Roos Challenge Oklahoma State, Eventually Fall 69-51

Saturday, November 9

Stillwater, Okla.

2:00 PM

Kansas City

1-1,0-0WAC

Oklahoma State

2-0,0-0Big 12

Kansas City

Oklahoma St.

Photo by: Kansas City Athletics

Roos Challenge Oklahoma State, Eventually Fall 69-51

11/9/2019 4:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

STILLWATER, Okla. - Kansas City Men's Basketball (1-1) went on the road for the first time this year and tested Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State (2-0), but the Cowboys' length was too much as Kansas City fell by a 69-51 score today at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Senior transfer Javan White notched a game-high 20 points, five rebounds and two blocks.

"Give credit to Oklahoma State... they have a good team," said head coach Billy Donlon. "We were not as sharp as we needed to be on offense and our defensive rebounding must get better."

The game for the Roos was the first against a Big 12 opponent in over two years. A heavy underdog, Kansas City keyed in on defensive pressure, which is a staple for first-year head coach Donlon. That kept the game close early on. In fact, a three-pointer by senior Jahshire Hardnett put the visitors up 5-2 at the 17:19 mark.

There was not a ton of scoring in the first 11-plus minutes. Oklahoma State held an 18-13 advantage at the 8:32 mark. The Cowboys swelled their lead to 16 points at 33-17 with about three minutes remaining in the first half. Kansas City chipped the deficit down to nine on White's only three-pointer and eventually settled for a 37-26 margin at halftime.

In the second half, the poor shooting for the Roos was the difference-maker. Connecting on just 9-of-26 (.346) in the final 20 minutes, Kansas City never could get the deficit to single-digits. Marvin Nesbitt Jr.'s three-pointer at the 5:03 mark put the score at 58-46, but Oklahoma State closed the game on a 11-5 run to ice the game away.

White shot 7-of-15 from the field and connected on 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He impressed in his second game as a Roo, following up from a subpar seven-point, six-rebound effort in the opening win last Tuesday.

Nesbitt Jr., had seven points for Kansas City and chipped in three steals and three rebounds.

Forward Yor Anei led three Cowboys in double figures with 13 points, nine coming in the second half.

The Roos next travel to Drake next Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Quick Hitters

When coach Donlon alluded to getting better on the rebounding side -- the Roos allowed 10 Oklahoma State offensive rebounds and were -16 in the rebounding statistical caregory (26-40).
The road game for Kansas City was the first of three in-a-row and five out of six away from Swinney Center.
Oklahoma State is the first Big 12 opponent for Kansas City since Kansas State in Manhattan on Nov. 14, 2017.
The Cowboys improve to 9-0 in the all-time series against Kansas City. Saturday was the first meeting since the 2015-16 season.