Audio Slideshow

KU vs. Jackson State

Final: KU defeats JSU, 86-62

Sherron Collins posted 17 points and five assists, helping to lead Kansas to an 86-62 victory over Jackson State on Saturday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.

Collins, who started the game 0-for-7 and picked up his first points with 2:06 left in the first half, made six of his final 10 shots and also went 5-for-10 from beyond the three-point line.

KU struggled to pull away early.

Jackson State took a 10-4 lead in the opening minutes, and after a 17-0 KU run, the Tigers responded with a rally of their own to a 26-25 advantage with 4:10 left in the first half.

The Jayhawks, meanwhile, struggled some against JSU’s 2-3 zone.

“They did a good job of getting out and pressuring, but we didn’t make shots,” Collins said. “We just have to make shots early in the game.”

KU still managed to take a 36-31 lead into halftime before a strong second half.

In the final 20 minutes, KU made 7 of 14 three-pointers on its way to a 50-point stanza.

The biggest treys came from Tyrel Reed, who hit back-to-back shots from the corner to cap an 8-0 run that put KU up 56-42.

The Jayhawks, who were out-rebounded in the first half, 22-17, managed to out-rebound the Tigers, 39-38.

Cole Aldrich and Marcus Morris both contributed 13 points, while Reed had 11 on 3-for-6 shooting from the outside.

Tyshawn Taylor added 10 points to go along with a career-high 11 assists.

Matt Kleinmann had his first career start, playing the first 2 minutes, 1 second. After the game, KU coach Bill Self said he was rewarding Kleinmann for his work in practice.

Grant Maxey led Jackson State (1-8) with 19 points on 6-for-12 shooting.

KU won its 30th straight game at Allen Fieldhouse, the fourth time in school history that a home win streak has reached 30 games.

The Jayhawks (7-1) will take on Massachusetts at 1 p.m. next Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas scoring

Sherron Collins 17, Cole Aldrich 13, Marcus Morris 13, Tyrel Reed 11, Tyshawn Taylor 10, Markieff Morris 8, Brady Morningstar 6, Quintrell Thomas 3, Travis Releford 2, Chase Buford 2, Tyrone Appleton 1.

Taylor also added 11 assists.

KU was 30-for-64 from the floor (47 percent) and 12 of 27 from three-point range (44 percent).

JSU finished 19-for-54 (35 percent). KU was able to out-rebound JSU, 39-38. It’s the first time this season that the Tigers have been out-rebounded.

KU 86/JSU 62 — FINAL

Thomas puts a move on his man at the top of the key, faking one way before taking two steps to the rim and finishing with a layup. He also was fouled and hit the free throw.

Walk-ons check in at the 1:19 mark.

Chase Buford puts in a 16-foot jumper with 28 seconds left. KU comes away with a 24-point victory.

KU 76/JSU 54 — 3:11 left in game

Another assist from Taylor, who lobs it into Aldrich for an and-one.

KU uses quick passes to beat the 2-3 zone again, as Marcus Morris puts in a lay-in with a foul. He makes the free throw and is 3-for-3 from the line today.

Travis Releford, who quietly checked in, gets two after sticking back an offensive rebound.

Pretty good defense by Reed on Kay Martinez, who is a legitimate 6-foot-6. Martinez tried to post up Reed, but after getting the ball, the taller Martinez missed a guarded jumper from 10 feet. Reed also sealed off Martinez on the box out, which helped the Jayhawks get the rebound.

KU 68/JSU 49 — 7:39 left in game

Markieff Morris beats his man to a loose ball, then feeds Aldrich inside for a slam.

Morningstar hits another three from the top. He’s done a great job this year of not forcing things on the offensive end.

Dixon answers with a three, and KU can’t seem to pull away.

Taylor throws a pass away, and KU’s guards have had a high number of turnovers today. That’s four for Taylor, while Collins has three.

By the way, just looked down, and Taylor also has 10 assists already. Guess he listened last game when Self said he wanted more assists from his point guard.

Marcus Morris shows some anger inside, tomahawking a dunk in off a feed from his brother, Markieff.

Collins rattles in a three from the top. KU has shown much better ball movement as of late against that zone.

