KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — In a rematch of a loss from three weeks prior, the Omaha Mavericks used a dominant first half and a standout performance from Paul Djobet to secure a decisive 77-60 victory over the Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos in a Summit League men’s basketball game on Saturday night at Municipal Auditorium.

The Mavericks, who improved to 10-12 overall, avenged a 73-66 home loss to the Kangaroos on Jan. 3 by seizing control early and never relenting. Omaha built a 10-point halftime lead and methodically extended it in the second half, holding UMKC to just 34.4% shooting from the field for the game.

The most critical stretch of the contest came late in the first half. After UMKC’s Addarin Scott scored inside to pull the Kangaroos within 24-22 with just over seven minutes remaining, Omaha unleashed a game-defining 20-8 run to close the period. The surge was fueled by the inside-outside combination of Djobet and Tony Osburn. Djobet, a 6-foot-7 forward from Lille, France, scored eight points during the run, including a tough turnaround jumper and a tip-in. Osburn, a guard from Fairfax, Missouri, buried two of his five three-pointers in the flurry. The Mavericks’ defense also tightened, forcing several Kangaroos turnovers and contested misses. When the halftime horn sounded, Omaha held a commanding 44-34 advantage, a lead built on 48.5% shooting in the opening period.

Omaha’s offensive efficiency proved to be the decisive factor. Despite both teams having an identical 73 possessions, the Mavericks scored 77 points for an offensive rating of 104.8, while the Kangaroos managed only 60 points and an 82.1 rating. Omaha shot 45% from the field compared to UMKC’s 36.7%. Though both teams made eight three-pointers, the Kangaroos hoisted 31 attempts to get there, a 25.8% success rate.

Djobet was the engine for Omaha, finishing with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding four assists and three rebounds in 30 minutes. His ability to score at all three levels and facilitate from the forward position kept the UMKC defense off balance. He was supported by backcourt mates Grant Stubblefield, who had 12 points and four assists, and Osburn, who chipped in 12 points, all from beyond the arc. Seven-foot-one center Christian Richardson provided a strong interior presence with 12 points and six rebounds.

Missouri-Kansas City, which fell to 4-17, was led by Kasheem Grady’s 15 points. Chris Dockery added 10 points and three assists, and Jayson Petty contributed nine points. The Kangaroos struggled with ball movement, registering only five assists as a team, and were out-rebounded 40-34. They also sent Omaha to the free-throw line 22 times, where the Mavericks converted 15, while UMKC went just 8-for-15 from the stripe.

The second half saw Omaha maintain its double-digit cushion throughout. The Kangaroos cut the deficit to 11 points on multiple occasions, but each time the Mavericks had an answer, often from Djobet or a timely basket from Stubblefield. UMKC never mounted a sustained threat, as their shooting woes continued. Omaha’s lead ballooned to as many as 19 points before settling at the final 17-point margin. A late three-pointer from Omaha reserve Aidan Skradis of Elkhorn, Nebraska, provided the final points.

The game was witnessed by an announced crowd of 405 at the historic downtown arena. With the win, Omaha evened its conference record and gained momentum heading into a home matchup with South Dakota State on Wednesday. Missouri-Kansas City, mired in a difficult season, looks to regroup when it hosts Denver next Wednesday.