UMKC Set for First Place Showdown with Aggies Saturday
2/6/2015 7:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
New Mexico State Aggies (14-10, 6-1) at UMKC 'Roos (10-14, 5-2)
Date / Time: February 7, 2015 - 6:05 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: KSMO - Kansas City / ESPN3
Talent: Neil Harwell (pxp), JC Pearson (analyst)
Radio: 810 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream: ESPN3.com / WAC DIgital Network
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops #RooUp
Series: NMSU leads 2-1
Home: 1-0
Away: 0-2
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: NMSU won 63-45 in Las Cruces, 1/10/15
Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-2
THE GAME
The 'Roos start the second round of conference play on Saturday night in what will be a battle for first place in the WAC standings. The 6:05 p.m. game will be televised on KSMO in Kansas City, and broadcast on ESPN3.com as well. New Mexico State, the reigning WAC Tournament champions, enter on a four-game win streak, while UMKC has won two straight.
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC has started 4-0 in league play at home for the first time in school history.
- The 'Roos have improved immensely on the defensive end this season, and it has been evident in 10 of their last 11 games (save the GCU contest), holding opponents to only 61.6 points per outing. None of those 10 opponents scored more than 70.
- UMKC is in second place alone in the WAC standings entering the game with a 5-2 mark, the highest it has been in the standings seven games into conference play since 2005-06.
- So far this year, the 'Roos have forced 429 turnovers and turned them into 474 points (19.8 ppg). - UMKC ranks No. 28 in the nation in free throw attempts (542), led by Martez Harrison, who has been a WAC-high 173 times, and ranks No. 6 in the nation individually.
- As a team the 'Roos are 12th in the nation and first in the WAC in steals per game at 8.7, while ranking first in the WAC and 27th in the nation with a +2.4 turnover margin.
- Martez Harrison is leading the WAC in steals (1.9), while ranking second in scoring (18.0) and assists (3.9). He is also sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3) and fifth in free throws (.740).
- UMKC has been hit by injuries this year, with eight different scholarship players missing games due to injury, including Shayok, Smith, Holliday, Knight, Jennings, Wedel, Rivas and Franceschi.
- The roster currently has eight players from the Kansas City area, the most ever at UMKC (previous record set last season with seven).
- UMKC is playing its second year back at Municipal Auditorium, and second in the WAC.
- In Richardson's first year, he led the team to a fifth place finish in the WAC, and the fourth seed in the conference tournament, both of which were the highest since 2006 at UMKC.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Aggies come in on a four-game winning streak, and are in first place overall in the WAC standings with a 6-1 mark. Overall they are 14-10 and come in off a 69-61 overtime victory at Chicago State on Thursday night.
Individually, they have four players averaging double figures, including WAC Player of the Year Daniel Mullings at 13.3 points per game. Remi Barry is averaging 13.7 points a game, while Pascal Siakam is at 12.6 to go with 7.5 rebounds a contest. Guard Ian Baker is averaging 10 points an outing as well. As a team they boast the WAC's top defensive unit, allowing only 61.6 points per game. They also have the best rebounding team in the league with a +5.8 margin per game.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 20-34 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.
He brings 14 years of Division I coaching experience to the fold, as well as four years playing at the Division I level, graduating from Evansville in 1997.
Marvin Menzies is in his eighth season at New Mexico State and boasts a 167-99 overall record there. He has led the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament four times, winning the WAC Tournament in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. He has also led NMSU to five 20-win seasons.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are 1-2 against NMSU all-time, dropping a 63-45 decision in Las Cruces in the WAC opener earlier this year. Last time the two met in Kansas City was last year, with the 'Roos winning 68-66.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have started 5-0 at home in league play for the first time in school history, extending the current school record.
- UMKC would have won its 11th game of the season, the most since 2011 when they won 16.
- The 'Roos would have won five straight at home overall for the first time since 2010.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will get back on the road for a Valentines Day contest at Chicago State next Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be televised in Kansas City on KSMO, and streamed via ESPN3.
The 'Roos are 26-11 all-time against the Cougars, winning earlier this year in Kansas City by a 64-62 margin. This will be the 38th meeting between the schools, with UMKC taking a 10-5 lead in the series in Chicago.
