Kansas City
11-18,7-9Summit League
North Dakota
11-18,5-11Summit League
Martin Shines in Senior Night Loss
2/18/2023 10:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sam Martin scored a season-high 15 points in his final game in the Swinney Center
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Senior Night, Kansas City Men's Basketball (11-18, 7-9 Summit) fought hard but ultimately fell to North Dakota (11-18, 5-11 Summit), 81-73. KC foul trouble gave UND a chance to pull away at the free-throw line, with four Roos fouling out. In his final home game, senior guard Sam Martin went out on a high note, recording a season-high 15 points.
Kansas City started out strong, but their early lead was wiped out by a 22-8 North Dakota run to end the first half. Free throw shooting, and a strong performance from the bench gave the Roos a chance going into the final minutes of the game, down only one with 3:50 to play. The Roos scored 24 bench points and 26-of-33 from the line, shooting a 78.8% clip.
The Roos found themselves without Shemarri Allen after he went out late in the first half and didn't return to the game with a left-arm injury. KC had four players in double-digits. RayQuawndis Mitchell led with 20 points, Martin followed with 15, Jeff Ngandu had 12 and Jevin Sullivan recorded his first-career double-double on a career-high 11 points and 10 rebounds.
KEY MOMENTS
- 1H – 19:10 / 5-0 | The Roos scored on their first two possessions with the first five points of the game. Mitchell attacked the rim for the easy layup. Next time down, Allen drove in transition for the and-one layup.
- 1H – 17:24 / 7-4 | Martin dribbled into the lane, spinning to get space for the open layup.
- 1H – 13:37 / 14-8 | Tyler Andrews beat his defender for back-to-back layups. Andrews finished through contact completing the three-point play and capping off a five-point swing for the Roos.
- 1H – 5:03 / 21-24 | Jeff Ngandu hit the contested jump-shot to snap an 11-point North Dakota run.
- 2H – 18:33 / 32-40 | Martin caught a pass in transition, driving for the and-one layup to open up Roo scoring in the second half. Next offensive possession, Martin caught the ball underneath the basket for the reverse layup.
2H | This is a @sam_martinnnn fan page pic.twitter.com/fVtQ5pmDmt
— Kansas City Men's Basketball (@KCRoosMBB) February 19, 2023
- 2H – 11:18 / 46-52 | Andrews hit a step-back three-pointer to end an 8-2 scoring run from ND.
- 2H – 8:45 / 57-60 | Mitchell drove the baseline going up and under for the reverse layup to round out a Roo 9-3 run.
- 2H – 3:50 / 66-67 | Jevin Sullivan took the ball end-to-end for the strong layup through traffic. A couple plays later, Martin hit the open three-point shot bringing the Roos within one.
- 2H – 1:31 / 71-75 | Martin pulled up for a deep three-pointer answering back-to-back threes from ND.
STATS TO NOTE
- The Roos went into the locker room with three players having two or more fouls: S. Martin (3), B. Diallo (3), T. Andrews (2). They ended with four players fouling out and 28 total fouls.
- KC gave up 16 turnovers which translated into 12 points off turnovers for ND.
- 14-of-27 first half points for the Roos came off the bench.
- The Roos shot 40.7% from the field compared to 41.5% from North Dakota.
- Kansas City scored 15 second chance points on 13 offensive boards.
- KC won the rebounding battle by a margin of plus-17 (43-26).
THE ROOS, QUOTED
Coach Menzies
"Sam had a really good game, I mean he struggled with injury all year for him to play with that extra emotion and extra passion on senior night was really inspiring to see and go out like a champion."
"The next time out it's very valuable to actually be on the floor and its one thing to practice and do individual workouts and all of that, but to actually be in the game environment with the emotions with the refs and the crowd and the coaching the way it is."
"Felt great to go out with a bang I've been working for this the whole year, my whole life. My whole career here I've been ready for this moment. I wish we could have gotten the win, of course injury bug got us."
"We've had some great wins here. Last year, we beat North Dakota State at home and I took a charge late in the game to help secure it."
UP NEXT
The Roos will be on their final road trip of the season before the Summit League tournament. KC will take on South Dakota State on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in Brookings, S.D.
