- Matchup: South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs UMKC Kangaroos
- Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
- Venue: Swinney Center, Kansas City, MO
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The UMKC Kangaroos (4-24) are set to challenge the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (13-16) at the Swinney Center this Thursday.
In their latest match, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits secured a victory against North Dakota with a score of 91-83. During this game, South Dakota State achieved a shooting percentage of 47.5% (28 out of 59) and hit 14 of 29 from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, they converted 21 of 25 attempts, resulting in an impressive 84%. In the rebounding department, the Jackrabbits amassed a total of 39 boards, including 13 on the offensive end. Additionally, they delivered 19 assists, committed 7 turnovers, and secured 5 steals. Defensively, South Dakota State allowed their opponents to shoot 51.7% from the floor, with North Dakota finding the net on 31 of their 60 attempts. North Dakota recorded 17 assists and managed to steal the ball twice. Despite grabbing 22 rebounds (5 offensive and 17 defensive), they did not manage to register any blocks. From the charity stripe, North Dakota shot 66.7%, making 8 of their 12 attempts, and made 13 out of 31 from three-point range. Throughout this contest, South Dakota State committed 14 personal fouls, while North Dakota had a total of 20.
Joe Sayler played a pivotal role in the match, scoring 23 points on 6 of 13 shooting. He logged 36 minutes on the court, securing 8 rebounds along the way, and concluded the game with a shooting percentage of 46.2% along with 1 assist.
Currently, South Dakota State holds a record of 13-16 this season. They average 11.0 turnovers per game while committing 16.4 personal fouls. The team is gathering 36.9 rebounds per matchup and has achieved a total of 423 assists, ranking them 104th nationally for ball movement. The Jackrabbits are making 34.6% of their three-point attempts (236 out of 683) and 70.5% at the free-throw line. Offensively, they are averaging 76.0 points per game, positioning them 185th nationally, with a field goal percentage of 46.4%.
Defensively, the Jackrabbits induce an average of 10.6 turnovers per game while committing 17.2 fouls. They hold opponents to 33.7% shooting from beyond the arc and rank 152nd in D-1 for points allowed per game (73.0). The Jackrabbits’ defense permits a field goal percentage of 43.2% (729 out of 1,688) and gives up 33.1 rebounds per game as a team. They are ranked 243rd in the nation in terms of assists allowed, with 392 surrendered throughout the season.
In their previous matchup, the UMKC Kangaroos faced a defeat against North Dakota State, ending with a score of 95-59. On the rebounding front, UMKC allowed North Dakota State to claim 50 boards (15 offensive). The Kangaroos shot 43.6% from three, successfully making 17 of 39 attempts, and went 4 of 6 at the free-throw line (66.7%). North Dakota State recorded 37 out of 75 field goal attempts, achieving a shooting percentage of 49.3%. For UMKC, they finished the game shooting 23 for 62 from the floor, equating to a shooting percentage of 37.1%. From beyond the arc, the Kangaroos converted 7 of 31 attempts (22.6%) and shot 37.5% from the free-throw line, hitting 6 of 16 attempts. North Dakota State committed 11 personal fouls, yielding the Kangaroos 16 free throw opportunities. UMKC also turned the ball over 14 times but notched 8 steals. In total, the Kangaroos secured 20 defensive rebounds and 5 offensive boards, totaling 25 rebounds for the match.
Kasheem Grady II contributed significantly for the Kangaroos, shooting 6 of 12 and securing 1 rebound, totaling 15 points in 21 minutes on the court, along with 1 assist.
UMKC’s record stands at 4-24 this season. Offensively, the Kangaroos are shooting 41.7% from the field, placing them 330th nationally. They have amassed 1,958 points for the season (averaging 69.9 per game) and grab 33.9 rebounds per match. Their assist rate is at 12.0 per game (313th in the nation) while experiencing 13.6 turnovers each game. Additionally, UMKC commits 16.4 personal fouls per contest and converts 69.1% from the free-throw line.
Defensively, the Kangaroos rank 357th nationally for points allowed per game, with an average of 83.9. They generate 12.0 turnovers per game but allow opponents to shoot 48.0% from the field (346th). The UMKC defense holds opponents to 35.5% from three-point range (246 of 692), and opposing teams hit 71.4% of their free-throw attempts. They allow an average of 16.2 assists and 39.6 rebounds per game, ranking 340th and 358th, respectively, in college basketball.
Which team will emerge victorious against the spread tonight in the NCAA matchup?
Prediction: Back South Dakota State
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