UMKC Looks to Win Third Straight, Make Trek to Southern Utah
1/25/2012 10:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UMKC (9-13, 3-7 SL) at Southern Utah (10-10, 4-4 SL)
The Centrum * Cedar City, Utah * 8:00 p.m. (Central)
Radio: 810 AM (Steven Davis)
THE GAME
The Kangaroos head out for a three-game road swing after winning both games in their last home stand. The trip will be a farewell tour of sorts, as both opponents will be leaving the Summit League at the end of the season. Southern Utah is the first opponent on Thursday, with the game set for 7 pm local time.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Southern Utah is 10-10 overall, and 4-4 in conference play. The Thunderbirds are in the third game of a four-game home stand, defeating IPFW and losing to OU.
They are led by a balanced attack with five players averaging at least nine points per game. Junior Jackson Stevenett leads the way with 13.9 points per game, while Ramell Taylor is at 13.0, Damon Heuir at 10.7, while Stevenett is the leading rebounder at 5.3.
SUU averages 68.2 points per game, and allows 69.3 per contest. The T-birds out-rebound opponents by 2.5 per outing, and hit 48.3 percent of their shots. Last time they faced UMKC they attempted only two threes, and scored a season-best 91 points.
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 51-90 overall record and has coached seven players to all-Summit League recognition.
Roger Reid is in his fifth season with the Thunderbirds, posting a 50-90 record. His overall mark is 202-166, also coaching at BYU for seven seasons and earning five NCAA Tournament berths. A 38-year coaching veteran, he has also coached in the NBA, and the junior college ranks.
THE SERIES The Kangaroos and Thunderbirds are meeting for the 34th time, with UMKC holding a 17-16 advantage. The T-birds won the meeting earlier this season in Kansas City by a 91-77 margin.
The 'Roos are 2-13 in Cedar City, but snapped an eight-game losing streak there last season, winning 71-68. This is the last trip to SUU in conference play.
Matt Brown has a 4-5 mark against SUU, while Roger Reid is 5-4 vs. UMKC.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- UMKC would have won three consecutive games in Summit League play for the first time since January 20-27 of last season, and only the second time ever under Matt Brown.
- UMKC would have back-to-back wins over teams that defeated them earlier this season.
- UMKC would have only its second win since 2003 at SUU, and third all time.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
- Dustin Dibble could be playing in his 102nd career college basketball game on Thursday, and needs just three more games to crack the UMKC top 10.
- Reggie Chamberlain now has 116 career threes and needs two more to take sole possession of ninth. His current 2.8 made per game is third all-time at UMKC, while his percentage of .422 would be second.
- Chamberlain is now 18th on the all-time scoring list at UMKC (started the season 49th). He has 719 points now, and is the 19th player to reach 700 pts at UMKC. He needs 18 points to pass Will Palmer in 17th.
