Kansas City
5-7,0-0Summit League
Bowling Green
7-3,0-0MAC
Roos Unable to Overcome First Half Run Against Bowling Green
12/16/2023 4:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Allen David Mukeba Jr. and Jamar Brown both logged double-doubles in the loss
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - It was a run midway through the first half that put Kansas City Men's Basketball (5-7) behind the eight ball against Bowling Green (7-3) this afternoon, and the Roos were never able to overcome that deficit, falling 79-69. Kansas City got double-digit scoring performances from Khristion Courseault, Allen David Mukeba Jr. and Jamar Brown, but had no answer defensively for BGSU's Marcus Hill, who finished with a game-high 29 points.
The Falcons went up by as many as eight points early, but Kansas City stayed in the game and cut the lead down to one on multiple occasions. However, a 12-point run midway through the half created all the separation that Bowling Green needed. The Roos were able to chip into the deficit throughout the second half, but were unable to get over the hump.
Courseault finished with a team-high 18 points, adding six assists in 36 minutes of play. Mukeba and Brown both finished the day with double-doubles, Mukeba going for 16 points and 11 boards while Brown notched 14 points and 10 rebounds.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
- 1H - 12:24 / 15-19 | Pushing the ball in transition, Courseault found an open Babacar Diallo on the left wing, pulling up and draining the three.Scoring four points and dishing three assists, Courseault was responsible for 13 of the Roos' first 15 points.
- 1H - 9:13 / 24-26 | After going scoreless in the first eight minutes of the game, Mukeba scored six points in the span of just over two minutes, keeping Kansas City within a possession of the Falcons. However, BGSU would respond with 12-straight and open the lead up to 14 points.
- 1H - 0:04 / 34-45 | Diallo pulled down an offensive rebound on the last possession of the first half, finding Courseault behind the three point line. Courseault dribbled out the clock and stepped into a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to 11 going into the halftime break.
- 2H - 14:31 / 44-53 | The Falcons opened up a game-high 15-point lead, but the Roos responded by scoring six-straight points, capped by a step-back jumper from Courseault that cut the deficit to single digits for the first time since the 4:05 mark of the first half.
- 2H - 11:25 / 51-57 | Brown dished inside and found Tyler Andrews, who rose up and sank a jumper that brought Kansas City within six points, as close as the game had been since BGSU's first half run. The Falcons would not allow KC to draw any closer, expanding the lead back out to 12 points within the next minute and a half.
- 2H - 0:25 / 69-75 | The Roos did not go down without a fight, as Mukeba pulled down his 11th rebound of the day and Courseault nailed a three to bring the Roos back within six. It was not enough, and Bowling Green would sink four free throws late to put the game away.
STATS TO NOTE
- Mukeba's 11 rebounds are the most by a Roo this season and his personal best since a 12-rebound game against Lindenwood on Dec. 3 of last season.
- Today was the first time that two Kansas City players went for a double-double in the same game since Kyle Steward and Broderick Newbill did so in an overtime win over UTRGV on Mar. 9, 2017.
- Brown stayed on the court for all 40 minutes this afternoon, his second time doing so this season. He has played at least 30 minutes in eight of KC's last nine contests.
- Courseault went for a game-high six assists, his third-straight game notching six-or-more.
- Diallo played a season-high 28 minutes, going for five points and a season-high tying six rebounds.
- Kansas City pulled down 14 offensive rebounds on the day, its fifth-straight game notching at least 10. That helped allow the Roos to attempt a season-high 71 shots from the field.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Head Coach Marvin Menzies
UP NEXT
The Roos remain on the road for their final game before the holiday break, traveling to Johnson City, Tenn. for a meeting with East Tennessee State on Wednesday.
