UMKC men’s basketball seeks first conference tourney victory since 2007

UMKC’s men’s basketball team headed to Las Vegas, site of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, on Tuesday with feelings of revenge and caution.

In Texas-Pan American, the Kangaroos are meeting the same team it played in the regular-season finale on Saturday. The Roos lost 53-51 on a buzzer-beating jump shot.

UMKC led the game for more than 35 minutes, and owned a seven-point cushion with 2 1/2 minutes remaining but couldn’t hang on.

Thus the revenge.

As for the caution…

“They know they can beat us,” UMKC coach Kareem Richardson said. “I don’t know if I feel good about that. We have to get past the doubt.”

But UMKC knows it can beat the Broncs. The Roos won 70-45 at Municipal Auditorium on Feb. 5.

Another less for UMKC: The Roos find themselves in the same situation as the previous year. Then, they played Idaho in the regular-season finale and lost. A few days later the same teams met with the same outcome.

“What this situation does for me is ramp things up in terms of trying to find ways we can overcome what got us beat the first time,” Richardson said.

One difference this year is expectation based on seed. For only the second time in 20 years as a member of a Division I conference, UMKC is a No. 2 seed. Texas-Pan American is the seventh seed. Last year, the Kangaroos were the No. 4 seed.

A UMKC advantage: conference player of the year Martez Harrison. He got the vote of the coaches and Harrison has been the Kangaroos go-to player all season. He averages a league best 17.8 points per game and gets to the free throw line more than any player in the WAC.

The Kangaroos seek their first conference tournament victory since 2007. They’re on a six-game losing streak in league postseason games.

The UMKC women tip off in the WAC Tournament at 9 p.m. Wednesday against No. 3 seed Texas-Pan American.

WAC men’s tournament

At Orleans Arena in Las Vegas

Thursday’s opening round

(4) Bakersfield vs. (5) Utah Valley, 4 p.m.

(2) UMKC vs. (7) Texas-Pan American, 6:30 p.m.

(3) Seattle vs. (6) Chicago State, 9 p.m.

Friday’s semifinals

(1) New Mexico State vs. Bakersfield/Utah Valley winner, 8 p.m.

UMKC/Texas-Pan American winner vs. Seattle/Chicago State winner, 10:30 p.m.

Saturday’s championship

Semifinal winners, 10 p.m. (ESPNU)

WAC women’s tournament

At Orleans Arena in Las Vegas

Wednesday’s opening round

(4) Seattle vs. (5) Utah Valley, 4 p.m.

(2) Bakersfield vs. (7) Chicago State, 6:30 p.m.

(3) Texas-Pan American vs. (6) UMKC, 9 p.m.

Friday’s semifinals

(1) New Mexico State vs. Seattle/Utah Valley winner, 2 p.m.

Bakersfield/Chicago State winner vs. Texas-Pan American/UMKC winner, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday’s championship

Semifinal winners, 3 p.m. (ESPNU)

This story was originally published March 10, 2015 at 2:19 PM with the headline "UMKC men’s basketball seeks first conference tourney victory since 2007."