Kansas City
1-4,0-0Summit League
Kansas State
3-0,0-0Big 12
Roos Show Second Half Fight in Loss to Wildcats
11/17/2022 8:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kansas City, led by Shemarri Allen's 21 points, never rolled over against the Wildcats
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Despite falling behind by as many as 20 points early in the second half against Kansas State this evening, Kansas City Men's Basketball continued to battle and had opportunities to cut the deficit to single digits late in the Roos' 69-53 loss. Shemarri Allen kept the Roos competitive, scoring 16 of his career-high 21 points in the second half, adding a career-high-tying eight rebounds. Anderson Kopp brought much-needed three-point shooting and court-vision to the Kansas City lineup in his second game since returning from injury, scoring 13 points and adding five assists.
KEY MOMENTS
- 1H / 2-0 | The Roos pulled down two offensive boards on the first possession of the game, and Allen David Mukeba Jr. knocked down a jump shot to give KC its only lead of the day.
- 1H / 16-11 | The Wildcats went on a 16-5 run to open up a lead, knocking down a pair of threes in the process. However, Kopp found Promise C. Idiaru for a layup and then Allen went for a steal-and-score to cut the deficit to five.
- 1H / 20-29 | After K-State opened up lead that reached 14, Sam Martin found Kopp for the Roos' first three-pointer of the day to draw KC back within single digits. The Wildcats responded with a nine-point run and took a 16-point lead into the half.
1H | @anderson_kopp nails KC's first three of the day?? pic.twitter.com/IxpJkLNzbg
— Kansas City Men's Basketball (@KCRoosMBB) November 18, 2022
- 2H / 30-47 | Allen found Kopp in transition for his third three of the day, cutting into a 20-point Kansas State lead.
- 2H / 39-53 | Allen scored five-straight points for the Roos as they put together a 7-1 run and drew back within 14, but a quick four-point run by K-State extended the lead back out to 18.
- 2H / 51-61 | Allen's second-half takeover continued as he scored nine points in-a-row for the Roos, bringing Kansas City within 10 at the four-minute mark. The Wildcats would close the game on an 8-2 run to take the victory.
STATS TO NOTE
- Allen was the game's leading scorer with 21 points, setting a career-high for the fourth time this season. He has reached the 20-point plateau twice this year after scoring in double-digits just once last season.
- Kansas City pulled down 13 offensive rebounds on the night, led by five from Mukeba. The Roos converted those offensive boards into 16 second-chance points.
- The Roos were forced into 22 turnovers, the third time this year they have turned the ball over 20-plus times. Ten-of-eleven Kansas City players that saw the court committed at least one give-away.
- After going just 1-of-3 from the free throw line in the first half, the Roos made it to the line 12 times in the second half, making eight.
COACH MARVIN MENZIES, QUOTED
"I'm encouraged about the way we played in the second half. We had three or four guys that just played their hearts out … We've got to get more off our bench, obviously."
"I thought there were some guys that made some monumental steps as far as seeing how hard you have to play … That's what it looks like after you fight the way you're supposed to fight."
UP NEXT
Kansas City will travel to Estero, Fla. for the Gulf Coast Showcase from Nov. 21-23. The Roos will be guaranteed three games, beginning with a meeting with Toledo on Monday morning. KC also participated in the showcase in 2017, defeating Manhattan en route to a fourth-place finish.
