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ETSU caps off perfect home stand; extends win streak to four

  JOHNSON CITY – ETSU men’s basketball jumped on the Roos early and took the bounce out them late as the Buccaneers defeated Kansas City 70-57 on Wednesday night inside Freedom Hall.

 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

The Bucs used a gritty defensive effort to cap off a perfect three-game home stand as ETSU held Kansas City to less than 30 percent shooting and 15 points below its season average. Overall, the Roos shot 29 percent from the field (16-56) and 33 percent from beyond the arc (8-24).

 ETSU forced Kansas City into 18 turnovers and cashed those into 25 points, while also outscoring the Roos in transition, 12-0. The Bucs were also plus-10 in the paint, 26-16.

 For the second straight game the Bucs made at least 20 free throws as ETSU finished with a 77 percent clip at the charity stripe (20-26).

 ETSU held Kansas City to 27 first-half points with the Bucs improving to 80-10 since the 2015-16 season when holding the opposition to 30 points or less in the opening 20 minutes.

 The Bucs led by as many as 16 points and held the lead for over 38 minutes of the contest.

 With the win, the Bucs improved to 7-4 and have won four straight games for the first time since the 2021-22 season when ETSU won five in a row. ETSU also improved to 5-0 inside Freedom Hall this season.

 Kansas City, who made its first-ever trip to Johnson City, dipped to 5-8 on the campaign.

 

TOP PERFORMERS

After missing the last Friday’s game against Tusculum, Ebby Asamoah returned to the Buccaneer lineup and tied a season-high with 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting (4-of-9 from beyond the arc). Asamoah also pulled down six rebounds and blocked three shots.

 Karon Boyd just missed a double-double as he finished with nine points and 10 rebounds, while Jaden Seymour and Jadyn Parker combined for 23 points and 13 rebounds. Seymour pitched in with 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks and Parker added 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

 Quimari Peterson ended with seven points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds.

 Kansas City had three players score in double figure with Jamar Brown and Cameron Faas each finishing with 12 points. Faas went 2-of-13 from the field and Brown was 4-of-10.

 

GAME SUMMARY

ETSU jumped out to a 23-10 run in the opening 10 minutes of the contest and never trailed for the remainder of the night. The Buccaneer lead hovered around double digits for the rest of the first half and ETSU held a 36-27 advantage at the break.

 The Bucs’ feisty defense held Kansas City to 8-of-29 shooting in the first half and 4-of-12 from long distance. Asamoah led all players with 12 points, while five other Bucs had at least four points in the first 20 minutes.

 ETSU opened the second half by extending its lead to 14 twice in the opening seven minutes with the final coming at 50-36 thanks to Seymour capping off a three-point-play with 13:21 remaining.

 Kansas City threw one small punch at the Blue & Gold as they used a 10-3 run to cut its deficit in half at 53-46 with just over nine minutes left to play, but a transition three by Tyler Rice put any stop into a comeback by the Roos.

 Less than a minute later, Peterson found Rice open for a fast-break triple, pushing the lead back into double figures at, 56-46. The closest Kansas City would get was nine as ETSU opened a 16-point lead late and came away with the 70-57 victory.

 

UP NEXT

ETSU has a quick turnaround as they fly out west on Thursday for a Friday night game at Utah State. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET.