Kansas City
6-10,1-1Summit League
Sacramento State
4-10,0-2Big Sky
Kansas City Comeback Falls Short at Sacramento State
1/3/2024 11:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Roos were held to 19.2% three-point shooting in the loss
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Kansas City Men's Basketball (6-10, 0-2 Summit) battled from behind for most of the night against Sacramento State (4-10, 0-2 Big Sky), but could never overcome the Hornets, falling in a 67-64 decision. Despite trailing by as many as 12 points midway through the second half, the Roos were able to battle back and had opportunities to tie the game late, but were unable to take advantage.
Sacramento State held the lead for over 35 minutes of game time, but the Roos were able to keep things within single digits for the most part, thanks to 16 Hornet turnovers, converted to 14 points from turnovers by Kansas City. Offensive boards also allowed the Roos to stay in the game, pulling down 14 misses for second chance opportunities. In the end, 57.4% field goal shooting by Sacramento State was too much for KC to contain, scoring 42 points in the paint.
Jamar Brown posted his fourth double-double of the season, dropping a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. Cameron Faas went for double-digits as well, scoring 13 points on 3-of-7 three-point shooting.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
- 1H - 15:17 / 9-8 | Tyler Andrews scored six of the Roos' first nine points of the night, including a long-range three on a dime by Khristion Courseault that gave Kansas City a lead going into the first media timeout of the night.
- 1H - 9:19 / 17-20 | The Hornets took the lead for good on a six-point run, but Yulian Ramirez-Montero found Brown on the wing for a triple, bringing Kansas City back within three points.
- 1H - 2:34 / 23-28 | A scoreless drought of nearly six minutes allowed Sacramento State to build a double-digit lead, but the Roos cut it in half using a 6-1 run, capped by a layup from Courseault.
- 2H - 17:09 / 37-39 | The Roos battled within two early in the second half, aided Faas' first three-point make of the day. Sacramento State responded by scoring the next 10 points and creating some separation.
- 2H - 10:01 / 45-51 | Kansas City's defense forced the Hornets to commit turnovers on three-straight possessions and allowed the Roos to cut the deficit in half, capped by a pair of free throws from Jayson Petty.
- 2H - 5:08 / 54-55 | Brown drove to the lane and finished through contact for an and-one, bringing Kansas City within a point for the first time since the first half. However, Sacramento State hit a three on its next trip down the court and regained some breathing room.
- 2H - 2:59 / 61-64 | The Hornets extended the lead back out to six, but a triple by Faas gave Kansas City late life. The Roos had four possessions and attempted a pair of threes to tie the game up, but came up empty and Sacramento State took the victory.
STATS TO NOTE
- Kansas City attempted 20-plus three-pointers for the eighth-straight game, shooting 5-of-26 from distance. The Roos rank 77th in the nation with an average of 24.9 three point attempts per game.
- Brown's fourth double-double of the year is a team-high, and is the most in a season by a Roo since Marvin Nesbitt Jr. went for the same amount in the 2021-22 season. He is one of just six players since 2010-11 to record four-plus double-doubles in the same season, according to Sports Reference.
- Kansas City won the battle of the boards, 35-30, holding the Hornets nearly 10 rebounds below their season average. It is the fifth-straight game that the Roos have out-rebounded their opponent.
- The Roos have begun to find a groove at the charity stripe. After shooting below 70% from the line in eight of the first 10 games, KC has been above the 70% plateau in five of the last six.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Coach Marvin Menzies
UP NEXT
The Roos wrap up the Big Sky-Summit Challenge at home this weekend, hosting Portland State for a game at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
