Men's Basketball Gets Crucial Road Win at CBU

Saturday, January 25

Riverside, Calif.

9:00 PM

Kansas City

10-11,3-4WAC

California Baptist

14-6,4-2WAC

Kansas City

California Baptist

Men's Basketball Gets Crucial Road Win at CBU

1/25/2020 11:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Box

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Kansas City used a 15-0 run spanning both halves and snapped a four-game losing streak defeating California Baptist (14-6, 4-2), 67-57, tonight in men's basketball action at the CBU Events Center. Sophomore Franck Kamgain got his first Roo career start and recorded a season-high 16 points on four three-pointers to lead a balanced-scoring attack. Junior Brandon McKissic chipped in 13 points, senior Jordan Giles had 11 points and junior Zion Williams and senior Rob Whitfield each had eight points in the winning effort.

Kansas City (10-11, 3-4) plays a non-conference game Monday at Swinney Center against Crowley's Ridge at 7 p.m.

The Roos were without the team's second-leading rebounder junior Marvin Nesbitt Jr., and fourth-leading scorer Jahshire Hardnett due to injuries. But that didn't stop them from getting back into the hunt for a possible league championship as we near the halfway point of the conference schedule.

One of the keys to the game was the Kansas City defense holding down a potent California Baptist offense that came into the game leading the conference in scoring offense at over 81 points per game and shooting percentage at 46 percent. Tonight, the Lancers shot just 33 percent from the field and scored their second-lowest amount of the season.

"We had a great week of practice and the players were rewarded," said head coach Billy Donlon. "I'm very happy for our team. California Baptist does an excellent job in every aspect of running a program. Zion, Franck and McKissic really responded on the perimeter. Looking forward to being back home Monday."

Starting with a Kamgain three-pointer at the 2:25 mark of the first half, Kansas City turned a close back-and-forth game into an insurmountable 43-27 lead. The Roos held a double-digit lead for the most part until California Baptist's Milan Acquaah helped the Lancers make a late push. His long-range bomb cut the Kansas City lead at six points (63-57) with :50 seconds remaining. But four throws by Kamgain and Giles sealed the Kansas City victory.

The Roos will certainly enjoy this victory considering tonight's performance was the second road win of the season. Meanwhile, it was a Kansas City team that turned the tables and shot nearly 46 percent tonight (25-of-55) and locked down a typically-hot shooting California Baptist unit on its home court.

Tonight, it was a defensive mindset the Roos hope to carry with them into the rest of the season.

Kansas City made the most of its offensive possessions with a season-low seven turnovers. Offensively, the Roos finished the game shooting 42.1 percent from three-point land (8-of-19). Individually, freshman Josiah Allick recorded a team-high nine rebounds to go along with six points. He helped pave the way for the Roos holding a 37-35 rebounding edge.

For California Baptist, Ferron Flavors Jr. led all scorers with 19 points and Acquaah added 14 points.

Quick Hitters

Kansas City held a +2 rebounding advantage, breaking a recent trend. Prior to tonight, the Roos had been out-rebounded in 11-straight games dating back to the Western Illinois game on Nov. 30, 2019.
Jordan Giles appeared in his 110th career game tonight, which now puts in the top-10 school list for most games played
Javan White was back on the floor tonight for the Roos posting five points and three rebounds in 10-plus minutes. He had sat out the previous three games due to a neck injury.
Kansas City stopped a four-game win streak of California Baptist.
The Roos get win No. 10 in their 21st game of the year. Last season, Kansas City went 11-21 overall and posted its 10th win in game No. 26.
Kansas City improves to 2-1 in the all-time series with California Baptist.