Comeback bid falls short

Travis Kriens

Travis Kriens

The Jacks dropped their fourth consecutive game to the University of Missouri-Kansas City in gut-wrenching fashion as Kai Williams missed an uncontested layup as time expired. The layup would have sent the game into overtime, but instead SDSU lost 69-67 on Jan. 15 at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

With the Jacks down by two and the ball in their hands, Clint Sargent fired up a 3-pointer for the win. After the shot missed its mark, Kai Williams grabbed his game-high 15th rebound of the night but was unable to hit the put back.

SDSU had three players end up with double digits in points. Sargent and Garrett Callahan led the way with 22 each, and Anthony Cordova pitched in 14.

With SDSU holding a 41-38 halftime lead, the Roos made a comeback and started to pull away, taking a nine-point lead with just under seven minutes to go in regulation. From that point on, UMKC would only make one field goal the rest of the game and gave the Jacks an opportunity to close the margin to two in the final minute.

Despite the loss, head coach Scott Nagy sees good things on the horizon for his team. Nagy said that effort was not the problem and that they have to play a complete game if they hope to break their road losing streak.

The Jacks will have a three-game home stand before hitting the road again in search of that elusive road victory Feb. 5 at IUPUI and Feb. 7 at Western Illinois.

#1.882037:922857445.jpg:SDSU_vs_ORU_mensbball_sab-0047.jpg:Mackenzie Casey (3) of SDSU looks to drive around Oral Roberts defender Robert Jarvis (10) during a game earlier this season.:Stephen Brua#1.882036:784366114.jpg:SDSU_vs_ORU_mensbball_sab-0008.jpg:SDSU’s Garrett Callahan looks for a teammate while under pressure from Oral Roberts defender Kyron Stokes during a previous Summit League game.:Stephen Brua