Men's Basketball Drops 98-57 Game Against Kansas

Saturday, December 14

Kansas City, MO (Sprint Center)

4:00 PM

Kansas City

5-7,0-0WAC

Kansas

9-1,0-0Big 12

Kansas City

Kansas

Men's Basketball Drops 98-57 Game Against Kansas

12/14/2019 6:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Playing as the visitors on the scoreboard, but as Kansas City's college team, the Kansas City men's basketball team (5-7) fell 98-57 to No. 2/3 Kansas (9-1) on Saturday afternoon at Sprint Center in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,702. This was the first meeting between the two ball clubs since Nov. 10, 2017.

"The first 12-14 minutes of the game we played with confidence and an attack mentality," head coach Billy Donlon said. "I was proud of Brandon McKissic, to play 37 minutes and to get eight assists against that pressure is impressive, but we have a long way to go and we have to grow as a team. I want them to play tough and understand we have to win with our defense. We will get back to work and get after it."

Marvin Nesbitt, Jr., led the way for the Roos with 12 points, including burying a trio of three-point baskets, to go along with two rebounds and an assist. Javan White, meanwhile, added 12 points, eight rebounds and an assist. Maks Klanjscek, meanwhile, buried three three-pointers in just nine minutes of action and McKissic shipped in nine points, eight assists and three rebounds.

Kansas City stood toe-to-toe with the Jayhawks early, as the Roos forced a KU timeout at the 13:21 mark of the first half when they erased a 10-4 deficit with nine straight points on a three from Marvin Nesbitt, Jr., a pair of layups from Zion Williams and a third layup from Jordan Giles, to take a 13-10 lead.

A cold streak followed though, as the Roos went scoreless over the next five minutes before a second three from Nesbitt, Jr., broke the drought. The sophomore from Chicago would add his third triple of the half three possessions later, while the Jayhawks took a 43-24 lead into the locker room for halftime.

Coming out of the break, the Jayhawks took control of the game for good as they built a 41-point advantage midway through the second stanza.

Kansas City stayed engaged throughout the entire half, however, holding KU scoreless from 9:32 to 7:02, while ripping off three-straight baskets.
In the end, though, the Roos were not enough for the No. 2/3 team in the country as Kansas came away with the victory.

As a team, the Roos notched 29 points off the bench and 24 in the paint against a much larger Kansas opponent, while shooting 50.0 percent (9-18) from long range.

"We can't make any excuses and we can't skip steps in our growth, but we can skips steps in our belief to win and we will take those steps," Donlon added.
For Kansas, David McCormack led all scorers with 28 points on 11-for-14 shooting. Devon Dotson contributed 18 and Marcus Garrett finished with 13.

Kansas City returns to action on Tuesday when they welcome in Toledo to Swinney Center for the final nonconference home contest at 7 p.m. CT against the Rockets.

Quick Hitters

In a unique situation, the Roos played as the road team in contest, despite being the hometown team. The Jayhawks, though, had to travel only 37 miles to Sprint Center, where they play annually in the Big 12 Tournament.
Kansas City played with this starting five for the first time all year: McKissic and Nesbitt Jr., at guard and Giles, Allick and Suggs in the front court. It marked the fifth different line-up in 12 games. This was the first time that Jahshire Hardnett (injury) and Javan White did not get the starting nod.
The nine triples by the Roos is the second-highest amount. Kansas City has now gone 309-straight games with at least one three-pointer.
The Roos remain without a win on the road as they fall to 0-6 away from Swinney Center.
Kansas City falls to 0-3 against Big 12 opponents this season after previously losing at Oklahoma State (69-51) and at Iowa State (79-61).
As a Division I opponent, the Roos are now 0-8 against KU.
Despite sitting just six miles from Sprint Center, this was the Roos first appearance in the building in its 12-year history.