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Kangaroos knock Thunderbirds from the sky
Dan Stroud
Issue date: 1/8/07 Section: Sports
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Southern Utah did not score again until six minutes were gone in the final period as the Roos would jump out to a 43-36 lead. Mirroring the start of the game, Pledger once again scored six of those first eight points.
UMKC, displaying its newfound resolve would never again relinquish the lead in the contest.
There would however be one last moment of truth for the Kangaroos. T-birds guard Justin Allen scored a lay-up with 19 seconds to play in regulation, shaving the Kangaroos' previously held 11-point lead all the way down to one at 63-62.
After a 30-second timeout was called by Southern Utah to formulate its strategy, it became clear UMKC would win or lose this game from the charity stripe. Freshman guard Dominique Johnson got the ball into the hands of junior forward Brent Stephens, the best free-throw shooter on the Kangaroo squad. He hit one of two, leaving the door open for the T-birds to attempt to tie or win the game.
Southern Utah forward Junior Abraho zipped the ball down the court into the hands of waiting guard Steve Barnes, who missed a lay-up. Senior guard Quinton Day, who scored 14 points of his own in the contest, pulled down the rock and passed it to sophomore guard Dane Brumagin. He was immediately fouled by Southern Utah, which sent him back to the free-throw line.
Brumagin hit both shots, sealing the victory for UMKC, 66-62, and putting the team at the top of the Mid-Continent standings to start league play.
"This is big for us," said UMKC Head Basketball Coach Rich Zvosec. "It helps our psyche and it helps our confidence."
dstroud@unews.com
UMKC, displaying its newfound resolve would never again relinquish the lead in the contest.
There would however be one last moment of truth for the Kangaroos. T-birds guard Justin Allen scored a lay-up with 19 seconds to play in regulation, shaving the Kangaroos' previously held 11-point lead all the way down to one at 63-62.
After a 30-second timeout was called by Southern Utah to formulate its strategy, it became clear UMKC would win or lose this game from the charity stripe. Freshman guard Dominique Johnson got the ball into the hands of junior forward Brent Stephens, the best free-throw shooter on the Kangaroo squad. He hit one of two, leaving the door open for the T-birds to attempt to tie or win the game.
Southern Utah forward Junior Abraho zipped the ball down the court into the hands of waiting guard Steve Barnes, who missed a lay-up. Senior guard Quinton Day, who scored 14 points of his own in the contest, pulled down the rock and passed it to sophomore guard Dane Brumagin. He was immediately fouled by Southern Utah, which sent him back to the free-throw line.
Brumagin hit both shots, sealing the victory for UMKC, 66-62, and putting the team at the top of the Mid-Continent standings to start league play.
"This is big for us," said UMKC Head Basketball Coach Rich Zvosec. "It helps our psyche and it helps our confidence."
dstroud@unews.com
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