GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota men's basketball team will open its home schedule of the 2009-10 season on Saturday when the Fighting Sioux play host to UMKC of the Summit League. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

KID’S DAY: The home opener vs. UMKC is Kid’s Day at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.  Admission is free for all children in eighth grade or younger. Kids can sign up to win great prizes and participate in sports-related activities. Hot dogs and soda are being sold for just $1 and kids can stay around after the game for an autograph session with Fighting Sioux players. Doors open at Noon.

SCOUTING THE KANGAROOS: UMKC is off to a 2-0 start in the early going of the 2009-10 season. The Roos knocked off Truman State, 80-33, in their season-opener on Nov. 14 before also picking up a lopsided win over Lincoln, 78-52, on Tuesday. Sophomore LaTreze Mushatt is the leading scorer through two games, averaging 16.0 ppg. Mushatt is one of four Roos averaging in double figures. The UMKC defense has been impressive, yielding just 42.5 ppg and forcing 51 turnovers in the two wins. Mushatt also leads the team in steals with six (Roos have 24 total). Head coach Matt Brown is in his third seasong guiding the Roos. The 2-0 start is the best of his tenure and he has a 20-45 overall record.

LAST TIME VS. THE KANGAROOS: In the first meeting between the two teams on the hardwood, the Fighting Sioux dealt the Kangaroos a 61-56 setback on Nov. 21 last year, securing the first win at the Division I level for UND in program history. Senior guard Daniel Harkins led four Sioux players in double figures with 14 points, while returnees Travis Bledsoe and Patrick Mitchell scored 13 and 12 points, respectively. The Sioux built a 15-point advantage at the break (39-24) behind 57.1 percent shooting from the floor and 58.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc.  

NORTH DAKOTA IN HOME OPENERS: The Fighting Sioux are 3-2 in home openers since moving into the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center for the 2004-05 season. UND boasts an impressive 87-16 mark all-time in home openers. Two of those five home openers at ‘The Betty’ have gone into overtime with UND splitting those contests. UMKC will be the first Division I opponent in a home opener for the Fighting Sioux.   

MEDIA INFORMATION: The UND-UMKC game will be broadcasted nationally on Fox College Sports (Pacific) and the Fighting Sioux Sports Network. Check your local listings for channel information. Pat Sweeney and Jody Norstedt will be handling the play-by-play and color responsibilities. The contest can also be heard on the radio at 100.3 Cat Country (FM). Paul Ralston will be handle the play-by-play for the audio broadcast. Live audio and video streaming along with live stats will also be available at www.FightingSioux.com.

YEAR TWO: The three-game swing through Montana marked the official start to the second full season of transition for the Fighting Sioux into Division I basketball. This season, the Sioux will play 27 of their 30 games against DI-competition after playing 15 games against teams from that level a season ago en route to posting a 16-12 record. For fourth-year head coach Brian Jones, it was his third consecutive season to improve the team’s win total.

GRIZZLY CLASSIC RECAP: The Sioux dropped all three of their contests in the season-opening Grizzly Basketball Classic this past weekend. The host Grizzlies held UND to 37 points in the opener (fewest points in a season-opener since 1947-48 campaign) en route to a 24-point victory. Sophomore wing Patrick Mitchell equaled his career-high with 15 points on 4-for-5 shooting from 3-point range against Montana.  Mitchell set a new career-high the next day in an 83-60 loss to Loyola Marymount as he scored 16 points, scoring half of those at the free-throw line (8-for-13 overall). Redshirt freshman Spencer Goodman added 11 points off the bench for the Sioux against the Lions. Goodman made his first career start in Sunday’s 75-60 loss to Boise State. He reached double figures for the second straight game with 10 points. Senior wing Travis Mertens led the team in scoring against the Broncos with 14 points. Mertens also led the team in rebounding in all three contests, pulling down nine against Montana and Boise State and five vs. Loyola Marymount.Leading returning scorer Travis Bledsoe only played 14 minutes at the Grizzly Classic, scoring seven points in the opener against Montana before sitting out the Loyola-Marymount and Boise State contests to continue nursing a lingering injury to his midsection.