'Roos Face Red-Hot Bison in Final Game of the Season at Municipal Auditorium
1/4/2013 3:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NDSU Head Coach: Saul Phillips (Wisconsin-Plattville, 1996)
Record at NDSU: 96-70 (6th year) Career Record: Same
UMKC Head Coach: Matt Brown (Shippensburg, 1994)
Record at UMKC: 60-109* (6th year) Career Record: Same
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Date / Time: January 5, 2013 - 5:15 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 8-4
Home: 3-3
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: Kansas City won 72-61 at home, 2/9/12
Brown vs. Opponent: 3-7
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THE GAME
Notables: The 'Roos look to snap a seven-game skid when they continue conference play on Saturday against the team with the best record in the conference in North Dakota State (12-3). It is the last of three home games being played at Municipal Auditorium.
Kansas City Last 5: 0-5, last time out lost vs. South Dakota State, 77-61
NDSU Last 5: 4-1, last time out won at South Dakota, 92-66
QUICK NOTES
- Kansas City is playing its third and final 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 has led the 'Roos in scoring in each of the last three games, and has scored double-figures in six consecutive games. He leads the squad with 11.1 points a game on the season.
- The 'Roos have been behind at halftime in each of the past seven games, but in the last two they have trailed by at least 22 points. Kansas City is 0-10 when trailing at the half this year.
- In the last five games, two players are averaging in double-figure points; Thomas Staton (15.0) and Estan Tyler (10.6). Fred Chatmon leads the team with 10.0 boards a game during the stretch, and has two 13 and a 16-rebound game this year already.
- Fred Chatmon's 7.6 rebounds per game this season rank third in the Summit League, while Estan Tyler's 90 percent free throw shooting is second in the conference. Thomas Staton (.454) and Tyler (.479) each rank in the league's top six in three-point shooting as well.
- 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 seven 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.
- Junior forward Trinity Hall has been out the last five games due to injury suffered on December 16. Freshman guard Mason Wedel sat out against South Dakota State due to injury as well.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
North Dakota State comes in with a Summit League best 12-3 overall mark (ranked No. 14 in the Mid-Major Top 25) and a 3-0 record in conference play. The Bison have won four in a row, including wins against both South Dakota State and South Dakota.
They are led by junior guard Taylor Braun, who ranks fourth in the league in scoring at 15.5 points per game. He also pulls down 5.4 rebounds and has 44 assists. Forward Marshall Bjorklund scores 13.1 points and a team-best 5.9 boards a game, while reining League Player of the Week Lawrence Alexander is averaging 10 points and has a team-best 58 assists.
As a team the Bison lead the conference in scoring margin at +13.7 points per game, and hold opponents to a league best 38 percent shooting. The Bison also hold opponents to only 58 points a game.
THE COACHES
Matt Brown is in his sixth season as the head coach of the UMKC men's basketball program, and has a 60-109* 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.
Saul Phillips is in his sixth season at the helm of the Bison, posting a 96-70 overall record. He led NDSU to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and to the CBI last season.
THE SERIES
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.
Matt Brown is 3-7 vs. Saul Phillips, while Phillips has an 8-4 record against Kansas City.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have defeated North Dakota State at home for the third consecutive season.
- Kansas City would have snapped a seven-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 step out of conference play briefly for a contest against Utah Valley on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.
It will be the seventh meeting between the 'Roos and Wolverines, with UVU holding a 4-2 lead in the series. Utah Valley won last season's meeting in Orem by a 58-54 score on November 19. It has won four of the last five meetings overall.
At home, Kansas City is 2-1 overall, having won the last meeting by a 70-63 score in 2010. Matt Brown is 1-1 against UVU.
