Spring Break
Kangaroos better the second time around, still fall at Oral Roberts 72-64
Elyssa Brogdon
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Sports
Though it is a rare thing for sure, there was something to be said for youth over experience last Thursday night in Tulsa, Okla.
While UMKC did not muster up a win against Oral Roberts University (ORU), the game turned out to be one for the record books.
Thursday night UMKC (9-19, 4-11 Summit) battled the Summit League's top seed ORU (19-7,?14-1 Summit)?at the?Mabee Center in Tulsa, Okla., and fell 72-64.
The leadership?of UMKC senior guard?Tim Blackwell and the heart and determination of the four greenest players on the squad seemed to give the Summit League leaders all they could handle, and maybe a little more.
It was only four weeks ago when the?Golden?Eagles dominated in a 75-47 victory over the Roos.
The?Kangaroos came to the court more than ready for round two against ORU.
Blackwell led the team with 10 points by halftime, followed by freshman guard Reggie Hamilton's eight. The Roos shot 42.3 percent from the field while the Golden Eagles hit at a 48-percent clip.
UMKC junior forward Brian Gettinger started the game with a three-point basket and gave UMKC a head start; this would be UMKC's only lead of the night.
ORU?quickly caught up and passed the Kangaroos on the scoreboard with a 7-0 run.
The Golden Eagles made the margin 12, when Hamilton made a three-point basket that offered some momentum to the squad. Between Hamilton and freshman forward James Humphrey, the Roos made an 8-2 run with four minutes left until halftime.
Then, with just seconds left in the half, Blackwell shot a three-pointer and the Roos ended the first half with only a three-point separation from the Golden Eagles, 32-29.
"That was the one thing," said head coach Matt Brown on 810 AM WHB radio following the game. "Win or lose, we were going to compete. That didn't happen the last time."
After the intermission, the Kangaroos returned to the court where the Golden Eagles were ready and waiting.
UMKC increased its shooting average in the second half to 48.1 percent.
While UMKC did not muster up a win against Oral Roberts University (ORU), the game turned out to be one for the record books.
Thursday night UMKC (9-19, 4-11 Summit) battled the Summit League's top seed ORU (19-7,?14-1 Summit)?at the?Mabee Center in Tulsa, Okla., and fell 72-64.
The leadership?of UMKC senior guard?Tim Blackwell and the heart and determination of the four greenest players on the squad seemed to give the Summit League leaders all they could handle, and maybe a little more.
It was only four weeks ago when the?Golden?Eagles dominated in a 75-47 victory over the Roos.
The?Kangaroos came to the court more than ready for round two against ORU.
Blackwell led the team with 10 points by halftime, followed by freshman guard Reggie Hamilton's eight. The Roos shot 42.3 percent from the field while the Golden Eagles hit at a 48-percent clip.
UMKC junior forward Brian Gettinger started the game with a three-point basket and gave UMKC a head start; this would be UMKC's only lead of the night.
ORU?quickly caught up and passed the Kangaroos on the scoreboard with a 7-0 run.
The Golden Eagles made the margin 12, when Hamilton made a three-point basket that offered some momentum to the squad. Between Hamilton and freshman forward James Humphrey, the Roos made an 8-2 run with four minutes left until halftime.
Then, with just seconds left in the half, Blackwell shot a three-pointer and the Roos ended the first half with only a three-point separation from the Golden Eagles, 32-29.
"That was the one thing," said head coach Matt Brown on 810 AM WHB radio following the game. "Win or lose, we were going to compete. That didn't happen the last time."
After the intermission, the Kangaroos returned to the court where the Golden Eagles were ready and waiting.
UMKC increased its shooting average in the second half to 48.1 percent.
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