PAGE 4B
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012
THE UNIVER
Kansas 31 | 35 - 66
Texas A&M 21 | 37 - 58
JAYHAWK STAT LEADERS
Points
Johnson 21
Rebounds
13
Robinson
Assists
Robinson 4
KANSAS
Player Pts FG-FGA Rebs A T0's
Thomas Robinson 10 3-10 13 4 3
Jeff Withey 11 3-7 7 0 1
Tyshawn Taylor 12 4-10 0 4 2
Elijah Johnson 21 7-11 3 1 0
Travis Releford 4 2-6 7 2 0
Naadir Tharpe 0 0-0 0 0 1
Conner Teahan 4 0-6 8 1 1
Justin Wesley 0 0-0 1 0 0
Totals 62 19-50 39 12 8
Player Pts FG-FGA Rebs A T0's
David Loubeau 10 4-10 2 0 2
Jordan Green 3 1-4 2 0 1
Khris Middleton 23 8-14 5 2 3
Elston Turner 10 3-9 7 5 2
Ray Turner 4 2-7 8 0 1
Keith Davis 0 0-0 2 1 0
Dash Harris 8 3-6 3 4 1
Daniel Alexander 0 0-1 1 0 0
Totals 58 6-14 30 12 10
TEXASA&M
Eliiah Johnson, Junior Guard
GAME TO REMEMBER
The same guy who every Kansas fan has been ragging on finally saved the day. He scored his second highest total of the season with 21 points, 18 in the first half, and led all Kansas scorers. On a night when Robinson and Taylor were lackluster offensively, Johnson kept the Jayhawks in front of the Aggies.
Johnson
GAME TO FORGET
Thomas Robinson, Junior Forward
Robinson was frustrated throughout the night. He missed seven of his 10 shots, many of which were near the basket, and he fouled out with a technical that enraged coach Bill Self. He still grabbed 13 rebounds and contributed to the stout defensive effort in the first half, but Robinson wasn't himself on Wednesday.
Robinson
QUOTE OF THE GAME
"Inexcusable. As bad a play as I've ever seen."
coach Bill Self on Thomas Robinson's technical foul
Self
KEY STATS
KANSAS 66
Johnson scored 21 points, his second-highest scoring total of the season.
21
The Aggies shot 29 percent in the first half, then 50 percent in the second.
29-50%
0-6 Senior guard Conner Teahan missed all six of his three-point shots.
The Agggies outscored the Jayhaws by this margin in the second half.
37-35
MEN'S BASKE
Johnson's consistency crucial for game
MAX ROTHMAN
MAX KROUTMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
twitter.com/udk_bball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas— As No. 4 Kansas (23-5, 13-2) has ascended from overachiever to contender, one player has been the typical scapegoat when things don't go smoothly.
It's not guards Tyshawn Taylor and Travis Releford, who have been reliable options on both ends of the floor. It's not forward Thomas Robinson, who is a candidate for the national player of the year award, nor center Jeff Withey, who has elevated his game and cut down on fouls.
On the first play of the game, Johnson drove with the ball to the right side of the hoop and hit a floater. Then one raintime later, he knocked down aump shot.
It was guard Elijah Johnson, who had hit just 27.9 percent of his three-point shots in conference play. Then, on Wednesday night at Reed Arena, Johnson ignored the past, scoring 21 points and leading his team to a 66-58 victory over the Texas A&M Aggies.
Johnson, who didn't turn the ball over once, said it was just like playing in the park.
"I needed to score for us tonight," he said.
a matter of time until things would change. By taking it to the hoop early and getting lay-ups and freethrow attempts, Johnson was able to find a rhythm from outside.
step and a balanced, accurate jump shot.
"We've kind of been waiting for Elijah to come on," Taylor said. "It was good for him today to get a little bit of confidence going into the game Saturday."
On a night when Taylor and Robinson scored 22 points, 13.6 points fewer than their combined conference-season average, Johnson attacked the Aggies with a quick first
"I didn't realize he had 18 until I got to the stat sheet," coach Bill Self said of Johnson's first-half scoring total.
After the Maui Invitational, Self said Johnson, who was scoreless with seven turnovers against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 30, suffered from the "Hawaiian Hangover." When the shots continued to rim in and out, Self insisted that Johnson's shots fall in practice, just not yet in games.
Johnson continually assured doubters that he's too good of a player to continue his cold shooting streak. He said it would only be
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
Junior guard Travis Releford drives through his opponent to get to the basket during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena where the Jayhawks defeated the Aggies 66-58.
Edited by Bre Roach
Junior guard EliJah Johnson goes up for a dunk for two of his 21 total points during Wednesday night's game.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
Senior guard Tyshawn Taylor puts up a jumper for two points during Wednesday nights game against Texas A&M.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
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