Tuesday, December 17
Kansas City, MO
7:00 PM
Kansas City
6-7,0-0WAC
72
vs
57
Toledo
8-3,0-0MAC
1
2
F
Toledo
20
37
57
Kansas City
32
40
72
Men's Basketball Uses Defense in 72-57 Win Over Toledo
12/17/2019 9:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Men's Basketball (6-7) team used a high-intensity defensive effort tonight in a 72-57 non-conference victory against Toledo (8-3) from the Swinney Center. The victory halted Toledo's five-game win streak and bettered the Roos home record to 4-0.
"I'm really proud of these guys," said head coach Billy Donlon. "We've been through a lot. When you think of the travel and lack of home games, playing two games during finals week. What these guys did tonight is great, but we can't celebrate for too long because we are on the road against a good team in South Dakota."
Junior Brandon McKissic led four Roos in double-figures with 18 points, his highest output since the season-opener in early November. Senior Rob Whitfield fired away with four three-pointers to post 16 points overall. Senior Javan White came away with his fourth double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 boards. Finally, junior Marvin Nesbitt Jr. recorded 10 points.
Kansas City suffocated Toledo to its lowest point total of the year and a season-low field-goal percentage at 33.3 percent. The Rockets were on a roll heading into the game averaging over 82 points and ranked No. 13 in the latest CollegeInsiders.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll.
This win could be the one to get the Roos over the hump.
The Roos defense needed to be extraordinary as the offense sputtered early on. A McKissic lay-up was the first points for Kansas City almost four minutes into the game. The teams were tied there at 2-2 apiece.
With Kansas City holding a 10-9 lead at the 12:41 mark, the Roos ratcheted up the defensive pressure. During the next nearly-five minutes, Toledo did not score. Instead, the Rockets had two turnovers, missed two field goal attempts and missed the front end of the 1-and-1 bonus three straight times. Finally, a free throw by Luke Maranka at the 8:11 mark put the Rockets into double-figures. But at that point, the Roos held a steady 18-10 advantage.
Kansas City pushed the lead out to as many as 15 before going into the locker room with a 32-20 lead. Kansas City forced 11 turnovers and limited Toledo to just 4-of-17 (.235) from the field in the first half.
The second half was a repeat of the first… more Kansas City defense. The Roos ballooned the lead to as many as 21 points twice, the last coming on a Jordan Giles three-pointer at the 10:15 mark.
The Rockets were never able to make a real push and couldn't shrink the deficit below 13 points in the second half.
McKissic was more than just a scorer, leading the team with six assists. He has now posted 14 assists in his last two games.
Willie Jackson muscled his way to 14 points and 15 rebounds to lead the way for the Rockets. Luke Knapke added 13 points and two blocks. Top scorer Marreon Jackson finished with eight points on 1-of-9 shooting from the floor.
The Roos head out to South Dakota on Sunday for a 3:30 p.m. tip for the final game of the non-conference season.
Quick Hitters
"I'm really proud of these guys," said head coach Billy Donlon. "We've been through a lot. When you think of the travel and lack of home games, playing two games during finals week. What these guys did tonight is great, but we can't celebrate for too long because we are on the road against a good team in South Dakota."
Junior Brandon McKissic led four Roos in double-figures with 18 points, his highest output since the season-opener in early November. Senior Rob Whitfield fired away with four three-pointers to post 16 points overall. Senior Javan White came away with his fourth double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 boards. Finally, junior Marvin Nesbitt Jr. recorded 10 points.
Kansas City suffocated Toledo to its lowest point total of the year and a season-low field-goal percentage at 33.3 percent. The Rockets were on a roll heading into the game averaging over 82 points and ranked No. 13 in the latest CollegeInsiders.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll.
This win could be the one to get the Roos over the hump.
The Roos defense needed to be extraordinary as the offense sputtered early on. A McKissic lay-up was the first points for Kansas City almost four minutes into the game. The teams were tied there at 2-2 apiece.
With Kansas City holding a 10-9 lead at the 12:41 mark, the Roos ratcheted up the defensive pressure. During the next nearly-five minutes, Toledo did not score. Instead, the Rockets had two turnovers, missed two field goal attempts and missed the front end of the 1-and-1 bonus three straight times. Finally, a free throw by Luke Maranka at the 8:11 mark put the Rockets into double-figures. But at that point, the Roos held a steady 18-10 advantage.
Kansas City pushed the lead out to as many as 15 before going into the locker room with a 32-20 lead. Kansas City forced 11 turnovers and limited Toledo to just 4-of-17 (.235) from the field in the first half.
The second half was a repeat of the first… more Kansas City defense. The Roos ballooned the lead to as many as 21 points twice, the last coming on a Jordan Giles three-pointer at the 10:15 mark.
The Rockets were never able to make a real push and couldn't shrink the deficit below 13 points in the second half.
McKissic was more than just a scorer, leading the team with six assists. He has now posted 14 assists in his last two games.
Willie Jackson muscled his way to 14 points and 15 rebounds to lead the way for the Rockets. Luke Knapke added 13 points and two blocks. Top scorer Marreon Jackson finished with eight points on 1-of-9 shooting from the floor.
The Roos head out to South Dakota on Sunday for a 3:30 p.m. tip for the final game of the non-conference season.
Quick Hitters
- After a cold outing last Saturday, one in which Rob Whitfield didn't make a three-pointer for just the second time this year, he was a marksmen from the opening tip. In the first 12 minutes, he went 3-for-4 from downtown. He was the spark to lift the Roos to a 23-11 lead at the seven-minute mark.
- The 20 points by Toledo in the first half is the fewest allowed in a half by the Roos against a Division I opponent this season.
- With six points tonight, senior Jordan Giles becomes the 24th member in Kansas City men's basketball history to reach 700 career points. He now stands with 703.
- Javan White did not score in the first half on 0-for-3 shooting, playing just 10 minutes with foul trouble. He ended his night by recording his fourth double-double of the season.
- Kansas City improves to 4-0 on the year when White records a double-double
- Marvin Nesbitt Jr. reached double-figures for his fifth-straight game
- Tonight was the first meeting between the two ball clubs
Team Stats
UT
KC
FG%
.333
.450
3FG%
.176
.391
FT%
.686
.529
RB
37
37
TO
16
11
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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