Gilyard's Big Night Helps Roos Run Past Missouri

Monday, November 15

Columbia, MO

7:00 PM

Kansas City

1-2,0-0Summit League

Missouri

1-1,0-0SEC

Kansas City

Missouri

Photo by: Ryan Weaver Photography

Gilyard's Big Night Helps Roos Run Past Missouri

11/15/2021 10:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Donlon Postgame Gilyard/Nesbitt Postgame

Evan Gilyard II finished with 28 points, giving the Roos their first Power Five victory in six seasons

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Men's Basketball picked up a signature win against Missouri's flagship basketball program this evening, running away from the Tigers with an 80-66 win. Evan Gilyard II led all scorers, coming within a point of his career-high at 28 points, while Marvin Nesbitt Jr. added 20 points, five boards and a team-high four assists.

FINAL | Our state.#ROOUP | #DeclareKC pic.twitter.com/IBLna5BUFX
— Kansas City Men's Basketball (@KCRoosMBB) November 16, 2021

KEY MOMENTS

1H / 10-6 | The Roos got out in the fast break after a missed Missouri triple, with Shemarri Allen finding a trailing Anderson Kopp for a wide-open three.

1H | AK firing to start us off ??

KC - 10
MIZ - 6#ROOUP | @anderson_kopp pic.twitter.com/DYmkx5u8x0
— Kansas City Men's Basketball (@KCRoosMBB) November 16, 2021

1H / 17-12 | After an offensive rebound and drawn foul by Gilyard, Sam Martin found a wide-open Caden Boser for a knock-down three on the right wing.
1H / 24-14 | Gilyard found a wide open Nesbitt inside the lane for an easy two-point bucket, extending the Roos' lead to 10.
1H / 29-19 | A driving Nesbitt found Kopp cutting along the baseline for a big bucket to maintain the KC lead.
1H / 32-23 | With the Tigers looking to gain some momentum going into the half, Allen smacked a Mizzou shot attempt off of the backboard, taking a nine-point lead into the break.

This @shemarriallen23 block to end the first half >>>> #ROOUP | #DeclareKC pic.twitter.com/eNCZz7PCUS
— Kansas City Men's Basketball (@KCRoosMBB) November 16, 2021

2H / 35-23 | Gilyard set the tone early in the second half, coming up with a steal and three-point bucket on the first possession of the half.
2H / 41-29 | With Mizzou cutting into the Kansas City lead, Sam Martin drove the lane, coming up with an and-one bucket.
2H / 44-29 | Nesbitt played smothering defense on the Tigers, forcing a turnover and getting out in the open court for a slam.
2H / 51-32 | Gilyard got open at the top of the key, knocking down a three-point shot from long range to give the Roos a 19-point lead.

2H | EG is a walking BUCKET.

KC - 51
MIZ - 32#ROOUP | @EGillyy1 pic.twitter.com/ODQhAzxEeu
— Kansas City Men's Basketball (@KCRoosMBB) November 16, 2021

2H / 59-42 | With the Tigers on an 8-0 run, Head Coach Billy Donlon called a timeout and drew up a play for Gilyard, who came out and knocked down a three to quell the Mizzou threat.
2H / 65-45 | After two made Missouri free throws, the Tigers attempted a full-court press, but Nesbitt found Jacob Johnson for an emphatic slam.
2H / 74-55 | With less than four minutes remaining in the game, a steal by Johnson led to an Allen fast break dunk, putting the icing on the cake for the Roos.

2H | Feels good man, ngl.

KC - 74
MIZ - 57#ROOUP | @shemarriallen23 pic.twitter.com/IGrtjmudVB
— Kansas City Men's Basketball (@KCRoosMBB) November 16, 2021

STATS TO NOTE

This is the first Power Five victory of Donlon's tenure, and the first for the program since a 72-67 win over Mississippi State in 2015.
The Roos have won the past two meetings with the Tigers, following up a 69-61 win seven years ago.
Anderson Kopp dropped 12 points, pulling down a team-leading seven rebounds.
The Roos knocked down 11 three-point field goals, compared to just four by the Tigers.
The Roos led for 37:49, never trailing following a 7-6 lead at the 16:35 mark in the first half.
Kansas City out-rebounded the Tigers, 32-30 and forced 18 Mizzou turnovers.

THE ROOS, QUOTED

Head Coach Billy Donlon
- "Give those guys a ton of credit for playing with the tenacity, the toughness and the togetherness with which they played."
- "Evan and Marv were tremendous. They played like seniors. With Josiah really not able to play with fouls, it's a great confidence builder for our team. I'm incredibly proud."
- "I thought the most critical minutes of anybody off of the bench was Sam Martin. It was a big baseline and-one finish in the second half."
- "Hopefully a win like this will get people's attention."
Evan Gilyard II
- "We bought into the defense, bought into everything that we had to do and made it happen."
- "It's college basketball, anything can happen. We just took it four minutes at a time. We stayed together and made sure we played together."
Marvin Nesbitt Jr.
- "It feels great, because we put in the work every day in practice. We expected a fight and we executed the game plan."
- "We're coming off two tough losses, but we bounced back. I feel like you can never count us out. That's how we always play."

UP NEXT
The Roos will return to Kansas City for their home opener on Wednesday, taking on Kansas Christian College at 7 p.m. The Roos defeated the Eagles twice last season. Tickets can be purchased here.