UMKC Continues Tough Road Swing at Oklahoma State Tuesday
12/28/2015 3:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (7-6) at Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-4)
Date / Time: December 29 - 6 p.m. CT
Site: Stillwater, Okla. / Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611)
TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma-Plus (Regional)
Talent: Mike Wolfe (pxp) Bryndon Manzer (analyst)
Listen:UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream: None
Live Stats: OkState.com
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #RooUp
Series: Oklahoma State leads 6-0
Home: 0-3
Away: 0-2
Neutral: 0-1
Last Meeting: OSU won 62-50 in KC, 12/19/01
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC is the last of five “Power 5” conference teams this season on Tuesday, the most for a UMKC team since the 1996-97 season when it also played five (All 5 were Big 12 teams that season).
- Darius Austin became the first player other than Martez Harrison or LaVell Boyd to lead UMKC in scoring last time out against UNCW, scoring a career-best 16 points.
- Martez Harrison did not shoot a free throw last time out vs. UNCW. It was only the second time in his 76 career games he has not attempted at least one in a game (12/9/14 vs. Iowa State).
- UMKC is ranked No. 142 in the RPI rankings as of Wednesday, the second highest RPI in the WAC.
- The Roos have attempted fewer threes than their opponent in eight of their last 10 games, and are 5-1 this year when attempting 16 or fewer threes in a game.
- Since its loss to Omaha, UMKC is 5-0 in games decided by seven points or less.
- Martez Harrison is the WAC's active career leader in points (1,289), threes made (100), free throws made (401), steals (128), and assists (305).
- The Roos 7-6 record is the best start since 2010 when it started 7-4.
- Martez Harrison passed Michael Watson for second on the all-time free throws made list and now has 401. He also passed Ronnie Schmitz for fifth on the all-time assists list with 305.
- UMKC is 12-1 in its last 13 home games.
- The Kangaroos are 6-0 at home to start the year for the first time since 2010 when they went 7-0.
- Martez Harrison ranks 47th in the nation in assists (62), while his 80 free throw attempts are 38th and 59 free throw makes are 44th in the country.
- LaVell Boyd is 63rd in the nation in three-pointers made (33).
- UMKC has now defeated an SEC school for the second straight year after the win over Mississippi State (defeated Missouri last season).
- The 'Roos are facing 10 schools this season that went to postseason tournaments last year (South Dakota St., UT-Martin, Iowa, Louisville, UNC-Wilmington, Oklahoma St., USC-Upstate, Seattle, New Mexico State and Grand Canyon). So far UMKC is 2-3 against those teams.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Cowboys enter the contest with a 7-4 overall record, including wins over Minnesota and Long Beach State. They also defeated another common opponent in UT-Martin.
They are missing their leading scorer, Phil Forte, who has been out due to injury, but are paced by four others in double figures. Leyton Hammonds leads the way at 11.4 per contest, while Jeff Newberry puts up 11.1 points, Chris Oliver at 10.2 points and Jawun Evans at 10.1 per game.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 31-45 record. He was named the sixth coach in the Division I era on March 19, 2013 after helping Louisville to a National Championship in 2013 as an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
His second season in Kansas City as the head man was another step in the right direction in 2014-15, and generated several program firsts. The 8-6 WAC record was the first above .500 at UMKC since 2005-06, and its second place finish matched the highest ever in league play. UMKC finished with a 6-1 WAC home record, the best in school history in conference play.
Travis Ford is in his eighth year at OSU, posting a 150-95 record there. Overall as a head coach, including stops at Eastern Kentucky and UMass, in 19 seasons he is 340-241. He has taken the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament the last three years and produced 6 NBA players in his tenure there.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are 0-6 against OSU all-time in Division I (since 1987), last meeting in 2001 (OSU won 62-50 in Kansas City). In Stillwater, the 'Roos are 0-2, with the last contest there taking place in 1992.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have defeated its third opponent this year that played in a postseason tournament last year.
- The 'Roos would have won eight non-conference games for the first time since 2001-02.
- Missouri-Kansas City would have won for the 14th time against a power five school.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will play at USC-Upstate this Saturday on the road at 1 p.m.
The 'Roos are 0-1 against the Spartans all-time, with the only meeting coming in Kansas City last season by a 61-49 margin. USCU is led by Eddie Payne, who coached Kareem Richardson for a season when he played at East Carolina.
