UMKC Faces North Dakota in Non-Conference Contest Wednesday
12/6/2011 8:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Radio: 810 AM (Steven Davis, Steven St. John)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (Roos TV)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
THE GAME
The Kangaroos head back into non-conference play for five games, starting with their first home game since Nov. 16 when they face North Dakota on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Swinney Recreation Center. UMKC comes in winning three of its last four games, all away from home.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
North Dakota comes in with a 4-3 overall record after droppiing a 76-63 decision at Idaho State, a team it had beat at home earlier in the year. The Fighting Sioux also lost to Summit League member Western Illinois by three at home.
They are led by four players in double figures with four sophomores in the starting lineup. UND returned all five starters from a year ago. Sophomore guard Troy Huff has a team best 14.7 points and 6.6 boards per game, while guard Aaron Anderson puts up 13.7 per contest. lone senior starter Patrick Mitchell leads the post position with 12.3 points per outing.
The Fighting Sioux average 73.1 points per game while holding opponents to a 67.9 percent clip. They also hit seven three per game, and shoot .433 from the field.
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 46-82 overall record and has coached seven players to all-Summit League recognition.
Brian Jones is in his sixth season as the head coach at North Dakota, posting a 73-85 overall record. He led the team to a 19-15 overall record last season.
THE SERIES
The Kangaroos and Fighting Sioux are meeting for the foruth time overall, playing in each of the last four years, with UMKC holding a 2-1 advantage. The 'Roos won last season's meeting by a 69-61 score in Kansas City, and are 1-1 at home against UND. The Kanfaroos hace won the last two meetings in the series.
Matt Brown has a 2-1 mark against North Dakota, while Brian Jones has a 1-2 mark vs. UMKC.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- UMKC would move its win streak to three against North Dakota.
- UMKC would have won its last two at home, and four of its last five games overall.
- UMKC would improve its non-conference record to 4-4, getting to .500 in that category for the first time this season.
REGGIE'S WAY
Senior guard Reggie Chamberlain made it four consecutive 20+ point games with a career-best 30-point performance Saturday at Oakland. He was also named the MVP of the "Upper Division" of the Chicago Invatational Challenge.
He has 10 career 20+ point games. He returned this season as the leading scorer with 11.6 points per game, along with 55 threes and a Summit League high free-throw percentage. He is also the only 'Roo to earn preseason honors, as College Sports Madness named him a second-team All-Summit League pick.
He leads the team and ranks fourth in the league with 19.4 points per game, and has hit 21 threes this season (2.3 per game, fourth in SL). He has scored 15+ seven times this year as well.
He is currently second in the league in free throw percentage at .857, and has hit 24 in a row from the line (school record is 32).