KANSAS CITY, Mo. - UMKC canned 14 threes, including eight in the first half, to race past IUPUI on Senior Night, 85-72. The 14 threes allowed were the most by an IUPUI opponent this season.
Sophomore Craig Swoope came off the bench to provide a team-high 20 points in the loss. The defeat snapped the Jaguars' season-best three-game winning streak.
UMKC junior Tim Blackwell, who came in averaging just four points per game, torched the Jags for 22 points and six treys. Reserve Dane Brumagin added 14 points for the victors.
The game was played at historic Kemper Arena, which was also the site for IUPUI's only ever Mid-Continent Conference Tournament title in 2003.
On Saturday night, it was the host Kangaroos that made pleasant memories as they captured a split in this year's series with IUPUI.
After UMKC (10-18, 5-7 Mid-Con) opened the game with threes on three of its first five possessions, IUPUI pulled even at 12 all on an Angelo Smith layup. From there, UMKC's Dee Ayuba sparked a 7-0 run as the 'Roos would lead the rest of the way.
IUPUI (13-13, 6-6 Mid-Con) closed within four late in the first half, but the 'Roos finished the half having hit 8-of-10 from three-point range in building a 44-36 halftime advantage. The Jags were unable to cut the lead below eight in the second half.
"We got beat tonight in every facet of the game," IUPUI head coach Ron Hunter said. "Some times, you just have to tip your cap. They came out and hit shots and just flat out beat us.
"We've got to regroup, but we got a split on a tough, tough road trip."
UMKC got threes from five different players and finished the game shooting 58.8. percent overall and a blistering 61 percent from long distance. Meanwhile, IUPUI shot a respectable 42.6 percent overall and hit 11-of-23 from three-point range.
Having outrebounded its past three opponents by double-digits, IUPUI was outrebounded 31-24 on Saturday night as UMKC senior point guard Quinton Day grabbed a game-high eight caroms. Smith led IUPUI with five rebounds, while Swoope and Austin Montgomery added four each.
IUPUI senior David Barlow had 19 points and three steals and Gary Patterson added 15. Coming off a career-high 30-point game, Montgomery had just four points on 2-of-7 shooting before fouling out. Swoope, who came in averaging just over five points per game, has tallied 42 points in the two contests with UMKC this season.
The loss pulled IUPUI back to .500 overall and in Mid-Con play entering the final week of the regular season. As of now, the Jags sit in the Nos. 4-5 game in the upcoming Mid-Con Tournament. This week, IUPUI will host Mid-Con leaders Oral Roberts on Thursday before taking on Centenary on Senior Night on Saturday.
"We want to send our seniors out how (UMKC) sent theirs out," Hunter said referring to the 'Roos final home court win.
Tip time for both games this week is slated for 7:00 p.m.. Pregame coverage on Gold 95.9 FM will begin at 6:30 as Greg Rakestraw (pbp) and Scott McCauley (color) call the action.
