The UMKC men’s basketball team (4-0) picked up an 82-64 win on Wednesday night over SIU Edwardsville (1-4) at the Swinney Recreation Center, giving them their first 4-0 start since 2001 when they began the season 5-0.
Senior Jay Couisnard led the team in the contest, finishing with a career-high 26 points on 9-12 shooting from the field and 7-7 at the line. Fellow senior Spencer Johnson, meanwhile, added 11 points and a career-high tying 14 rebounds for his second double-double in the past three games.
The ‘Roos opened up the game with a with a flurry of baskets, scoring the game’s first 14 points over the opening 4:02 of the game. In the run, Couisnard, Johnson and the team’s third senior, Bakari Lewis, all chipped in four points.
The Cougars would cut the UMKC lead to 10 at 18-8, but the ‘Roos would get 14 of the next 22 points to extend its lead to 32-16.
UMKC would then close the half out strong, finishing the final 5:01 on a 12-4 run, capped by Trinity Hall buzzer beating three pointer, to take a 47-27 lead into the half.
The ‘Roos would open the second half the way they closed the first, building their lead to a game-high 25 at 60-35 with 12:58 remaining.
SIUE would make one last run at the ‘Roos, cutting the lead to 14 at 71-57 with 4:12 remaining. UMKC would quickly answer the rally, ending the game on an 11-7 run capped by a breakaway dunk by Hall that sealed the game.
In the game, Hall finished with a career-high 12 points, while Reggie Chamberlain was the fourth ‘Roo in double figures, finishing with 10. On the glass, the ‘Roos out-rebounded the Cougars, 42-30, while getting to the line 14 more times.
The Blue and Gold will take the Thanksgiving break off before returning to action on Monday when they head to Wichita State for a 7:05 p.m. tip.
