Kansas City
Michigan State
No. 20 Spartans Too Much For 'Roos, 89-54
12/20/2011 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Spartans (10-2) jumped out from the start in the opening half and never looked back, taking an 8-2 lead at the first media timeout, and 16-2 by the 13:19 mark. UMKC (7-6) never got closer than 10 the rest of the way, and that came with 8:40 left in the period at 21-11.
The lead grew to as many as 21 in the first stanza, but sophomore forward Trinity Hall scored the final four points of a 6-0 run to make it 15 at the 2:37 mark. Michigan State answered with the final five points of the half though, and took a 40-20 lead into the break.
MSU shot 60 percent, while holding the 'Roos to only 29.6 percent shooting. The Spartans also had a 19-13 advantage on the boards. Michigan State's Branden Dawson led all scorers with 10 points at the half.
The Spartans pushed the lead to 28 on a Dawson breakaway dunk with 16:41 on the clock, and had the margin over 40 by the 11:37 mark. MSU took the pedal off the gas from there, as the 'Roos played them just about even the rest of the way. UMKC cut the final margin to 35, and got points from all 11 players that saw the floor.
Michigan State put on a clinic, dishing out 25 assists and making 35-of-57 from the floor. It also had four players in double figures, including a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards, to go with six assists from senior Draymond Green.
UMKC shot 37.7 percent in the game, including 46.2 percent in the second half. It was out-rebounded by 10 though, and hit only 28.6 percent from three point range. It was the most points that the 'Roos have given up all season, and the highest shooting percentage allowed as well.
Hall led the 'Roos with 16 points, including a couple big dunks, while Kirk Korver tallied his second straight game in double figures with 11 points. Leading scorer Reggie Chamberlain was blanketed all night, finishing with a season-low two points.
UMKC will play another top-level opponent on Thursday as it heads to Albuquerque to face New Mexico at "The Pit". Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. (Central).
