Men's Basketball Heads North to Take on Fighting Hawks, Bison

vs. North Dakota (WATCH | STATS)
vs. North Dakota State (WATCH | STATS)

Starting Five

Kansas City takes a 3-3 Summit League record on the road for its final road trip of the first round of conference play. This marks the second season in-a-row that Kansas City has begun conference play at 3-3. Last year, the Roos jumped out to a 5-3 Summit League start before finishing 12-6 and earning the four-seed at the Summit League tournament.
In the two-game absence of Allen David Mukeba Jr., Jeff Ngandu has taken over as a force down low. He posted two-straight double-doubles, the first of his collegiate career, and pulled down 17 boards in each contest. According to Basketball Reference, he joins Purdue's Zach Edy and New Hampshire's Clarence Daniels as the only players to have back-to-back 17-rebound double-doubles in college basketball this season.
The three-ball continues to be a marker of success for Kansas City. In the win against St. Thomas, the Roos converted at a 40.9% clip from deep. In the loss against Western Illinois, the team's three-point clip dropped to 12.0%. This season, when the Roos attempt 20-plus threes, their record is 2-8. In games that they attempt 10-19 threes, the record improves to 5-4.
Through six games of Summit League play, the Roos are holding opponents to 38.6% shooting from the field. In three conference wins, that number drops to 34.7%. On the season, KC's 39.6% field goal percentage defense ranks first in the conference and 32nd nationally.
The Roos search for scoring depth off the bench, averaging 12.37 bench points per game. That mark is last in the Summit and 340th in the nation. Kansas City's bench has outscored its opponent just five times this season.

North Dakota Notes

North Dakota enters Thursday's game 0-6 in conference play, having dropped 11 of its past 12 contests.
The Roos hold an edge in the season series, 7-2. That mark includes a 4-1 mark in Grand Forks and wins in the last three games.
Kansas City swept the season series last year, including a 80-65 win on Feb. 17, 2022 in Grand Forks. Four Roos scored in double-digits, led by 19 points from Evan Gilyard II and a double-double from Josiah Allick.
The Fighting Hawks lead the conference in bench points per game, getting 28.42 points per game from their reserves.
B.J. Omot is the team's lone double-digit scorer, averaging 10.9 points per contest on 39.4% shooting.

NDSU Notes

After a slow start to the season, the Bison have found their stride in conference play, starting the League slate with a 5-2 record.
NDSU owns a 13-7 edge in the all-time record, but the Roos swept the season series last year.
The most recent meeting came on Feb. 19, 2022 as Kansas City defeated the Bison, 85-71. Evan Gilyard II poured in 33 points for KC while Arkel Lamar added 24, and the Roos shot 71.4% from three-point land.
Unafraid to shoot the three, the Bison average 24.6 attempts per game and connect at a 33.0% rate, which ranks sixth in the conference.
Grant Nelson is NDSU's leading man, averaging 15.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He has posted three double-doubles on the year.

Men's Basketball Heads North to Take on Fighting Hawks, Bison

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Josiah Allick

Evan Gilyard II

Arkel Lamar

Allen David Mukeba Jr.

Jeff Ngandu

Men's Basketball Heads North to Take on Fighting Hawks, Bison

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Josiah Allick

Evan Gilyard II

Arkel Lamar

Allen David Mukeba Jr.

Jeff Ngandu

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University of Missouri Kansas City Athletics