaTreze Mushatt reached double digits for the first time in four games at North Dakota State, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. The forward scored 10 straight 'Roo points over an eight-minute stretch late in the second half, which included the go-ahead bucket with 1:18 left.
• Trey McKinney-Jones did not make a field goal and averaged just 3.0 points per game during UMKC's road trip to the Dakotas. The guard was a combined 0-for-7 with six turnovers in the two contests.
• Junior Spencer Johnson is in a rut over the past four contests, as he is averaging 3.0 points on 5-of-24 shooting (.208) and .222 (2-9) from long range. The forward, however, is pulling down six boards per game during the stretch.
• Sophomore Dustin Dibble did not make the road trip to the Dakotas last weekend after suffering a concussion in the Tuesday practice leading up to the games.
• Junior Bakari Lewis has four or more assists in six of the last 10 games to give him a team-high 62 assists on the year. In league games, Lewis is fourth with 45 assists (3.8 p/game) and he's second in the league with a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• UMKC limited Western Illinois to a .373 field goal percentage on Jan. 21. The mark was the lowest shooting percentage for a Division I opponent this season.
• Sophomore Trey McKinney-Jones is sixth in The Summit League in field goal percentage at .494 (84-170). He is one of just four guards among the top-10 in the category.
• UMKC committed just nine turnovers in the road loss at Southern Utah on Jan. 30. It was the fifth game this season that the squad has finished with 10 or fewer turnovers.
• The X factor? UMKC is 7-3 this season when junior Spencer Johnson reaches double figures.
• Junior Spencer Johnson has moved into the top-15 in UMKC history in career rebounding, ranking 11th with 386 caroms. He also ranks 27th in the record books in career scoring with 578 points.
• Freshman Kirk Korver has made two or more three pointers in eight games on the season and he is one of four 'Roo players tied for the team lead with 22 long balls.
• Foul trouble has been consistently plaguing junior Jay Couisnard, as the forward has had four or more fouls in 14 games with five disqualifications.
• The 'Roos are 7-1 on the year when attempting more free throws than its opposition with its lone loss coming at IPFW on Jan. 16.
• In wins, UMKC is averaging 72.7 points on .455 shooting from the floor and .358 from long range in victories. The squad has also shot 60 more free throws than its opponent. The opposition, meanwhile, shoots .432 from the field, .356 from distance and averages 17.5 turnovers per game.
• In losses, the 'Roos average 60.8 points with a .408 field goal percentage and a .338 mark from three-point land. The opposition, meanwhile, shoots .495 from the floor, .358 from long range and has attempted 121 more free throws than UMKC.
• The 'Roos are shooting .448 from the floor and .363 from long range at home and .412 from the field and .333 from long range on the road.
• In five games at Municipal, UMKC is shooting .407 from the floor, .350 from long range and .707 from the charity stripe. In contrast, the opposition is shooting .435 from the field, .321 from three-point land and .725 from the free throw stripe.
• Junior Spencer Johnson has made 46 consecutive starts and has started 53 of the last 54 contests.
• UMKC's reserves average 18.4 points per game.
'ROOS REACH DOUBLE DIGITS; TOP 08-09 LEAGUE WIN TOTAL
UMKC reached double digits (10) in victories with its 58-56 win at North Dakota State on Feb. 4. The win was also the squad's fourth league victory which tops last season's final win total. The 'Roos have already surpassed the 2008-09 overall win (7) and road win totals (3).
OH SO CLOSE
During the current streak where the 'Roos have dropped seven-of-nine games, five of the games have been decided by five points or less.
J.C. JOINS D-D CLUB
Junior Jay Couisnard recorded his first career double-double at North Dakota State, finishing with 18 points and 13 rebounds. The 13 caroms were a career-high for the Houston, Texas, native. Couisnard is the third 'Roo player to record a double-double this season along with Spencer Johnson and LaTreze Mushatt.
UNDERSIZED JOHNSON CONTINUES BATTLING ON THE BOARDS
Junior Spencer Johnson grabbed 10 boards in the road win at North Dakota State on Feb. 4. The performance was his third double digit rebound game this season and the 10th of his UMKC career. The Illinois native is pacing the squad on the glass for the second straight year, pulling down a team-high 5.8 boards per game. Should Johnson continue to lead the squad on the glass, he will become the first player since Jimmy Keller (1997-99) to pace the team on the boards in consecutive seasons.
MUSHATT BREAKS OUT OF MINI-SLUMP
Sophomore LaTreze Mushatt broke out of his mini-slump, by finishing with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the road win at North Dakota State. The performance was the forward's first game in double digits in four games and it came on the heels of him playing just five minutes at Southern Utah.
On the year, Mushatt has provided the 'Roos with a steady scoring option, as he has reached double figures in 13 contests on the year. In the road win at Centenary on Dec. 5, the Michigan native tallied his first career double-double, as he finished with 17 points and 10 boards.
Mushatt is averaging 10.5 points, while shooting .457 from the floor. He is also second on the team with 5.3 rebounds per game, while also dishing out 43 assists, which are the third most on the team.
COOZY HITS 20-POINT MARK FOR FOURTH TIME THIS SEASON
Junior Jay Couisnard notched his fourth 20-point game of the season despite playing just 24 minutes due to foul trouble in the road loss at South Dakota State. The forward finished with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting with 16 points coming in the first half.
Couisnard has been UMKC's most consistent scorer, as he's reached double figures in a team-best 19 games. The forward has been the team's leading scorer in each of the past three games and in 13 contests on the year. He has also surpassed the 15-point mark in 10 games. His career-best performance came in his return to his hometown of Houston, when he netted 24 points in the win at Houston Baptist.
On the year, Couisnard is pacing the team and ranks 11th in The Summit League with a 14.0 points per game average, while shooting .423 from the floor and .367 from long range. He also leads the team in free throw makes (85) and attempts (125).
JUST TREY-MENDOUS
Sophomore guard Trey McKinney-Jones has shot 70 percent or better from the floor in five games and 50 percent or better in 13 contests. The guard made 8-of-9 shots in the win at Centenary on Dec. 5 as the 88.9 percentage is the high mark for a 'Roo player this season. Overall, McKinney-Jones ranks sixth in the league with a .494 shooting clip, and he has the highest field goal percentage among guards in the league.
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