Men's Basketball Falls to McNeese State on the Road

Tuesday, December 10

Lake Charles, La.

6:30 PM

Kansas City

5-6,0-0WAC

McNeese State

4-6,0-0Southland

Kansas City

McNeese

Men's Basketball Falls to McNeese State on the Road

12/10/2019 8:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Kansas City Men's Basketball (5-6) traveled down to Lake Charles, La., to take on McNeese State (4-6) for just the second time in its history tonight. The Roos couldn't overcome foul trouble and the Cowboys smothering defense, falling by a final score of 82-73. Kansas City will be back at it on Saturday when they face up with Kansas at the Sprint Center. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CT.

It was a tale of two halves for Kansas City as they were dominant in the first half, but were outscored 50-32 in the second half. Fouls were called at an astounding rate, as the teams combined for 61 free throw attempts. McNeese State took advantage of the whistles, going to the charity stripe for 38 attempts and converting those chances into 26 points.

Jahshire Hardnett led the way for the Roos with 16 points. Marvin Nesbitt Jr. also added a season high 14 points. A.J Lawson led the Cowboys with a career high 30 points.

In the first half, it was a Jahshire Hardnett show in the H&HP Complex. Hardnett ended the half with 14 points, going 4-for-6 from three including a last second half-court buzzer beater to send the Roos into the locker room with a 41-32 lead. Foul trouble sent the Roos leading scorer on the season, Javan White, to the bench for the majority of the half. Brandon Suggs stepped up and added seven points.

Kansas City entered tonight 4-0 when leading its opponents at the half. However, the second half was a polar opposite of the first half. The Roos were outscored 50-32 in the half. The 50 points allowed in a half marks the most points allowed in a half this season for the Roos. Eighteen of those points came from the free throw line for the Cowboys, as they shot 28 of their 36 free throw attempts in the second half.

Cowboys forward Shamarkus Kennedy caused fits for Kansas City both offensively and defensively. Kennedy finished with a triple double: 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks.

Road games have been a struggle so far, as they came into tonight with a -15.8 scoring margin and allowing 15.3 free throws per game to its opponents. However, a couple statistics the Roos have been very good at is steals and forcing turnovers. The Roos were able to force the Cowboys into 19 turnovers, grabbing 10 steals, and converting those turnovers into 25 points. Kansas City has prided themselves on defense this season, ranking first in the conference in scoring defense (63.7). Tonight however, the Roos allowed McNeese State to shoot .643 percent from the field on their way to 82 points (the most points the Roos have given up this season).

Quick Hitters

The Roos are still looking for its first road win. They are now 0-5 on the road.
Tonight's win for McNeese State marks their first win against a division one team this season. They were 0-3 coming into tonight. However, this was McNeese's first home game against a division one team, a tough place to win. The Cowboys remain undefeated at home.