Kansas City Welcomes League Favorite Jackrabbits to Municipal Auditorium Thursday
1/2/2013 6:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SDSU Head Coach: Scott Nagy (Delta State, 1988)
Record at SDSU: 326-203 (18th year) Career Record: Same
UMKC Head Coach: Matt Brown (Shippensburg, 1994)
Record at UMKC: 60-108* (6th year) Career Record: Same
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Date / Time: January 3, 2013 - 7:05 p.m. CST
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: KSMO - Kansas City region
Talent: Neil Harwell (p-b-p), JC Pearson (analyst)
Radio: 102.9 FM / 1140 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Steven St. John (analyst)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (TV feed)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos
Series: Kansas City trails 8-5
Home: 3-4
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: SDSU won 75-62 in Kansas City, 2/11/12
Brown vs. Opponent: 4-6
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THE GAME
Notables: The 'Roos look to snap a six-game skid when they continue conference play on Thursday against league favorite South Dakota State. It is one of three home games being played at Municipal Auditorium, and will be the first there against a conference opponent since January of 2011.
Kansas City Last 5: 0-5, last time out lost at Omaha, 77-65
SDSU Last 5: 3-2, last time out lost at North Dakota State, 65-62
QUICK NOTES
- Kansas City is playing its second game of the season at Municipal Auditorium, the most games played in a season there since 2009-10 when it competed there nine times.
- Thomas Staton scored a career-high and team season-high 23 points against Omaha on Monday, with 21 of those points coming in the second half.
- The 'Roos 11 steals at Omaha was the first double-digit steal performance since grabbing 13 vs. Oral Roberts on 12/28/11.
- Kansas City now has two players averaging double-figure points for the first time since 11/28/12.
- Fred Chatmon's 16 rebounds vs. Kansas State are the most for a UMKC player since Spencer Johnson pulled down 18 against Western Illinois on January 22, 2011. It was also the most against a major conference team since Lonni Alexander grabbed 17 against Texas A&M on December 20, 1996.
- Sophomore point guard Estan Tyler leads the 'Roos with 30.1 minutes played per game, six more than the next closest player. He has scored his four highest career point totals this year, and has been in double figures six times already (only had four all of last year).
- Kansas City had played at least 10 players in every game but one, and at least 11 in all but three. Eight different players have scored double figure points, with seven guys leading them in points.
- In the last five games, three players are averaging in double-figure points. Estan Tyler (10.4), Thomas Staton (11.0), and Nelson Kirksey (11.0). Fred Chatmon leads the team with 8.6 boards a game during the stretch, and has two 13 and a 16-rebound game this year already.
- Junior forward Trinity Hall has been out the last four games due to injury suffered on December 16.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
South Dakota State comes in with a 10-5 overall mark and a 1-1 record in Summit League play. The Jackrabbits were picked to win the conference. They defeated previously unbeaten and nationally ranked New Mexico on Dec. 22.
They are led by preseason Summit League Player of the Year Nate Wolters, who averages 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. Jordan Dykstra puts up 12.5 points and 7.1 boards a game, while Tony Fiegen is averaging 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds a contest.
As a team the Jacks lead the conference in scoring at 71.8 points per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.3. They also shoot 45.1 percent from the field.
THE COACHES
Matt Brown is in his sixth season as the head coach of the UMKC men's basketball program, and has a 60-108* overall record at the helm. Brown joined the 'Roos as the eighth head coach in school history on April 12, 2007. He has coached eight players to All-Summit League recognition.
His most successful season came in 2010-11 when he posted his only winning record at 16-14 overall. The 'Roos also had the third-most home wins in school history, going 11-4 in Kansas City, and the third-most overall wins in program history that season.
Scott Nagy is in his 18th season at the helm of the Jackrabbits, posting a 326-203 overall record there. He led South Dakota State to the Summit League tournament title last season, earning their first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.
THE SERIES
It will be the 14th meeting between the 'Roos and Jackrabbits, with SDSU holding an 8-5 lead in the series. The Jacks have won the last two contests, and six of the last seven. The last win for UMKC came on Jan. 27, 2011 by a 63-58 score on the road.
At home, Kansas City is 3-4 overall, but have dropped the last three there. The last win at home was Jan. 15, 2009 (69-67).
Matt Brown is 4-6 vs. Scott Nagy, while Nagy has an 8-5 record against Kansas City.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have defeated South Dakota State for the first time at home since Jan. 15, 2009.
- Kansas City would have snapped a six-game losing streak overall.
- The 'Roos would have defeated a team with a winning record for the first time since taking out North Dakota State on Feb. 12, 2012.
UP NEXT
Kansas City will host North Dakota State on Saturday night at Municipal Auditorium at 5:15 p.m. The game will be televised on KSMO in the Kansas City region.
It will be the 13th meeting between the 'Roos and Bison, with NDSU holding an 8-4 lead in the series. The 'Roos won the last meeting by a 72-61 score in Kansas City on Feb. 9, 2012. The teams have split the season series in each of the last three seasons.
At home, Kansas City is 3-3 overall, having won the last two there. At Municipal Auditorium the 'Roos are 1-1 vs. the Bison.
