Kansas City
2-0,0-0Summit League
Greenville University
0-1,0-0SLIAC
Men's Basketball Shatters Records in Rout of Greenville
11/27/2020 6:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Men's Basketball (2-0, 0-0) team kicked off the inaugural Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Tipoff Classic with a record-breaking 138-97 win over Greenville (Ill.) (0-2, 0-0) on the Friday after Thanksgiving. In an offensive duel, the Roos' defense held off a high-scoring Greenville team. Greenville averaged 135 points per game in 2019-20 and opened their season with a 99-point performance against Samford (Ala.) on Wednesday."
"Our goal was to hold them to fifty points," Head Coach Billy Donlon said. "We had great pace in the first 10 minutes, but then they imposed their will."
The scoring was balanced for the Roos in the opening half,with ten players making their mark on the scoreboard. Josiah Allick led the first half with 19 points and was 8-of-10 from the field as Kansas City poured in 65 points in the opening period. In the first half, the Roos marked a 68.3% shooting percentage. Kansas City made 28 field goals, which tied the record for the most in a half in program history, a record that would not stand for long. The Roos could not be stopped in the second half, knocking down a record 34-of-39 shots.
Kansas City was a led by a career-high performance from Allick, finishing with 29 points. Marvin Nesbitt Jr. followed with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. In total, five Roos reached double-digit scoring.
Fourteen Roos made their mark on the scoring sheet in the 138-point performance, obliterating the previous program single-game scoring record (120). Kansas City connected on 77.5% of its field goal attempts, breaking a 29-year-old record previously set against Southern California College (68.9%).Â
Five Roos made their debut in gold and blue against the Panthers. Hidde Roessink brought down seven rebounds and 14 points. Jonathan Bolden shot 87.5%, finishing with 14 points. Caden Boser added 12 points in eight minutes. Sam Martin distributed the ball with seven assists and Demarius Pitts finished with four points.
"It was good to see some new guys get out there and get some opportunities," Donlon said.Â
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Tipoff Classic continues tomorrow as Kansas City faces Southeast Missouri State at 4 p.m. After the Classic, the Roos have a quick turnaround for their big Monday matchup against the Kansas State Wildcats at 7 p.m.
"We need to improve our defense and hope to do that tomorrow against our first Division I opponent," Donlon said. "That will be the real test to see where we're at."
