UMKC relies on defense to top Seattle
In a new home environment, UMKC extended its winning streak with an 82-73 victory over Seattle on Thursday.
That’s a season-best three straight victories for the Kangaroos, this one scored at the Independence Events Center. A temporary headquarters was required because the MIAA Tournament runs through the weekend at UMKC’s home at Municipal Auditorium.
Thursday marked the first college basketball game in the 5-year-old building, and UMKC made it a successful debut with some pressure defense early in the second half.
Seattle led by a bucket when the Kangaroos’ full-court pressure helped force five straight turnovers. The Roos coverted the opportunities into seven points, including a three-pointer by Frank Williams, and they were on their way.
Reserve point guard Jacobby Bledsoe came off the bench and helped create havoc in the backcourt.
“He gave us a lift there, and that was the turning point in the game,” Roos coach Kareem Richardson said. “You could really feel the momentum shifting.”
The advantage grew to as many as nine as the Kangaroos spread the wealth. Five players finished in double figures with Williams leading with way with 16.
A bigger factor was UMKC’s defense on Seattle guard Isiah Umipig, who entered the game leading the Western Athletic Conference in scoring with 20.2 points a game.
Umipig, often checked by Nelson Kirksey, was held to six points, missing 15 of 16 shots. A 39-percent three-point shooter, Umipig went one for 11 from beyond the arc.
“We tried to know where he was on the floor at all times, and make it tough on him,” said Kirksey, who also filled up the stats sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
After a sluggish first half in which UMKC trailed 31-29, the Roos turned it on after the break and scored 53. That’s not a shock against the Redhawks. UMKC beat the same team, coached by former UCLA standout Cameron Dollar, 95-84 earlier this season.
By improving to 10-18 overall and 7-9 in the WAC, the Kangaroos are guaranteed to play in the game between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in next week’s conference tournament in Las Vegas.
Before that, UMKC closes out the regular season Saturday against Idaho, also in the Events Center. The 5,800-seat home of hockey’s Missouri Mavericks and soccer’s Missouri Comets will be the site of four Missouri high school postseason games on Saturday, pushing the tip off against the Vandals to 9:35 p.m.
This story was originally published March 6, 2014 at 10:53 PM with the headline "UMKC relies on defense to top Seattle ."