Kansas City
Seattle
Roos Drop Tight Contest at Seattle, 65-55
2/6/2016 10:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
(Seattle, Wash.) - The UMKC men's basketball team played solid defense, but couldn't get shots to fall on offense, dropping a 65-55 contest on the road at Seattle Saturday night.
UMKC (9-15, 2-7 WAC) never led in the opening period, having issues with turnovers. UMKC made 11 miscues that led to 13 points on the other end for Seattle (12-11, 6-3 WAC). UMKC trailed by as many as eight points with 3:54 to play in the half, but closed the period with some key stops to get the margin down to 27-25 at the half.
UMKC played tough on defense, holding SU to only 33 percent, but the Redhawks were strong as well, holding the Roos to only 37 percent shooting. Kyle Steward and LaVell Boyd each tallied six to lead the Roos, but as a team it was mostly jump shots with only four points in the paint. SU had 14 points inside, and an 18-15 rebound advantage.
The second half saw UMKC tie the game at 29 early on, but it couldn't take the lead. The Redhawks answered each time the Roos got close. UMKC cut it to one on a Martez Harrison three with 13:52 to play, and again on a pair of free throws with 12:15 on the clock. SU scored the next five points though, and kept the Roos at arm's length.
The Roos cut it back down to five at 50-45 with 5:16 to play, and a Harrison three went in and out that nearly got it to two. Seattle made the Roos pay, hitting a three on the other end of the floor to make it an eight point lead. UMKC could get no closer than five the rest of the way.
The Redhawks shot 50 percent in the second half, while UMKC hit only 31 percent. Somehow the Roos kept it close, despite a 39-28 rebound deficit and 17 turnovers to only six assists. The Roos scored only 12 points in the paint, while SU scored 24. Also, the Redhawks had a 10-0 lead in fastbreak points.
UMKC was paced by Harrison with 22 points, while Boyd tallied 11 points. Steward finished with a team-high eight rebounds.
UMKC returns home next Saturday to face UTRGV in a 2:05 p.m. tipoff.
