UMKC holds off SC Upstate with Ross at FT line down stretch (Jan 02, 2018)

By AP
Published

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) Isaiah Ross finished with 21 points and Broderick Robinson scored 20 to lead UMKC past South Carolina Upstate 79-77 on Tuesday.

Aleer Leek's jumper with 7:13 left started a 10-0 run that ended with a pair of free throws from Ross for a 75-65 lead. Jure Span made a pair of layups in a 17-second stretch and the Spartans were within 76-74 with 22 seconds remaining. Ross hit two free throws and Robinson 1 of 2 to close it out for the Kangaroos. Span hit a 3 at the buzzer for SC Upstate.

UMKC (5-11) held on despite shooting 1 of 5 from the floor at the end and missed four free throws in the last 45 seconds. SC Upstate (5-12) led 47-42 at intermission before a 7-2 Kangaroos' run after the break knotted it at 49.

Jordan Giles scored 15, 11 from the free-throw line, and Leek scored 13 for UMKC. Span and Malik Moore each scored 22 for the Spartans, who had a 36-28 rebounding advantage.