Kansas City
Oakland
'Roos' Heart Can't Overcome Grizzlies' Height In 103-90 Loss
2/24/2011 9:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC men's basketball team (16-12, 9-8) dropped a 103-90 decision to Summit League leader Oakland (21-6, 16-1) on Thursday night at the Swinney Recreation Center, despite finishing with 6-4 Dustin Dibble as its tallest player on the court. Defensively, the 'Roos forced 14 turnovers, including nine steals, five from senior Bakari Lewis, while turning the ball over a season-low five times.
Sophomore Max Rockmann led the way for the 'Roos, as the forward finished with a career-high 20 points, while Dibble had a season-high 14 points, one shy of his career-high, and a team-high six rebounds. The 'Roos starting backcourt of Lewis and junior Reggie Chamberlain, meanwhile, each netted 20 points and combined for eight assists, while senior Spencer Johnson finished with 12 points and five rebounds.
In the game, the 'Roos took their first lead at 3-2 when Rockmann buried a three for the team's first points.
After Oakland regained the advantage at 10-6, an 8-2 run by the 'Roos, capped by a layup by Lewis, put UMKC on top 14-12 with 16:26 left in the half.
A three by Chamberlain extended the 'Roos' lead to a game-high three at 20-17, but six straight by the Grizzlies gave them the edge at 23-20.
A layup by Dibble and a Michael Gholston, Jr. jumper put the 'Roos in front 24-23, before Oakland reeled off nine of the next 11 points to go ahead 32-16 at the 9:24 mark of the first half.
UMKC then pulled back to within one, but a 16-9 run over the final 8:16 of the half gave OU a 48-40 lead heading into the intermission.
Coming out of the break, Oakland pushed its lead to 13, but a 9-1 run, capped by a Lewis steal and layup, pulled UMKC to within five at 54-49 with 16:49 left in the game.
Two minutes later, Johnson committed his fifth foul with the 'Roos trailing just 57-51, leaving the 6-6 Rockmann as the their tallest player.
The Grizzlies quickly took advantage, increasing their lead to 12 at the 12:26 mark.
UMKC, however, would not go quietly, as Rockmann capped an 11-4 run over the next 2:38 with a three-pointer to cut the lead to five.
The Golden Grizzlies, though, were too tough as they extended their lead to as many as 14, allowing the 'Roos to get no closer than eight the rest of the way, before finishing with the 103-90 win.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Saturday when they wrap-up the regular season against IPFW at 7:05 p.m. at the Swinney Recreation Center where they will honor seniors Lewis, Johnson and Jay Couisnard.