KU 56/JSU 42 — 12:58 left in game

JSU switches back to a man defense, and KU isn’t having much success against it, either. Reed finally breaks a drought with two free throws.

KU gets a solid defensive possession, forcing a tough shot by JSU. On the other end, Reed hits a three from the corner.

The Jayhawks get a steal, and Reed finds his same spot in the left corner, draining his second consecutive trey. Timeout Jackson State, as KU has quickly gone up 56-42 with the help of an 8-0 run.

KU 48/JSU 42 — 15:32 left in game

Collins forces up a three against the zone that misses. He’s now 2-for-10.

Aldrich gets a pair of free throws, then later lays in a two after getting a lob from Taylor.

Weird thing is, JSU isn’t playing all that well. The Tigers have 12 turnovers, are shooting just 35 percent and are still just down five.

Collins hits consecutive threes. Maybe that will get him going.

Taylor dribbles through an opening in the zone for a short floater, but KU gets beat down the court on the other end as Caldwell gets an easy two. The Jayhawks aren’t playing well on the defensive end this half.

Halftime scoring

Taylor 8, Mk. Morris 7, Mc. Morris 6, Collins 5, Aldrich 4, Morningstar 3, Reed 3.

KU made 14 of 32 shots (44 percent), while JSU was 9-for-26 (35 percent).

JSU is out-rebounding KU, 22-17.

KU 36/JSU 31 — Halftime

After two free throws from Caldwell, JSU is 12-for-17 from the line. The much bigger Jayhawks have shot just three free throws. The Tigers also are out-rebounding KU, 22-15.

Two straight turnovers for KU. Collins finally gets to the rim, putting in a layup in transition.

Taylor uses a quick baseline drive to get to the basket, putting in a layup while getting bumped. His free throw puts KU back up, 33-29.

Collins hits a three against the zone, but Darrion Griffin gets a layup at the other end just before the buzzer. The Jayhawks lead by just five at half.

KU 28/JSU 26 — 3:13 left in 1st half

KU is struggling with the zone today. Taylor misses an open three, and Maxey hits a guarded one on the other end to tie it at 23.

Taylor gets away with a charge inside, and Aldrich slams home the offensive rebound.

A shorter-haired Conner Teahan checks in. He’s having to play the four with Quintrell Thomas at the five.

Check that — KU’s really struggling against the zone. Collins forces up a shot in the lane, and Thomas is called for over-the-back on the rebound. De’Suan Dixon hits a free throw to put JSU up, 26-25.

Reed gets KU out of its funk, hitting a three from the right wing. Collins bricks an open three on the next possession, though.

KU 23/JSU 19 — 7:21 left in 1st half

Markieff takes one strong to the basket, laying it off the glass for two.

Tyrel Reed gets tied up on a drive to the basket for a turnover. KU coach Bill Self says, “What are you doing?” when Reed wanders close to him. Reed slaps his hands together in disgust.

Maxey hits a free throw to end KU’s 17-0 run, then gets a steal in the backcourt off full-court pressure. He makes both free throws after getting fouled by Collins.

Markieff Morris shows an athletic move inside, avoiding defenders with his arms before putting in a layup with a foul. He misses the free throw, one of the few negatives from either Morris twin today.

Maxey gets another shot to roll in, and Self calls timeout. He’s talking to Aldrich, who switched for too long on a ball screen at the top. The JSU guard easily went around Aldrich, then dished to the open Maxey.

Aldrich gets his second foul at the 8:05 mark. I guess that’s progress. Self isn’t subbing him out.

Marcus Morris gets his second foul on a hand-check 27 feet from the basket. Self talks to him about it. No need to even go out that far to defend a big man.

KU 19/JSU 10 — 11:52 left in 1st half

That didn’t take long. Already, the football team has been honored on the video board, receiving a loud ovation from the crowd afterwards.

Taylor hits a three on the outside on a feed from Collins. That’s two quick assists for Sherron.

Set play off a dead ball, and Marcus Morris gets his first dunk off a lob from Collins.

Markieff Morris hits a rhythm three on the secondary break. The twins have come to play today. Another assist to Collins. KU on a 15-0 run.

