Kansas City, Mo. ? First-round games in the NCAA Tournament usually aren’t this easy.
The Jayhawks had few problems defeating the Flames, 78-53, on Friday at Kemper Arena, winning a game that wasn’t in doubt after midway through the first half.
Illinois-Chicago kept the game close in the opening minutes before the Jayhawks went on an 18-2 run over the next few minutes, highlighted by three-pointers by Michael Lee, J.R. Giddens and Jeff Hawkins.
Kansas kept its momentum, extending its lead to 16 points, 26-10, with 11 minutes left, but Wayne Simien left the game with 6:32 remaining after aggravating his already sore groin. Simien left the court and went to the locker room with KU’s trainers.
After Simien left the game, KU responded by increasing it’s lead to as many as 22 points, 34-12, as UIC didn’t hit a field goal for more than five minutes.
The Flames bounced back with a 7-0 run, closing the gap to 15 points twice, including a 38-23 halftime deficit.
“He said he was OK,” Wayne Simien Sr. said of his son just before halftime. “He told us he was OK and that we could go.”
Simien apparently was speaking the truth, as he returned to the floor for the beginning of the second half.
Illinois-Chicago drew within 10 points, 41-31, early in the second half, but Kansas went on a 12-6 run and extended its lead to 30 points, 69-39, with a run that included Simien’s 1,000th career point. The Jayhawks finished the 24-4 run with a 16-0 spurt.
Kansas led by as many as 32 points, 75-43, with less than five minutes left before coasting to the victory. The Jayhawks will face the Pacific Tigers at 3:50 p.m. Sunday.
Simien had 13 points and seven rebounds for KU, and Jeff Graves had six points and four rebounds. Keith Langford had 13 points and six rebounds, Lee had six points, and Giddens had 17 points and three boards.
David Padgett had nine points before fouling out with 3:58 left, and Hawkins scored four points. Christian Moody had three points, and Aaron Miles scored five points. Bryant Nash and Moulaye Niang each hit a late free throw.
Bowen had eight points for Illinois-Chicago, and Cedric Banks scored 15 points. Martell Bailey had 10 points, and Josip Petrusic had four points. Armond Williams had two points, and Aaron Carr scored four points.
Elliott Poole scored two points, and Marcetteaus McGee had a point. Jovan Stefanov scored three points, and Kevin Mitchem had four points. Richard Lesko had two points.
The Jayhawks were 24-of-39 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-12 from three-point range, and 25-of-40 shooting from the foul line.
The Flames were 20-of-61 shooting from the field, including 3-of-15 from long distance, and 10-of-14 shooting from the charity stripe.
Kansas turned the ball over 22 times.
All stats are unofficial
Hear Bill: KU-UIC postgame comments
Pacific Tigers scouting report
See the photos: KU-UIC photo gallery
6Sports video: KU douses Flames in first round of NCAA tourney