Kansas City
8-12,2-3Summit League
Omaha
10-11,3-3Summit League
Brown the Hero as Kansas City Takes Down Omaha
1/20/2024 3:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jamar Brown scored the game-winner with 12 seconds remaining, giving the Roos a road win
OMAHA, Neb. - As time ran off the clock, tied at 72-72, Kansas City Men's Basketball (8-12, 2-3 Summit) knew who to get the ball to. Jamar Brown took an isolation play on the left side of the hoop, driving to the basket and finishing over a defender to take the lead. A stop on the defensive end as time expired allowed the Roos to claim their first road win in conference play, defeating Omaha (10-11, 3-3 Summit), 74-72.
The game was tight from beginning to end, with neither team leading by more than six points. There were 16 ties and 17 lead changes, with Kansas City holding the lead for just 11:10 of game time. However, the Roos held the lead when it mattered, thanks to Brown's heroics.
Balanced scoring was the name of the game for the Roos, as Cameron Faas led the charge with 15 points, followed by 11 for Brown and 10 for Yulian Ramirez-Montero. Four other Kansas City players scored eight-plus points, and the Roos' bench outscored Omaha's, 30-0.
The Roos won the game from behind the three-point line, hitting on 11-of-25 triples on the day for a 44.0% three-point clip. Faas was automatic from long range, connecting on 5-of-7 threes, three of which came in the final seven minutes of the game.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
- 1H - 17:19 / 6-6 | Ramirez-Montero was the first Kansas City reserve to check into the game, making his presence felt shortly after checking in. Babacar Diallo found him for a game-tying three, but Omaha would score the game's next five points to claim a lead.
- 1H - 12:06 / 18-15 | Brown dished to Tyler Andrews on the right wing, knocking down a three and completing a 10-2 run that allowed the Roos to take the lead.
- 1H - 5:06 / 31-29 | The Mavericks came back and claimed a four-point lead, but KC would use a six-point run to go back ahead. It was capped as Diallo found Allen David Mukeba Jr. in transition, streaking to the bucket for a flashy layup.
- 1H - 0:55 / 40-36 | Ramirez-Montero used a dribble move to get inside the arc, pump faking and knocking down a mid-range jumper to give Kansas City its biggest lead of the game. Omaha would score the final three points of the half and KC led by one at the break.
- 2H - 17:02 / 47-48 | Omaha came out and claimed a lead early in the second half, but Mukeba pulled down a pair of offensive rebounds and got a second chance bucket to go, bringing the Roos back within a point. However, the Mavs scored the next four points and went back ahead by five.
- 2H - 12:03 / 54-57 | The Mavericks took a six-point lead, the largest of the game by either team. Diallo drove to the lane and kicked out for Ramirez-Montero, cutting the deficit in half with a triple and making him the first Roo to double-digit scoring.
- 2H - 5:55 / 62-61 | Back-to-back threes helped KC claim the lead for the first time since the beginning o the half, first a triple from Faas, and then Mukeba finding Courseault for the go-ahead bucket.
- 2H - 0:12 / 74-72 | After Omaha tied the game up with a pair of free throws, the Roos called a timeout and set a play up. Brown took the ball on the left wing with 18 seconds remaining, driving past his defender and finishing over the help defense for the eventual game-winner. Kansas City forced a last-second heave on the defensive end that rattled off the rim and out, securing the victory.
STATS TO NOTE
- Jayson Petty and Mukeba entered the starting lineup for the Roos today, who played with their 11th unique starting lineup of the season and won a game with their seventh starting lineup.
- The Roos 11 three-pointers was the most since the win over Lindenwood on Dec. 9, and was Kansas City's fifth game this year knocking down double-digit threes.
- Ramirez-Montero scored 10 points off the bench for the Roos, marking the fourth-straight game that Kansas City has had a double-digit scorer off the bench.
- Brown was on the court for 38:52, and was the only Kansas City player to surpass 30 minutes of playing time. Faas, Ramirez-Montero and Khristion Courseault were the only other Roos to play more than 20 minutes on the game.
- The win was KC's first road win of Summit League play in their second opportunity. It also marked the first time this season that the Roos have won a game outside the state of Missouri, as the team's only other road win this year came at Lindenwood.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Head Coach Marvin Menzies
UP NEXT
The Roos remain on the road to begin next week, taking on South Dakota State on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Brookings, S.D.
