Box Score  I Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Photo Gallery I Video Highlights I Mitchell Patton Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - Despite a game-high 19 points and a career-best five blocked shots from junior center Mitchell Patton, the Jaguars dropped its regular finale to Kansas City, 48-44 inside the Jungle on Saturday (Mar. 2) night. Thomas Staton led Kansas City with 14 points off the bench and Nelson Kirksey contributed 11 points, six rebounds and three assists in the victory.

Kansas City (8-23, 5-11 Summit) got five key points from Staton to break a 40 all tie and IUPUI (6-25, 1-15) missed a pair of free throws in the final minute to help the Kangaroos secure the win.

With the game tied for the 11th time at 40 all after Donovan Gibbs swished a 16-footer, Kansas City went to Staton at the other end. The senior swingman swept across the lane and hit a tough fallaway jumper, drawing a foul on Gibbs in the process. He completed the three-point play, giving the 'Roos a 43-40 lead with 3:19 to play.

IUPUI turned the ball over on its next possession and Staton capitalized by getting the roll on a soft 13-footer. After a timeout, senior Greg Rice spotted Patton along the baseline for an uncontested layup, making it a one possession game. After UMKC's Caleb Johnson misfired on a three-point attempt, IUPUI traded empty possessions when Patton had a rare miss in close. However, Patton redeemed the miss by swatting a shot at the defensive end, which led to Rice pulling IUPUI within one with 34 seconds left. Forced to foul, Kansas City's Mason Wedel missed the second of two shot opportunity, giving IUPUI a chance to pull even.

Rice maneuvered along the baseline and drew a foul with 9.1 seconds to play, earning a chance to tie the game at the free throw line. However, the embattled senior leader came up empty on both and the Jaguars were unable to gather the offensive rebound before Kirk Korver tracked it down. Korver calmly hit two free throws to make it a two-possession game and set the final margin.

Aside from Patton, both teams were listless offensively, with the Jags hitting just 36.6 percent from the field and the 'Roos connecting on just 32 percent. IUPUI led 16-12 in the early going after Rice stroked a three, but Kansas City later countered with a 10-2 run to take a 25-19 advantage at the 3:40 mark. The guests used a pair of transition dunks to fuel the run, but IUPUI fired the final first half punch. 

The Jaguars closed the half with an 8-1 burst, including hitting six free throws in the final 94 seconds to take a 27-26 halftime lead. Neither team led by more than five after halftime as the two squads combined to net just 12 second half field goals. IUPUI's largest second half lead was two, while UMKC took a five-point edge late in the game on Staton's back-to-back buckets.

Staton was 6-of-14 overall and also had two steals in 32 minutes off the bench. After Kirksey's 4-of-9 effort, the rest of the 'Roos combined to go 6-of-27 from the field.

IUPUI didn't fare much better, outside of Patton's second strong game. The 6-foot-9 lefty hit 6-of-9 shots and 7-of-9 free throws, while also grabbing a game-high seven rebounds. Patton single-handedly shut down Kansas City's Fred Chatmon, forcing the visiting big man to the bench with five fouls after playing just nine minutes. Chatmon had 20 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots in the first meeting between the two schools.

"It's hard. We really wanted this bad for our seniors. They've been such great leaders for our program," Patton said of the loss. "When I get the ball in the post, I try to score when I can. If not, I try to find the open teammates. My teammates did a great job of feeding me the ball in positions where I can score."

Esposito had 10 points and six rebounds in a full 40 minutes work and Rice added seven points and four rebounds, despite foul difficulties. Both Esposito and Rice were honored as co-recipients of the IUPUI Mel Garland Basketball Award prior to Saturday's contest, given annually to an IUPUI senior that's exhibited the true spirit of Mel throughout his career – athletic ability, scholarship, mental attitude, leadership and perseverance. The Jaguars' third active senior, Nick Kitcoff, went scoreless in 11 minutes in his first career start.

The defeat was the 15th straight for the Jaguars, eight of which have come at home. Kansas City claimed the series sweep over the Jaguars and has now won three straight over IUPUI dating back to last season.

IUPUI will enter the upcoming Summit League Tournament as the No. 8 seed and will take on top-seeded South Dakota State on Saturday, Mar. 9 at 7:00 p.m. inside Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, S.D.. SDSU swept the regular season series against the Jaguars. That contest will be heard on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and on the free iHeartRadio app available on smartphones. Scott McCauley (pxp) will call the action with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m..