DAYTON, OHIO ? Richard Scott sensed no panic as tiny Howard University cut Kansas’ 20-point lead to 12 on Friday night.
“We practice with poise. Everything we do is with poise,” Scott, Kansas’ sophomore forward, said after the Jayhawks’ 100-67 first-round NCAA Midwest Regional victory at Dayton Arena.
“We never even look at the clock,” Scott said.
KU led by just a dozen 50-38 with 15:31 left, but went on a 25-8 run and led by 29 (75-46) with about eight minutes left.
“We talk to each other like a family,” Scott said. “When they came back, we told each other it was time to settle down and play good basketball again.”
The Jayhawks regained their composure and finished with some eye-opening statistics.
KU canned 42 of 69 shots for 60.9 percent. Howard, meanwhile, made 29 of 71 for 40.8 percent.
The Jayhawks hit 16 of 25 free throws to Howard’s five of 10. And KU had 32 assists to Howard’s 14.
“It was a grind-it-out effort,” said KU guard Rex Walters, who had 10 points and seven assists. “You’ve got to give Howard some credit. They made some big shots.”
Howard, however, hit just four of 18 threes.
“We set screens on offense and contested shots on defense. We kept ’em off the boards,” Walters said. “I think it was a good win. Sometimes you have to give the other team some credit, too.”
The Jayhawks next face UTEP, a 55-50 first-round winner over Evansville.
Tipoff Sunday is 30 minutes after an 11:20 a.m. (Lawrence time) battle between Michigan State and Cincinnati.
“I don’t care who we play, Evansville or UTEP,” Walters said. “They’re both good teams. It’s the tournament. Every team that’s left is a good team. It’s not who you play it’s how you play.”
The 100 points is the most KU has scored in an NCAA tournament game. The 33-point margin of victory also was KU’s largest in the national tournament.
Jayhawk reserve Steve Woodberry is taking medication after experiencing heart palpitations two weeks ago.
“It was scary,” Woodberry said. “I was very concerned. This is the only heart I have.”
KU has took every precaution before Woodberry played or practiced, coach Roy Williams said, and the sophomore guard-forward out of Wichita South has missed no playing time because of the problem.
Stats of interest: Howard’s Milan Brown had six turnovers; the Bison had 23 turnovers to KU’s 14. . . Adonis Jordan hit six of 13 shots, but went zero-for-four from three-point distance. . . KU was to practice today and take part in a press conference prior to Sunday’s game.
