Kansas City, Mo. ? St. Louis, here comes the Kansas University Jayhawks.
KU qualified for its fourth straight Sweet 16 by defeating Pacific, 78-63, Sunday in the NCAA Tournament, moving on to next weekend in st. Louis. KU will face Alabama-Birmingham, which defeated No. 1 seed Kentucky, 76-75, on Sunday.
KU will return to Allen Fieldhouse at approximately 7:30 p.m. today.
Jeff Graves scored just a few seconds in the game on an alley oop, but Miah Davis hit a three-pointer a couple minutes later. Pacific led 7-4 early, but Kansas fought back and took a 14-11 about seven minutes in, but the Tigers scored the next five points and took a two-point lead.
The Jayhawks then went on a 4-0 run and took an 18-16 lead on a dunk by Wayne Simien with 10:27 left. KU extended its lead to 11 points, 29-18, with the end of a 15-2 spurt.
KU’s momentum waned, though, and Pacific took advantage, claiming a one-point lead, 32-31, with just less than three minutes left.
J.R. Giddens responded for KU, scoring five straight points and giving the Jayhawks a four-point lead, 36-32, at halftime.
Giddens continued his hot-shooting streak with a three-pointer early in the second half, but Pacific then scored four straight points, drawing within three.
Giddens scored again, though, starting a 7-2 run that gave KU a 46-38 lead four minutes in. Pacific tied the game at 47-all about four minutes later on an old-fashioned three-point play by Guillaume Yango.
  Hear Bill: KU-Pacific postgame comments Alabama-Birmingham scouting report See the photos: KU-Pacific photo gallery |
The teams stayed within a basket for the next two minutes before KU took a 55-51 lead midway through the half and extended that advantage with strong free throw shooting, rebounding and defense. The Jayhawks went on a 20-8 run late in the game, taking their biggest lead of the game, 18 points at 78-60, with less than two minutes left. KU then held on for the victory.
Graves had 12 points and seven rebounds for KU, and Simien had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Keith Langford had 16 points, and Giddens scored 13 points.
Aaron Miles had three points and five rebounds, and David Padgett had seven points and five boards. Michael Lee scored nine points.
Davis had 10 points and six rebounds for Pacific, and David Doubley scored nine points. Yango had 22 points and five boards, and Tyler Newton scored five points.
Christian Maraker had four points and three rebounds before fouling out, and Tom Cockle had 10 points and five boards. Allan Purnell scored three points.
The Jayhawks were 29-of-60 shooting from the field, including 5-of-15 from long distance, and 15-of-21 shooting from the foul line.
The Tigers were 23-of-53 shooting from the field, including 6-of-20 from three-point range, and 11-of-15 shooting from the charity stripe.
All stats are unofficial
