The Kansas City Roos men’s basketball team got their season off to a great start with a 91-68 win over the Hannibal-LaGrange Trojans on Monday.
It was a back-and-forth game in the first half, as the Roos only led by three at halftime. Kansas City went on to score 52 points and showed why they were predicted to finish first in the Summit League this season.
Kansas City’s rebounding was a big reason for their victory. The Roos outrebounded the Trojans 42 to 29. Their emphasis on the glass was on full display.
“The guys just needed to be reminded of the big picture and what we should be focused on,” said head coach Marvin Menzies. “They did a better job of staying connected defensively, and offensively, in the second half.”
Senior guard Jamar Brown was a pivotal factor for Kansas City’s win. After scoring only 7 points in the first half, he went on to score 19 points in the second half, which gave him 26 points on the night. He also grabbed 9 rebounds.
After halftime, Brown scored 10 straight points.“I felt like we needed a spark in the second half,” Brown said. “I felt like I could’ve done more in the first half. So I just wanted to go harder in the second half.”
Sophomore guard Jayson Petty contributed to the victory, finishing with 17 points. Petty’s first half performance really kicked it off for the Roos. He fouled out in the second half, but still played a great game.
Senior forward Cameron Faas was also a big factor in Monday night’s game. Faas scored 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds for the Roos.
The men’s basketball team takes on Kansas Christian next on Friday, Nov. 8. Single-game and season tickets can be found at this link.