KU 11/JSU 10 — 13:45 left in 1st half

A set play off the tip. KU gets possession, and Kleinmann sets a screen on Cole Aldrich’s man. After getting a lob, Aldrich airballs a short shot inside.

Jackson State gets the first four points on a short jumper and two free throws. Tyshawn Taylor misses a three, and Aldrich bricks an easy stickback on the rebound.

Aldrich finally gets KU’s first points at the 18:29 mark, draining a pair of free throws.

Kleinmann comes out to a nice round of applause at the 17:59 mark. Quintrell Thomas comes in.

Off a steal, Taylor gets an easy two on a dropback pass from Sherron Collins.

So we’ve already learned the Jackson State media guide stretches the truth. The “6-foot-6” Garrison Johnson is standing eye-to-eye with his defender, the 6-foot-3 Morningstar.

JSU’s already gone to a zone. I don’t get it. The Jayhawks have beaten the zone pretty well all season, but teams seem to always keep trying it.

Grant Maxey makes a jumper off a loose ball, and JSU has taken an 8-4 lead.

The Tigers are getting a ton of offensive rebounds, and Jeremy Caldwell gets the latest stickback for two.

Collins forces up a shot early in a possession, and it airballs. Morningstar follows with a three from the top.

The next two possessions we see a new Marcus Morris. Twice he gets it in the post, and twice he takes it aggressively to the bucket, finishing both shots after using an up-and-under move. Self’s message seems to have been received.

1:04 p.m.

I feel bad for these opposing players. They try really hard to not watch the intro video, but they just have to. I would be a bit intimidated afterwards.

Matt Kleinmann in the starting lineup for KU. I think that's a clear message to the KU bigs to be tougher inside.

1:02 p.m.

The Fieldhouse is filled to the top today. Professors must be handing out extra homework on campus during the week.

12:57 p.m.

The notes also say KU has given up just six dunks this year (giving KU a 23:6 dunk ratio). I wonder what a good ratio would be.

12:39 p.m.

In case you were wondering about KU's dunks (see the poll question to the left), here are the Jayhawks' current standings, according the game notes:

Cole Aldrich 14, Tyshawn Taylor 3, Quintrell Thomas 2, Markieff Morris 2, Travis Releford 2.

Marcus Morris does not have a dunk yet in the regular season.

12:25 p.m.

There are a couple rows reserved in the front of the student section on the south side, probably for football recruits. Therefore, I would say it’s likely that the football team is honored for its Insight Bowl berth at some time during today’s festivities.

12:10 p.m.

Welcome to The Newell Post Live, coming to you live from Allen Fieldhouse where the Kansas Jayhawks are getting set to take on the Jackson State Tigers.

Here are a few notes about Jackson State, which comes into today’s game with a 1-7 record.

• Jackson State is led by the Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason player of the year in Grant Maxey (doesn’t it seem like KU’s played a lot of conference players of the year so far?). He does a little bit of everything for the Tigers, averaging a team-high 15.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. He also leads the team in three-pointers (12), blocks (8) and free-throw percentage (23 of 25, 92 percent). The 6-foot-6 forward plays the four, meaning he will probably be guarded by whichever Morris twin is in.

• Perhaps this game’s most intriguing matchup will be at the three position. Garrison Johnson, at 6-foot-6, has come on strong lately, as he scored 21 points (7-for-10 shooting) against No. 19 Arizona State and also had a team-high 13 points in the Tigers’ previous game against Stephen F. Austin. He would appear to be the kind of player that many KU fans believe that an undersized Brady Morningstar will have trouble guarding at the small forward position. We’ll see how Morningstar handles the defensive assignment today.

• At 1-7, Jackson State still is fourth in its conference of 10 teams. Six SWAC teams are still winless. The Tigers were the preseason pick to win their league.

• Jackson State has out-rebounded its opponents so far. On average, JSU pulls down 35.4 boards per game, while allowing 34.2 rebounds to its opponent.

• The Tigers have had only one loss of more than 20 points this season: an 81-60 loss to No. 19 Arizona State on Thursday.

• Jackson State only trailed KU by eight with about 12 minutes to go when the teams met in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 1997. KU went on to take a 78-64 victory before losing in the Sweet 16 to Arizona.