KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Tabor College Men's Basketball team traveled to Kansas City on Tuesday to face the NCAA Division I Kansas City Roos. This marks the first ever meeting between the two programs, but the Roos are no stranger to the KCAC, as they have played games against Avila University and the University of Saint Mary already this season. 
 
The Bluejays are coming off an Exhibition game Monday night against the University of Central Oklahoma, while the Roos last played on Saturday, where they faced in-state foe Lindenwood University on the road. 
 
Tabor came out on fire, with Thatcher McClure winning the tip for the Bluejays and earning the first possession to start. Kenyon Holcombe made the Kansas City bench scratch their heads by hitting a three to put the Bluejays on the board first, and then slammed home a dunk over the Roos thanks to a steal from Kalep Crane. Crane got an easy layup before the Roos scored their first bucket, which was followed up by a made layup from McClure. Kansas City was forced to burn two timeouts early, with the Bluejays establishing a 14-8 lead at the 13:02 mark. The Bluejays would once again push their lead back out to seven, which tied for their biggest lead of the game. The Roos would continue to chip at the lead, eventually pulling ahead by one point at the halftime break.
 
The Bluejays would pull out to a six point lead after the break, seeming to be back in control, but Kansas City would keep chipping away. Kansas City would take a 50-49 lead at the 13:25 mark, thanks to a made jumper from the Roos' Khristion Courseault. This gave the Roos a miniscule lead, but it would become a lead that the Roos would keep for good. The Roos would keep building their lead and would go on to win by 23, which would be the closest a KCAC team has played Kansas City all season.
 
McClure lead the Bluejays in scoring with 18 points, Holcombe had 13 points and seven rebounds, Jack Voth had 11 points and four rebounds, Crane had nine points and five boards, and Jake Proctor and Jaiden Miller each had three points.
 
"That was fun", said Tabor College Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Warren, "those guys battled their tails off. We are getting there slowly but surely. I didn't plan on playing that tight of rotation tonight but those guys earned it for us to go with them for with how they played."
 
The Bluejay Men will be back in action in Hillsboro on Saturday, December 30^th, when they will host Northwestern College (Iowa). The game will tip off at 3 pm and will be broadcast on the KCAC Network as well as on the Tabor College YouTube page. Live stats will be available here.
 
Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).