Kansas City
10-15,2-8Summit League
North Dakota State
17-8,6-4Summit League
Brown, Moni Duel Back and Forth as Roos Drop Tight Conference Battle to Bison
2/6/2025 9:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jamar Brown led all scorers with 26 points, most by a Roo against a Summit League opponent this season
KANSAS CITY, MO - Kansas City Men's Basketball kept with North Dakota State stride for stride but ultimately the Roos were unable to finish the job, falling to the Bison 78-72 in the Swinney Center on Thursday night.Â
The Roos were aided by their all-conference guard Jamar Brown, who posted a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds to give the senior his fifth double-double of the season. Melvyn Ebonkoli provided Kansas City with a powerful presence inside as the Frenchman totaled a career-high 18 points and six rebounds in the back and forth battle with the Bison. Babacar Diallo and Davontae Hall chipped in 11 points apiece to help out the Roos cause offensively.Â
Kansas City out-rebounded NDSU 30-27 for the game, which included doubling up the Bison 12-6 in the offensive rebounding department. The Roos scored 12 points of turnovers and 17 second chance points. Additionally, KC shot 41% from the field for the game and 29% from three point range.Â
KEY MOMENTS
- 1H - 14:03 / 13-12 | Brown had the ultimate green light early on, hoisting up and cashing his first three shots from long range. The third of which was set up by a strong Jayson Petty drive and kick out to Ring Nyeri, who assisted Brown on his third downtown hit to give KC a one point advantage early in the first half.Â
- 1H - 8:18 / 18-24 | With the shot clock dwindling, the Roos gave Hall the rock and let him cook as the junior guard crossed up his defender and hit a sweet looking contested step back jumper as the shot clock expired.Â
- 1H - 0:40 / 30-34 | With under a minute to go, Brown continued to carry the Roos offense, coming off a screen to knock down a pull-up jumper from the mid-range area. Brown's sixth made jumper propelled him up to 17 first half points, accounting for over half the Roos offense in the first half.Â
- 2H - 17:40 / 32-39 | With the Bison threatening to extend their lead, Ebonkoli rose to the occasion on the defensive end, soaring through the air to swat away NDSU's Jacksen Moni's dunk attempt. Ebonokli notched his 10th block of the season, becoming the third Roo this season to enter the double digit category on blocked shots this season.Â
- 2H - 8:48 / 52-60 | As the second half waned on, Ebonkoli continued to provide the Roos with a spark on both ends of the floor. This time, the senior big man went to work in the post and rose up for a tough and-one bucket in the paint. The basket put Ebonkoli at 14 points for the game, enough to tie his season-high of 14 points against Bowling Green.Â
- 2H - 1:33 / 67-74 | In the midst of the Roos comeback attempt, Brown took out his cape once again, knocking down his fourth and final three point shot of the evening and pulling the Roos closer as the game headed to its twilight hour.Â
STATS TO NOTEÂ
- The Roos trotted out their 10th different starting lineup of the season with Gob, Brown, Nyeri, Faas and Ebonkoli getting the head nod against the Bison. Nyeri earned his first collegiate career start as the freshman came off the bench in 23 games prior to Thursday's contest.Â
- The Roos boasted four double digit scorers against North Dakota State as Brown, Ebonkoli, Diallo and Hall reached 10-plus points in the contest. It's the first time KC has seen four double digit scorers since the Roos played North Dakota back in mid-January.Â
- Brown led Kansas City offensively, dropping a double-double off a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds. It's Brown's fifth double-double of the season and his first 20-plus point game of Summit League play. Brown also tied his season and career-high in three point makes as the senior guard connected on four triples for the fifth time in his career.Â
- Ebonkoli stepped up to the billing, delivering an 18-point game against the Bison, giving him a new career high in the process. Ebonkoli's previous career-best scoring output came earlier this season against Bowling Green State, where the senior posted 14 points.Â
HIGHLIGHTS | MENZIES POSTGAMEÂ
UP NEXTÂ
The Roos stay in KC this weekend as North Dakota comes to town to take on Kansas City on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Swinney Center.
