Kansas City
Western Illinois
'Roos Improve To 10-1 At Home With 55-46 Win Over Western Illinois
1/22/2011 10:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC men's basketball team (12-8, 5-4) picked up its first Summit League weekend sweep in the Matt Brown era with a 55-46 win over Western Illinois (7-12, 2-7) on Saturday night at the Swinney Recreation Center. The 'Roos out-rebounded the Leathernecks in the game 41-31, while committing a season-low nine turnovers in the contest.
Senior Spencer Johnson led the 'Roos, as the forward finished with game-highs of 16 points, 18 rebounds and three steals for his sixth double-double of the season. Senior Jay Couisnard and freshman Trinity Hall were next on the UMKC scoring list with 11 points apiece, while junior Michael Gholston, Jr., was the final 'Roo in double figures with 10.
In the first half, UMKC opened up a 20-13 lead on a three-pointer from Gholston, but an 8-2 run to close the half by the Leathernecks tied the game at 22 heading into intermission.
Coming out of halftime, WIU would score the first four points, to give them their largest lead of the game at 26-22.
The two teams would then trade the next six baskets, before a tip-in by Couisnard jumped started a 10-0 UMKC run, highlighted by a Trinity Hall dunk, to recapture the lead at 38-32 with 9:28 left to play.
The Leathernecks would not go away though, as a tip-in by Kaimarr Price with 4:20 to play closed the UMKC advantage to just two points at 44-42.
UMKC then answered with four straight on a layup from Couisnard and a jumper from Johnson to extend the lead to six with 3:10 remaining.
Three straight from WIU would trim the lead to three at 48-45, but the leathernecks could get no closer as the 'Roos closed the game out on a 7-1 run to claim the 55-46 victory.
In the game, UMKC held a 36.4 percent to 35.4 percent advantage from the field, but was out shot from three-point range 33.3 percent to 31.8 percent and from the free throw line 54.5 percent to 53.3 percent. The 'Roos, however, went to the line 30 times, while Western Illinois shot just 11 free throws.
The Blue and Gold will be back in action again on Thursday when they take on South Dakota State at 7:05 p.m. in Brookings, S.D.
