Kansas opened the game with a 15-0 run, but Kansas State cut the Jayhawks’ lead to 10 points, 40-30, at halftime. Kansas (13-3 overall, 3-0 Big 12) added seven points to their lead in the second half, led by Kirk Hinrich’s 26 points.
Nick Collison added 16 points and six rebounds, Keith Langford scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Jeff Graves had eight point and a team-high 13 rebounds. Aaron Miles scored just four points, but dished out six assists.
The Jayhawks shot 49.2 percent (30 of 61) from the field and hit 19 of 29 free throws. Kansas State (10-6, 1-2) shot just 39.3 percent (24 of 61) from the floor and hit 62.5 percent (10 of 16) from the free throw line. The Wildcats turned the ball over 18 times.
Gilson DeJesus led K-State with 15 points, including 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range.
HALFTIME REPORT
The Jayhawks started six of six from the free throw line and were almost unstoppable on offense in jumping out to an early 15-0 lead over their in-state rival five minutes into the game.
The Wildcats fought back and closed to gap to as few as eight points, but couldn’t get closer before the break.
Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison each scored 12 points for Kansas, and Hinrich added four rebounds. Jeff Graves scored four points and grabbed five boards, Keith Langford added four points and three rebounds.
Aaron Miles and Bryant Nash each added field goals, and Michael Lee and Moulaye Niang each hit a free throw for the Jayhawks.
Kansas hit 15 of 30 field goals, while Kansas State was just 10-of-20 shooting. The Wildcats were 5 of 12 from beyond the three-point arc.
Each team grabbed 18 rebounds, but K-State turned the ball over 12 times, compared to just seven turnovers for KU.
Jeff Graves and Nick Collison were in early foul trouble, each having been whistled for two infractions in the first five minutes. Neither was called for a foul after that. Pervis Pasco was just 0-of-1 shooting for the Wildcats before leaving with three fouls in the first seven minutes.
In his final game in his home state, Nick Collison scored a career-high 31 points – 19 in the second half – in helping the Jayhawks defeat the Cyclones.
With Wayne Simien out because of a shoulder injury, Collison 11-of-16 from the field with eight rebounds and four steals. Jeff Graves, who started in place of Simien, had seven rebounds, 10 rebounds and four steals.
Kansas led 22-2 early in the first half, and had an 18-point halftime advantage before cruising to victory.
Keith Langford added 15 points and Aaron Miles had 13 points for the Jayhawks, who handed the Cyclones their worst conference home loss ever.
Bryant Nash led the Jayhawk reserves with six points, including 4-of-4 shooting from the free throw line. Kirk Hinrich had five points, Michael Lee had four and Stephen Vinson had late basket for the final points.
Iowa State shot just 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the field, including 1-of-12 from beyond the three-point arc. Kansas shot 50 percent (31-of-62). The Jayhawks had 14 steals, forcing the Cyclones into 20 turnovers.
Jake Sullivan led Iowa State (10-2) with 13 points, but was just 6-of-17 from the field and didn’t make a three-pointer.
Kansas (10-3) has now won 21 straight regular season Big 12 games. The Jayhawks will face Nebraska at 12:45 p.m. Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.
