Jan 23, 2016
No. 3 Kansas finishes strong, tops Texas
Perry Ellis had 26 points, Wayne Selden Jr. added 19 and No. 3 Kansas countered its sluggish start with a torrid finish to beat streaking Texas 76-67 on Saturday.
TSN.ca Staff
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Perry Ellis had 26 points, Wayne Selden Jr. added 19 and No. 3 Kansas countered its sluggish start with a torrid finish to beat streaking Texas 76-67 on Saturday.
Devonte Graham finished with 14 points and Frank Mason III had 13 for the Jayhawks (16-3, 4-3 Big 12), who had played dismally during a two-week stretch since their victory over No. 1 Oklahoma.
Along with losses to West Virginia and Oklahoma State, the Jayhawks struggled to beat TCU.
The Longhorns (12-7, 4-3) looked as if they would keep that malaise going when they built an early lead. But they were unable to get any stops in the second half, when Kansas used a 24-6 run covering more than 9 minutes to seize control in front of another raucous crowd at Allen Fieldhouse.
Connor Lammert had a career-high 15 points before fouling out for Texas. Isaiah Taylor and Eric Davis Jr. scored 13 apiece, and Javan Felix finished with 12.
It was the Jayhawks' 34th consecutive victory at the Phog, the fourth-best winning streak in school history. It was also their 14th victory in 15 times the Longhorns have visited Lawrence.
In other words, little changed in Texas coach Shaka Smart's first trip.
Just how dominant have the Jayhawks been in their charming old barn? The victory was the 200th for coach Bill Self at the Phog. He's only lost nine games in the building.
Early on, it looked as if the Longhorns had brought the momentum from their win at West Virginia on the road with them. They roared to a 12-2 lead in the first couple minutes with Lammert doing most of the damage from the arc, though Kansas helped the Longhorns out with some woeful shooting.
The Jayhawks were 2 of 12 from the field with four turnovers at the 12-minute mark.
Texas never trailed in the first half, and was only tied 25-25 in the waning minutes, before Davis and Taylor willed the Longhorns to a 35-30 halftime lead.
Graham's 3-pointer to start the second half put a charge in Kansas, but it was Ellis who finally got the Jayhawks over the hump. With a contortionist's flexibility in the paint, the senior made a series of tough buckets at the rim, finally giving them a lead at 44-42 with 12:29 remaining.
Ellis added another basket a few minutes later, and Selden curled in a 3-pointer on its heels for a 57-46 lead, forcing Smart into a timeout that did little to quiet the crowd.
The Longhorns made a run in the closing minutes, but Kansas never let it get close again.
TOP RECRUITS
Kansas had arguably the top prospects from the 2016 and 2017 recruiting classes on visits: Josh Jackson, a 6-foot-7 guard from Detroit, and DeAndre Ayton, a 6-11 centre from Phoenix.
Jackson is still deciding where he will play next season, while Ayton was in town with teammates from Hillcrest Academy in Phoenix for a game against Sunrise Christian Academy.
TIP-INS
Texas: Prince Ibeh had seven points, seven rebounds and seven blocks. ... The Longhorns had eight turnovers, their fifth straight game with eight or fewer. ... Texas has not won at Allen Fieldhouse since ending the Jayhawks' 69-game winning streak there on Jan. 22, 2011.
Kansas: Landen Lucas had 10 rebounds. ... Self shortened his bench, playing eight guys. The three reserves played only 29 minutes. ... Roy Williams (201-17) and Ted Owens (206-47) are the only other coaches with at least 200 wins at the Phog.
UP NEXT
Texas tries to avenge its loss to TCU on Tuesday night.
Kansas visits No. 19 Iowa State on Monday night.
Devonte Graham finished with 14 points and Frank Mason III had 13 for the Jayhawks (16-3, 4-3 Big 12), who had played dismally during a two-week stretch since their victory over No. 1 Oklahoma.
Along with losses to West Virginia and Oklahoma State, the Jayhawks struggled to beat TCU.
The Longhorns (12-7, 4-3) looked as if they would keep that malaise going when they built an early lead. But they were unable to get any stops in the second half, when Kansas used a 24-6 run covering more than 9 minutes to seize control in front of another raucous crowd at Allen Fieldhouse.
Connor Lammert had a career-high 15 points before fouling out for Texas. Isaiah Taylor and Eric Davis Jr. scored 13 apiece, and Javan Felix finished with 12.
It was the Jayhawks' 34th consecutive victory at the Phog, the fourth-best winning streak in school history. It was also their 14th victory in 15 times the Longhorns have visited Lawrence.
In other words, little changed in Texas coach Shaka Smart's first trip.
Just how dominant have the Jayhawks been in their charming old barn? The victory was the 200th for coach Bill Self at the Phog. He's only lost nine games in the building.
Early on, it looked as if the Longhorns had brought the momentum from their win at West Virginia on the road with them. They roared to a 12-2 lead in the first couple minutes with Lammert doing most of the damage from the arc, though Kansas helped the Longhorns out with some woeful shooting.
The Jayhawks were 2 of 12 from the field with four turnovers at the 12-minute mark.
Texas never trailed in the first half, and was only tied 25-25 in the waning minutes, before Davis and Taylor willed the Longhorns to a 35-30 halftime lead.
Graham's 3-pointer to start the second half put a charge in Kansas, but it was Ellis who finally got the Jayhawks over the hump. With a contortionist's flexibility in the paint, the senior made a series of tough buckets at the rim, finally giving them a lead at 44-42 with 12:29 remaining.
Ellis added another basket a few minutes later, and Selden curled in a 3-pointer on its heels for a 57-46 lead, forcing Smart into a timeout that did little to quiet the crowd.
The Longhorns made a run in the closing minutes, but Kansas never let it get close again.
TOP RECRUITS
Kansas had arguably the top prospects from the 2016 and 2017 recruiting classes on visits: Josh Jackson, a 6-foot-7 guard from Detroit, and DeAndre Ayton, a 6-11 centre from Phoenix.
Jackson is still deciding where he will play next season, while Ayton was in town with teammates from Hillcrest Academy in Phoenix for a game against Sunrise Christian Academy.
TIP-INS
Texas: Prince Ibeh had seven points, seven rebounds and seven blocks. ... The Longhorns had eight turnovers, their fifth straight game with eight or fewer. ... Texas has not won at Allen Fieldhouse since ending the Jayhawks' 69-game winning streak there on Jan. 22, 2011.
Kansas: Landen Lucas had 10 rebounds. ... Self shortened his bench, playing eight guys. The three reserves played only 29 minutes. ... Roy Williams (201-17) and Ted Owens (206-47) are the only other coaches with at least 200 wins at the Phog.
UP NEXT
Texas tries to avenge its loss to TCU on Tuesday night.
Kansas visits No. 19 Iowa State on Monday night.