OKLAHOMA CITY ? Kansas University’s men’s basketball team had a chance for a last-second victory, but the No. 14-seeded Bucknell Bison knocked the Jayhawks from the NCAA Tournament with a 64-63 first-round win Friday in Oklahoma City.
Trailing 64-63 with less than three seconds left in the game, Michael Lee inbounded the ball all the way to Wayne Simien at the free-throw line. Simien turned around and launched a shot that bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.
Both teams struggled from outside the three-point line, but Bucknell shot enough time (31) and hit enough baskets (8) to win the game. Kansas was just 1-of-11 shooting from long distance.
Lee scored the first five points of the game and helped make up for the usual production of Keith Langford, who scored six points in a reserve role.
Lee had 18 points for KU, and Simien had 24 points and 13 rebounds.
After Lee’s five points to open the game, Bucknell answered with an 19-7 run, taking a seven-point lead midway through the first half. The Bison led by as many as eight points before KU drew within a couple baskets, but Bucknell pushed the lead back to seven points with 4:30 left before halftime.
A 10-0 KU run gave the Jayhawks a 31-28 lead with just less than two minutes left in the half. Neither team scored for the rest of the half.
Bucknell took a lead in the first few minutes of the second half, but Kansas fought back as the teams battled within a few points of each other for the middle part of the half.
The Bison led 62-59 with just less than a minute left before Lee stole the ball and was intentionally fouled by Charles Lee. The Jayhawk senior hit both free throws, pulling KU within a point with 53 seconds left.
On the ensuing possession, Langford was fouls and hit a pair of free throws, but Chris McNaughton hit a jumper at the other end, giving Bucknell a 64-63 lead with less than 15 seconds left.
Langford missed a shot on KU’s next possession, but the Bison missed a shot and Simien grabbed the rebound, giving the Jayhawks their last chance.
J.R. Giddens had two points, Aaron Miles had four points and three fouls, and C.J. Giles had a point.
Christian Moody had five points and eight rebounds, and Keith Langford had six points. Jeff Hawkins had three points and three fouls.
Kevin Bettencourt had 19 points for Bucknell, and Charles Lee had 15 points. Chris McNaughton had 12 points and four fouls, and Donald Brown had six points. Darren Mastropaolo had two points and four fouls, Abe Badmus had two late free throws before fouling out, and Chris Niesz had six points.
The Jayhawks were 18-of-42 shooting from the field, including 1-of-11 from three-point range, and 22-of-27 shooting from the foul line. Kansas had 13 turnovers.
The Bison were 22-of-53 shooting from the field, including 8-of-31 from long distance, and 12-of-16 shooting from the charity stripe. Bucknell had 10 turnovers.
Note:
¢ Michael Lee started in place of the injured Langford, who entered the game at the 13:31 mark of the first half.
All stats are unofficial.
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