KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — A surging Saint Thomas team looks to continue its climb up the Summit League standings when it visits struggling Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday at Municipal Auditorium. The Tommies (20-6, 7-2 Summit) have won seven of their last eight games, including a dominant 92-75 victory over Oral Roberts last Saturday. Their lone conference loss in that stretch was a one-point defeat to North Dakota. UMKC (4-20, 1-8) has lost eight consecutive games and sits at the bottom of the league. Saint Thomas boasts one of the conference’s most potent offenses, averaging 84.5 points per game in league play. They are led by guard Nolan Minessale, who is coming off a 28-point performance against Oral Roberts. Over his last five games, Minessale is averaging 20.4 points, showcasing his status as a premier scorer in the Summit League. The Kangaroos, conversely, have struggled on both ends of the floor, allowing a league-worst 84.2 points per game in conference matchups. Guard Chris Dockery is a bright spot, coming off a 17-point effort in an overtime loss to South Dakota on Feb. 4, but UMKC has consistently faced large deficits. This matchup is a rematch of a game played just two weeks ago in St. Paul, Minn., where Saint Thomas delivered a 99-64 rout of the Kangaroos. Minessale had 10 points and five rebounds in that contest, which saw the Tommies shoot 56% from the field. For UMKC, the game represents a chance to halt a lengthy skid and find momentum at home. For Saint Thomas, it is a critical opportunity to solidify its position near the top of the league and avoid a letdown against a heavy underdog before a key road test at Denver next week. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST on Saturday, Feb. 14.