Saturday, November 30
Kansas City, MO
7:00 PM
Kansas City
5-4,0-0WAC
68
vs
67
Western Illinois
2-5,0-0Summit League
1
2
F
Western Ill.
27
40
67
Kansas City
39
29
68
Hardnett Nails Pair of Free Throws Sending Roos to MBB Win
11/30/2019 8:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Men's Basketball senior guard Jahshire Hardnett scored a team-high 19 points and most importantly made 2-of-2 free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining sending the Roos to a 68-67 victory against Western Illinois (2-5) tonight from the Swinney Center. The Roos (5-4) led 39-27 at halftime and by as many as 18 in the first 20 minutes. But the hosts had to survive at the end to move to 3-0 at home this year.
Senior forward Javan White came away with his third double-double in his last five games after a 12-point, 13-rebound effort tonight. He also added five assists. Junior guard Marvin Nesbitt Jr., chipped in 12 points and five boards for the Roos.
"We're a growing basketball team," said head coach Billy Donlon. "For the first 14 minutes we played really well.
"We aren't a finished product that is ready to play the full 40 minutes at an excellent level on both ends, but we're going to get there. I'm really proud. If you could draw up a way to win a game, I'd take it that way. We are a new group. Five games from now, we can look back at this game as growing opportunities."
Kansas City got off to a great start, using momentum from a 2-1 Bahamas trip, to go on a 10-0 scoring run right out of the gate. Hardnett and Nesbitt Jr., splashed in back-to-back three-pointers to get the scoring started. The Roos increased the lead to as much as 27-9 at the 10-minute mark before settling for a 39-27 halftime lead. Hardnett led the way with 10 points at that point. The Roos held a 20-11 rebounding edge and 11-0 advantage in bench points in the game's first 20 minutes.
Trailing 45-29, the Western Illinois offense heated up. After a C.J. Duff trey at the 12:27 mark, the Leathernecks got the deficit to a more manageable single-digit spread at 49-41.
During the next six minutes, Western Illinois kept the pedal to the medal out-scoring the Roos 16-7 to take it's first lead of the game at 57-56. Zion Young's lay-up at the 3:08 mark gave the Leathernecks their largest lead at 65-61.
But the grit and togetherness showed down the stretch for the Roos. A basket by Nesbitt, followed by a free throw from senior Jordan Giles and a Hardnett inside basket put Kansas City back in front 66-65 with 1:19 remaining.
After an empty possession by each team, Western Illinois' Kobe Webster connected on a contested fadeaway 16-footer to take the air out of the Swinney Center crowd. On the next possession trailing 67-66, Hardnett drove the lane and got fouled.
A career 83 percent free throw shooter, Hardnett sank both free throws as the Roos were in the double bonus. The defense then came away with a big stop not allowing a Western Illinois field goal attempt prior to time expiring.
"This was a really important win for us," said Donlon. "We have to do everything we can to defend the home court and we did that tonight."
Kansas City shot 42 percent (25-of-59) from the floor, but just 5-of-22 (.227) from deep.
Ben Pyle led all scorers with 21 points in the losing effort.
Kansas City next travels to Big 12 opponent Iowa State on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip.
Quick Hitters
Senior forward Javan White came away with his third double-double in his last five games after a 12-point, 13-rebound effort tonight. He also added five assists. Junior guard Marvin Nesbitt Jr., chipped in 12 points and five boards for the Roos.
"We're a growing basketball team," said head coach Billy Donlon. "For the first 14 minutes we played really well.
"We aren't a finished product that is ready to play the full 40 minutes at an excellent level on both ends, but we're going to get there. I'm really proud. If you could draw up a way to win a game, I'd take it that way. We are a new group. Five games from now, we can look back at this game as growing opportunities."
Kansas City got off to a great start, using momentum from a 2-1 Bahamas trip, to go on a 10-0 scoring run right out of the gate. Hardnett and Nesbitt Jr., splashed in back-to-back three-pointers to get the scoring started. The Roos increased the lead to as much as 27-9 at the 10-minute mark before settling for a 39-27 halftime lead. Hardnett led the way with 10 points at that point. The Roos held a 20-11 rebounding edge and 11-0 advantage in bench points in the game's first 20 minutes.
Trailing 45-29, the Western Illinois offense heated up. After a C.J. Duff trey at the 12:27 mark, the Leathernecks got the deficit to a more manageable single-digit spread at 49-41.
During the next six minutes, Western Illinois kept the pedal to the medal out-scoring the Roos 16-7 to take it's first lead of the game at 57-56. Zion Young's lay-up at the 3:08 mark gave the Leathernecks their largest lead at 65-61.
But the grit and togetherness showed down the stretch for the Roos. A basket by Nesbitt, followed by a free throw from senior Jordan Giles and a Hardnett inside basket put Kansas City back in front 66-65 with 1:19 remaining.
After an empty possession by each team, Western Illinois' Kobe Webster connected on a contested fadeaway 16-footer to take the air out of the Swinney Center crowd. On the next possession trailing 67-66, Hardnett drove the lane and got fouled.
A career 83 percent free throw shooter, Hardnett sank both free throws as the Roos were in the double bonus. The defense then came away with a big stop not allowing a Western Illinois field goal attempt prior to time expiring.
"This was a really important win for us," said Donlon. "We have to do everything we can to defend the home court and we did that tonight."
Kansas City shot 42 percent (25-of-59) from the floor, but just 5-of-22 (.227) from deep.
Ben Pyle led all scorers with 21 points in the losing effort.
Kansas City next travels to Big 12 opponent Iowa State on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip.
Quick Hitters
- With seven points tonight, Jordan Giles passed Matt Suther on the school's career points list with 684 points entering into the Top 25
- Javan White posted his third double-double this season
- The win snapped a three-game losing streak versus the Leathernecks. Before tonight, the last Kansas City win occurred on Jan. 19, 2012 at home
- The Roos improve to 18-4 at home in the series and 27-17 all-time against Western Illinois
- With a plus-nine (38-29) advantage tonight in rebounding, Kansas City now stands 4-0 when out-rebounding the opponent
Team Stats
WIU
KC
FG%
.418
.424
3FG%
.400
.227
FT%
.938
.765
RB
29
38
TO
14
17
STL
6
4
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
F
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