Kansas City
2-2,0-0Summit League
Kansas State University
1-2,0-0Big 12
Roos Can't Overcome Slow Start in Loss to K-State
11/30/2020 9:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kan. - A slow start hurt Kansas City Men's Basketball (2-2, 0-0) as they fell to Kansas State (1-2, 0-0) on Monday evening at Bramlage Coliseum. After falling into an early hole, Brandon McKissic willed the Roos back into the game, but Kansas City did not quite have enough to grab the win.
"We played closer to Kansas City Basketball, effort-wise," Head Coach Billy Donlon said. "Now we need to focus on basketball improvement. We will grow from this."
The Roos' defensive effort was there from the beginning, holding Kansas State to just two field goals in the first four-plus minutes. The offense was stagnant, however, and the Wildcats jumped out to a 17-point lead by the 12-minute mark before a Marvin Nesbitt Jr. three-pointer put an end to the Roos' scoring drought.
The Roos fought to bring the deficit to 10 by the under-eight media timeout in the first, where it would remain for the rest of the half. McKissic put together nine points on 4-of-8 shooting in the first frame, before exploding in the second half.
McKissic opened the second half with five points to cut into the Wildcat lead, but the Roos could never put together a large enough run to draw back even. The Wildcats' lead hovered between eight and 15 points for a majority of the second half.
After the final media timeout, the Roos finally cut the deficit below eight points, but it was too little, too late. Kansas State was able to hold on for the victory.
McKissic added 15 more points in the second half to bring his total to a game-high 24 points. Donlon relied on McKissic's stamina down the stretch, as he finished with over 39-minutes of playing time.Â
Franck Kamgain was the only other Roo to reach double-digits, scoring eight in the second half to finish with 11. Nesbitt Jr. and Hidde Roessink contributed eight points apiece, with Zion Williams coming in close behind at six.
The Roos allowed 57.1% field goal shooting in the first half, but shored things up on defense in the second frame, allowing the Wildcats to knock down just six field goals. The difference was made at the free throw line, where Kansas State outscored the Roos, 20-to-5.
After playing four games in six days, Kansas City will take some time off before getting back to action on Saturday against South Dakota in a game that will not count in conference standings. The game will be live on the Roos Sports Network at 7 p.m.
