Kansas City
8-13,2-4Summit League
South Dakota State
12-9,5-1Summit League
Roos Can't Complete Comeback in Brookings
1/25/2024 8:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kansas City erased a 15-point deficit, but could not emerge victorious
BROOKINGS, S.D. - Kansas City Men's Basketball (8-13, 2-4 Summit) stuck with league-leading South Dakota State (12-9, 5-1 Summit) in Frost Arena this evening, but the Roos' comeback attempt was not to be, falling, 75-66. A 20-point run midway through the first half put the Jackrabbits in control of the game, but Kansas City did not go down without a fight, even claiming a lead late in the second half.
The Roos were unafraid to let the three-pointer fly this evening, attempting a season-high 38 triples on the night, making a season-best 15 of them. After shooting just 28.6% from long range in the first half, Kansas City picked up the pace in the second half, making nine threes on 52.9% shooting.
Jamar Brown was KC's offensive leader, going for 17 points and knocking down a season-high tying four triples. Cameron Faas went for 11 points, making three triples, and Khristion Courseault dropped 10, eight of which came in the first half.
KEY MOMENTS
- 1H - 16:00 / 6-2 | Faas dished out to Courseault, who knocked down the three-pointer to give the Roos a four-point lead. South Dakota State quickly tied the game back up going into the first media timeout.
- 1H - 8:37 / 20-15 | Courseault knocked down his second three of the game, capping a 10-2 run that saw Kansas City score on four-straight possessions. South Dakota State would go on a 20-point run over the next seven minutes to claim control of the game.
- 1H - 1:03 / 23-35 | Babacar Diallo came up with a steal and found Jeff Ngandu in the fast break for a layup that put a stop to SDSU's big run. Kansas City would enter the break trailing by 10 after a three-pointer by Faas to end the half.
- 2H - 18:47 / 31-40 | The Roos came out firing in the second half, scoring on their first two possessions. Brown took a dribble drive along the baseline to bring KC back within single-digits, but SDSU scored the next six points to extend the lead back out.
- 2H - 12:12 / 47-51 | Kansasa City went on an eight-point run, capped by a fast break three from Brown that brought the Roos back within four points. It was as close as they had been since the 6:13 mark of the first half, and the Roos were within three at the under-12 timeout.
- 2H - 7:41 / 58-59 | Brown found Yulian Ramirez-Montero for a three that brought Kansas City within a point, and on the following possession, Dillo came up with a steal and drew a foul. He would knock down 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game up.
- 2H - 5:53 / 64-63 | Courseault found Brown on the right wing, letting a man fly past him and nailing a three. He gave the Roos their first lead since the 7:46 mark of the first half, and the game was tied, 66-66, going into the final media timeout. The Jackrabbits finished the game on a nine-point run to escape with the win.
STATS TO NOTE
- Kansas City's first three field goals of the day all came from long range. The first two-pointer of the night came on a Faas jumper at 9:45 in the first half.
- The Roos were held to 27.3% shooting in the first half, but elevated that number to 45.5% in the second half. Kansas City shot 24-of-66 on the game for a 36.4% shooting clip.
- Thirty-eight three-point attempts marks the most by a Kansas City team the Roos attempted 42 triples in a win against Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2017. The Roos' 15 made threes was the most by KC since Nov. 14, 2022 against Calvary.
- Diallo dished out six assists on the night, his third-straight game with at least that many. Since entering the starting lineup on Jan. 6, he is averaging 6.0 assists per game.
- Ngandu had three blocks on the evening, his second time this season hitting that mark. He previously went for three denials in the Dec. 9 win over Lindenwood.
UP NEXT
Kansas City returns home this weekend to take on South Dakota at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening.
