'Roos Travel to New Mexico for Final Tune-Up Before Summit Play Resumes
12/21/2011 6:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TV: None
Radio: 810 AM (Steven Davis)
Webcast: None
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via UNM)
THE GAME
The Kangaroos will finish their two-game road swing with a trip to New Mexico to face the Lobos at The Pit. UMKC tips off the contest at 8:00 p.m (Central) against the red-hot Lobos, who have won seven in a row coming in. The Kangaroos have won six of their last eight contests.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
New Mexico comes into the contest on a seven-game win streak, with victories over the likes of Oklahoma State and USC.
They are led by sophomore guards Tony Snell at 13.4 points per game, and Kendall Williams at 11.1 points per outing. Senior forward Drew Gordon is averaging a double-double with 11.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per outing.
The Lobos allow only 55.9 points per game while holding opponents to 36.3 percent from the floor. The Lobos also out-rebound opponents by 8.8 per contest, while outscoring them by 15.5 per outing.
THE COACHES
Matt Brown is in his fifth season as the head coach of the UMKC men's basketball program, and comes off his most successful season at the helm. In 2010-11, he posted his first winning record at 16-14 overall. The 'Roos also posted the third-most home wins in school history, going 11-4 in Kansas City, and the third-most overall wins in program history.
Brown joined the 'Roos as the eighth head coach in school history on April 12, 2007. In his five seasons as head coach, Brown has guided UMKC to a 49-83 overall record and has coached seven players to all-Summit League recognition.
Steve Alford is in his fifth season as the head coach at New Mexico, and has a 107-41 record there. Overall as a head coach, he is 415-224 overall. He coached at Iowa and Missouri State during his coaching career before UNM. He was also a two-time All-American as a player at Indiana, leading them to a National Championship in 1987.
THE SERIES
The Kangaroos and Lobos are meeting for the first time ever. The Kangaroos are 1-1 against opponents from the Mountain West, going 1-1 against Air Force during a home-and-home series in 1990.
Matt Brown has a 0-0 mark against UNM and is 0-0 vs. the Mountain West, while Steve Alford is 1-0 vs. UMKC while at Missouri State in 1998-99.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- UMKC would have defeated New Mexico for the first time in school history.
- UMKC would go into full conference play with a winning record in non-conference action at 7-5.
- UMKC would improve to 2-4 on the road in non-conference action.