Kansas City
Southern Utah
UMKC Outlast Southern Utah For 71-68 Win
2/5/2011 9:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cedar City, Utah -- The UMKC men's basketball team (14-9, 7-5) held on for a 71-68 win over Southern Utah on Saturday night at Centrum Arena. UMKC dominated the game from the three-point line, out-shooting the Thunderbirds 43.5 percent (10-23) to 18.5 percent (2-11).
Senior Jay Couisnard led the 'Roos with 22 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block, while junior Reggie Chamberlain also finished with 22 points to go along with four assists and two rebounds. Senior Spencer Johnson was the only other 'Roos in double figures with 16 points, while the forward also added 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season.
In the game, the Thunderbirds struck first, but four straight from the 'Roos gave them their first lead of the contest at 4-2.
The two teams then traded baskets before a 4-0 run from Southern Utah put them pack on top by two.
Back-to-Back threes from Bakari Lewis and Johnson helped the 'Roos recapture the lead at 12-8, but a 9-0 run from SUU gave them the lead at 17-12 with 12:46 left to play in the half.
UMKC responded to the T-Bird rally with seven straight to change the lead again with the 'Roos leading 19-17.
The Kangaroos then went cold from the floor, going nearly six minutes without scoring and falling behind 24-19 before a Couisnard three cut the lead to two.
After a Thunderbird basket, seven straight points from Spencer Johnson gave UMKC a 29-26 advantage with 3:14 to play in the first.
Five straight points from SUU changed the lead for the eighth time in the half, but Trinity Hall found Max Rockmann wide open under the basket to knot the game at 31.
Southern Utah though, closed the half with the final basket to take a 33-31 lead into the break.
Coming out of halftime, Reggie Chamberlain buried a floater and a three in the first 1:09 of the half to put UMKC on top 36-35.
SUU then scored five of the next six points before a 5-0 run by UMKC tied the game at 42 with 15:48 to play in the second half.
Southern Utah then retook the lead with four straight points, but back-to-back field goals from Couisnard and Chamberlain retied the game for the 11th time at 46-46.
A 6-2 run from the T-Birds extended their lead to four, but a three-point play from Couisnard with 9:44 on the clock cut the lead to one.
Southern Utah then built its lead to as many as three, before a three from Couisnard put UMKC back in front 61-60 with 5:30 remaining.
After a free throw from Couisnard and a SUU layup, Chamberlain drilled another three to put the 'Roos on top 65-62.
Four straight though, from Southern Utah flipped the lead back in their favor, 66-65 with 1:30 to play.
The 'Roos answered with a Chamberlain layup and Johnson free throw, extending the lead to 68-66 with 44.6 seconds left in the second.
After a defensive stop by the 'Roos, Chamberlain stepped to the line again and pushed the UMKC lead to four.
Southern Utah's Ray Jones then trimmed the lead back to two with a pair of free throws before a Couisnard free throw put UMKC up three with 19 seconds left in the game.
The Thunderbirds had one last chance to send the game to overtime, but stifling defense by UMKC gave the 'Roos the 71-68 win.
In the game, the 'Roos finished with 14 assists as a team, while limiting Southern Utah to just 10. From the field, UMKC out-shot the T-Birds, 46.0 percent (23-50) to 40.4 percent (21-52). Overall, there were 12 ties and 13 lead changes.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Thursday when they return home to host Oral Robert at 7:05 p.m. at the Swinney Recreation Center in Kansas City.
