Preview: Roos Head to First-Place NM State on Saturday

Saturday, January 11

Las Cruces, N.M.

5:00 PM

Kansas City

New Mexico State

Preview: Roos Head to First-Place NM State on Saturday

1/10/2020 1:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Watch ESPN+Game Notes

Kansas City Opening Tip
• The Kansas City Men's Basketball (9-8, 2-1) team visits first-place New Mexico State (11-6, 2-0) on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT. The game is broadcast nationally on ESPN+.
• Prior to Thursday's setback at UT Rio Grande Valley that snapped a season-long four-game win streak, the Roos were in first-place after the first week of the season with a 2-0 mark. After the loss, Kansas City is now tied for second-place, one-half game back of the Aggies.
• The Roos are trying to snap a 13-game losing streak against New Mexico State. After winning the first-ever meeting Jan. 18, 2014, Kansas City has dropped the past 13, including seven games in Las Cruces, N.M.
• Kansas City, still on a considerable hot streak winning four of its last five games, faces a New Mexico State team on a five-game win streak. In addition, the Aggies are 6-1 at home and own nearly a 34-point margin of victory in those six wins.
• Jahshire Hardnett was named the WAC Player of the Week on Jan. 6 after he averaged 22.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 rebounds in two Kansas City victories. Known as "Big Shot Hardnett" for his recent heroics, he nailed the game-winning three-pointer in the last three victories with under a minute remaining.

The Starting Five
1. The Roos are trying to flip the script and win on the road. They are just 1-7 in true road games and a perfect 6-0 at home. The lone road win came at South Dakota on Dec. 22. Opponents on the road shoot 51.7 percent against the Roos and make more free throw's (136) than KC has attempted (111).
2. Kansas City is seeing success it hasn't had in recent times with the 9-8 overall record. The Roos hit nine wins the fastest (in 16 games), since the 2010-11 program also notched its ninth win in its 16th game (9-7). That unit eventually posted a 16-14 record.
3. The free-throw line has not been a friend of the Roos this year. In 14-of-17 games, the opponent has attempted more or as many free throws as Kansas City. In fact, the opponent has tossed more attempts in the last eight-straight games. On the season, the Roos have attempted 16.3 and made 11.1 on average. Conversely, the opposition averages 23.5 attempts and 18.1 makes.
4. Coach Donlon went with his seventh different starting five combination at UTRGV on Thursday. The most successful line-up to the tune of a 4-0 record has been Javan White and Jordan Giles in the front-court, with Brandon McKissic, Marvin Nesbitt Jr. and Rob Whitfield teaming up in the back-court. Overall, nine players have earned the starting nod, with White getting a team-high 16 starts.
5. After a 68-63 win against Utah Valley on Jan. 4, the Roos stand undefeated at home with a 6-0 mark. That is tied for the best start on their home court since the 2015-16 unit had a 6-0 home record prior to its first loss. No Kansas City team has ever gone 7-0 at home prior to its first loss in the NCAA Division I era (1986-87).

The Comforts of Home
• The Roos are a different team playing at the renovated Swinney Center with a 6-0 record. As a team, Kansas City shoots 49 percent overall and outscores the opponent by over 25 points. • On average, the Roos force 19 turnovers, are +9 in rebounding margin and post nine steals.
• The 6-0 start is the best home start since the 2015-16 team also went 6-0 on its home court to begin the season.

Series History Notes vs NMSU
• New Mexico State leads the all-time series by a 13-1 record, including a 7-0 record at the Pan American Center.
• Kansas City is trying to snap a 13-game losing streak.
• In the 75-55 loss on Feb. 28, 2019, the Roos shot just 40 percent and were out-rebounded by a 40-23 margin. Jordan Giles had eight points and four boards, while Brandon McKissic finished with seven points.

Making a Good First Impression
• With five wins prior to Dec. 1, the Roos collected the most victories before the calendar flipped into December since the 2016-17 program went 6-2. That year was the last time Kansas City had a winning record at 18-17 overall.
• Kansas City recorded seven wins prior to Jan. 1, which was the most since the 2016-17 program tallied seven victories prior to the new year.

National Stat Rankings
• Kansas City is ranked in the top 100 in eight different national statistical categories:
   - No. 23 in total steals (140)
   - No. 54 in 3-point FG defense (.294)
   - No. 55 in steals per game (8.2)
   - No. 79 in FG percentage (47.1%)
   - No. 80 in turnovers forced (15.5)
   - No. 84 in 3-point FG percentage (.355)
   - No. 91 in total assists (230)
   - No. 97 in total blocks (59)

Bucking the Trend
• Heading into the Dec. 22 game at South Dakota, Kansas City was 0-6 on the year in true road games losing by an average margin of 17.8 points. However, the Roos stopped that streak courtesy of a three-pointer by senior Jahshire Hardnett. His dagger with two seconds remaining lifted the Roos to a 78-75 road victory and improved their team record to 7-7 on the season.

Statistical Trends
• There are a few statistical trends that equates to success for Kansas City. When the Roos do the following, they have a perfect record this year:
   - Out-rebounding the opponent: 4-0
   - More made FT's than opponent: 3-0
   - Allowing 60 points or less: 4-0

Going Deep
• Kansas City is riding a streak of 314-straight games making at least one three-pointer. The last time the team failed to connect from deep was on Jan. 22, 2000 against Oakland when the Roos were 0-for-13. This year, Kansas City averages 6.7 make's per game, which ranks third in the WAC. Kansas City recorded a season-high of 12 against Avila (11/5). The fewest amount was four done on two occasions.

2020-21 Signing Class
• Head coach Billy Donlon has signed three individuals in the class of 2020-21. Below is a list of those players:
   • Caden Boser | Forward | 6-8 | 200 | Eau
   Claire Memorial HS | Eau Claire, Wis.
   • Tyre Boykin | Guard | 6-1 | 175 | West
   Bladen HS | White Oak, N.C.
   • D'Anthony Pennington | Guard | 6-2 |
   North Kansas City HS | North Kansas City,
   Mo.

Last Time Out Against UTRGV (Jan. 9)
• Kansas City Men's Basketball (9-8, 2-1) shot 51 percent on Thursday, but UT Rio Grande Valley (5-10, 1-1) overcame that with a 21-9 scoring advantage from three-point range to take a 76-64 victory at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. The Vaqueros ended the game on a 21-13 run in the final eight-plus minutes to snap the Roos season-long four-game win streak.
• Senior guard Jahshire Hardnett, the WAC Player of the Week, led the club with 17 points for his third-straight 10-plus point contest. He added three assists. Freshman forward Josiah Allick contributed 10 points, three shy of his career-high, on 3-of-3 shooting from the field and four free throws. Junior Brandon McKissic had a team-high five rebounds and added six points.
• The 51-percent shooting effort marked the fourth-time this year the Roos went over 50 percent shooting the ball. Kansas City entered tonight ranked No. 1 in the conference in shooting (45.8%).
• The Roos lost for the first time this year when shooting for a better percentage than their opponent. They were 8-0 entering the game.