Kansas City
2-1,0-0Summit League
Southeast Missouri State University
1-0,0-0OVC
Kansas City Men's Basketball Falls Short in a Nail-biter against SEMO
11/28/2020 6:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Men's Basketball (2-1, 0-0) team had a tough loss in the final game of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Tipoff Classic with a 71-66 loss against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (1-0, 0-0). The Roos got great offensive leadership from their three seniors combining for over half of the team's points. A nail-biting finish fell into the Redhawks' favor when Nygal Russell hit a three with two seconds left on the clock.
"At the end of the day someone has to make the shot and SEMO did," Head Coach Billy Donlon said. "They deserve credit."
It was a slow start offensively for both teams tonight with only six field goals in the first eight minutes of the game. Turnovers and fouls paralyzed the offensive rhythm in the first half, with both teams combining for 19 turnovers and 21 fouls. The Kansas City starters spread the ball around in the first half, all adding at least four points to the board. Hidde Roessink gave a spark for the Roos off the bench, adding six points to the team's first half total. A hot-shooting Nana Akenten of Southeast Missouri State scored 16 in the first half and took the Red Hawks into halftime with a lead of 37-31 on a last second half-court buzzer beater.Â
Kansas City fought their way back in the second half narrowing the margin to two with seven minutes to go before the Redhawks quickly gained another double-digit lead. Brandon McKissick forced a turnover and drove the distance to pull the Roos within three with a minute and a half remaining. The momentum seamed to be leaning towards the Roos before senior McKissick fouled out of the game shortly after.
The Roos were led by their three seniors, all ending in double-digits. McKissick led the way with 16 points. Marvin Nesbitt Jr. ended with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Zion Williams finished with 10 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals.
"We didn't finish plays, we fouled, we have to play better defensively." Donlon said. "We cannot give our opponent 35 attempts at the line."
Foul trouble limited the Roos' leading scorer, Josiah Allick, to only 21-minutes played. The difference in the game was the free throw advantage that favored SEMO with 35 attempts to the Roos 23. There was also an advantage behind the arc as the Roos were held to only 4-of-13 shooting while the Redhawks completed 10-of-23.
The Roos begin their preparation for Kansas State as they travel to Manhattan, Kan. on Monday for a 7 p.m. tip-off. Kansas City returns home to the Swinney Center on Saturday, December 5th to take on Summit League foe, the South Dakota Coyotes.
"We will grow from it, we will get better," Donlon said. "This team will be playing its best basketball in February.
