Kansas City
10-15,4-6Summit League
North Dakota State
11-13,4-5Summit League
Kansas City Falls in Overtime Battle with North Dakota State
2/8/2024 11:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jamar Brown scored 21 points, including the OT-forcing three, but NDSU won the game at the free throw line
FARGO, N.D. - It was a different day, but the same story for a battle between Kansas City Men's Basketball (10-15, 4-6 Summit) and North Dakota State (11-13, 4-5 Summit) in Fargo this evening. The two sides battled to an overtime decision for the second time this season, and for the second time this season, the Bison emerged victorious over the Roos, 82-78.
A glance at the field goal numbers would make one envision a fairly painless victory for Kansas City. The Roos knocked down 28 field goals to NDSU's 22, hitting 12 three-pointers while the Bison made just five. However, that margin was erased at the free throw line, where the Bison attempted 24 more shots from the line and outscored the Roos by 23 points.
Jamar Brown scored just three points in the first half, but made his presence felt in the second half and overtime, finishing the night with 21 points, including the game-tying three that sent the contest to overtime. Khristion Courseault added 16 points and three assists for the Roos, while Jayson Petty dropped 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
- 1H - 14:52 / 11-5 | North Dakota State scored the game's first five points, but Kansas City responded by taking the lead on an 11-point run, thanks to five points from Cameron Faas, three from Brown and three more from Petty.
- 1H - 9:08 / 18-16 | Allen David Mukeba Jr. went for four-straight points by his own, reclaiming the lead for Kansas City. He went down to the other end and came up with a big block, continuing his impressive play.
- 1H - 4:48 / 23-21 | Both sides went back-and-forth in a defensive battle, and Petty began to get hot. After hitting a three-pointer to tie the game up, he rose above the rim on a pass from Babacar Diallo, throwing down an alley-oop.
- 1H - 0:04 / 37-32 | Courseault knocked down three triples in the final two minutes of the half, including a step-back with four seconds remaining, to give the Roos a five-point lead heading into the break.
- 2H - 18:15 / 45-34 | Kansas City hit its first three shots of the second half, opening the half on an 8-2 run. The Roos opened up their largest lead of the game thanks to threes by Petty and Faas, followed by a mid-range jumper from Petty.
- 2H - 10:44 / 54-45 | Promise C. Idiaru came off the bench and made an impact, knocking down a three that extended the Roos' lead back out to nine points.
- 2H - 5:55 / 61-59 | North Dakota State stormed back to take the lead for the first time since the first half, but Brown got an and-one to go, putting the Roos back in front.
- 2H - 0:13 / 68-68 | The Roos trailed by three points with the shot clock turned off, and Courseault found Brown coming around a screen for the game-tying three. The Roos came up with a stop on the defensive end, forcing overtime.
- OT - 1:08 / 76-78 | North Dakota State opened up a five-point lead early in overtime, and in need of a bucket, the Roos found Brown for his third three of the night. NDSU would ice the game at the free throw line and escape with the victory.
STATS TO NOTE
- Brown's 21-point performance marked his fourth time this season surpassing the 20-point mark, his second time in conference play. Nobody else on the team has gone for 20 points more than once.
- Kansas City shot 50% from the field, going 28-of-56. It is the third time this season that the Roos have shot 50% or better, and the first time that it has happened in a losing effort.
- The game was mostly played in the half court, as the Roos scored just three fast break points and the Bison were held scoreless in the break.
- The 24-shot discrepancy at the free throw line was the largest free throw deficit Kansas City has faced since being out-shot by 27 at the line by Oral Roberts on Feb. 12, 2022. The Bison's 39 free throw attempts was the most by a Kansas City opponent since North Dakota went to the line 39 times on Feb. 18 of last year.
- This marked the third time KC has gone to overtime this season. The Roos have fallen short in all three.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Menzies Postgame
UP NEXT
The Roos remain on the road for a game against North Dakota at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
