ESPN made a big to-do about Saturday’s men’s basketball matchup between Kansas University and Texas.
Though hyped as a top-notch showdown for two days on the network, the game turned into a Jayhawk blowout as Kansas defeated the Longhorns, 90-65, at Allen Fieldhouse.
“They played with energy and poise and toughness and confidence,” Self said of his players.”It was like we envisioned us looking.
“Everybody that was in the game contributed. I was really pleased.”
Wayne Simien led the way for KU with 27 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes in the national showdown.
Keith Langford added 17 points, five assists and four rebounds; J.R. Giddens had 10 points, six boards and five assists; and Aaron Miles had 10 points and eight assists.
The Longhorns were just 4-of-23 shooting from three-point range and could have lost by a bigger margin, but hit 17 of 23 free throws.
“They missed some, but they didn’t get many good looks,” Self said of the Longhorn’s three-point shooting woes. “We did a good job defending them.”
Kansas won the tip, but the Jayhawks turned the ball over and Texas center Jason Klotz scored on the other end. Kansas scored the next five points, though, taking its first lead – one it would never relinquish.
The Jayhawks continued to hold the lead, with the Longhorns getting no closer than four points, 20-16. Kansas extended its advantage to a then-game-high 15 points, 43-28, at halftime on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Jeff Hawkins.
Kansas pushed its lead to 19 points, 51-32, by scoring eight of the first 10 points of the second half and to 24 points, 58-34, a few minutes later. Texas couldn’t get closer than 15 points midway through the second half.
The deficit would have been worse if not for Daniel Gibson. The freshman point guard scored 15 straight Texas points, but Kansas did push its lead to a then-game-high 28 points, 82-54, late in the game during Gibson’s run.
Hawkins had six points for KU, and Sasha Kaun had four points. Michael Lee had seven points, Moulaye Niang scored three points, and Christian Moody added four points and six rebounds. Darnell Jackson had two late free throws.
Klotz had 12 points for Texas, Sydmill Harris had six points, and Kenny Taylor had six points. Kenton Paulino had 12 points, Mike Williams scored five points, and Gibson had 19 points. Brad Buckman had three points and 11 rebounds, and Dion Dowell had two points.
The Jayhawks were 36-of-72 shooting from the field, and 7-of-17 from three-point range, and 11-of-12 shooting from the charity stripe. Kansas had turned the ball over 10 times.
The Longhorns were 22-of-59 shooting from the field, including 4-of-23 from long distance, and 17-of-23 from the foul line. Texas had turned the ball over 20 times.
All stats are unofficial.
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