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PAGE 8
MONDAY. DECEMBER 1, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Men's basketball rewind: Orlando Classic tourney
BEN CARROLL
@BCarroll91
Kansas coasted in the non-bracket game of the Orlando Classic last Monday en route to an 87-60 victory against Rider. The Jayhawks played the best basketball they have all season in the first half. Sophomore guard Brannen Greene led the Jayhawks with 17 points. He went a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line and shot 50 percent from 3-point range.
The Jayhawks boarded the plane to Orlando prepared to play Rhode Island. The Jayhawks defeated the Rams
76-60 on Thanksgiving, Sophomore guard Wayne Selden Jr. was all over Kansas' stat line. Selden recorded 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Junior forward Perry Ellis led the team in scoring with 17. Rhode Island guard E.C. Matthews had his second-consecutive 20-plus-point game.
With a quick turnaround and a game the next day, the Jayhawks continued their winning streak with an 82-67 victory against the Tennessee Volunteers. It was the thirdstraight game Kansas held its opponents to under 68 points. Ellis led the way for the Jay
hawks with his second double-double of the season and first since game one. He had a season-high 24 points and hit the glass hard with 13 rebounds.
The championship game of the 2014 Orlando Classic was a well-anticipated matchup between Bill Self and Tom Izzo. Kansas raised the trophy in the regular-season tournament with a 61-56 victory against Michigan State. Once again, there was a double-double dropped by a Jayhawk, but it wasn't Ellis this time. It was sophomore guard Frank Mason, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
KANSAS VS. RHODE ISLAND, QUARTERFINAL ROUND
First Half:
Kansas led 43-25
Second Half:
Kansas won 76-60
Rhode Island only tied the game once during the first half, then the Jayhawks went on a 14-1 run. Kansas was hitting on all cylinders by 11 turnovers and hitting seven 3-pointers. Ellis scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds in the first half alone. Ellis tip-slammed following a layup Mason missed and hit a 3-pointer in back-to-back possessions. Selden assisted four baskets, as well.
After shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half, Kansas shot 33 percent from the field and turned the ball over eight times. Rhode Island outscored Kansas in the second half by two points, but the Jayhawks hit 12 of 13 free throws; Kansas had missed six first-half free throws. Ellis cooled off with six points on four shots, but Alexander scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds after playing just six minutes in the first half.
— Blair Sheade
KANSAS VS. TENNESSEE, SEMIFINAL ROUND
First Half:
Kansas led 40-33
Kansas got off to a hot start in the first half against Tennessee. After hitting a season-high eight 3-pointers Thursday against Rhode Island, sophomore Frank Mason knocked a three down to start the game. The layhawks continued to force up 3-pointers in the early minutes of the game, as they fired up five 3-pointers in the first four-and-a-half minutes, connecting twice. Kansas' size advantage was evident in the first half, pulling down 29 rebounds. After the Kentucky game, coach Bill Self stressed sharing the ball and being more unselfish. Kansas continued to put that into action recording 10 assists. Tennessee kept the game close with solid 3-point shooting of its own. Kansas' second unit struggled on defense including a four-point play when freshman guard Kelly Oubre Jr. fouled the 3-point shooter. Ellis had another strong half, leading Kansas in scoring with 11 points with four rebounds and three assists. Since the Kentucky game, Ellis has been a focal point in Self's offense. With 2:28 left in the half, sophomore Wayne Selden Jr. committed a flagrant foul on Tennessee's Kevin Punter. Punter made the basket, converted both free throws and got possession, a six-point swing, bringing Tennessee within four. Kansas headed into half with a 40-33 lead.
Second Half:
Kansas won 82-67
With only a seven-point lead to start the second half, the Jayhawks would need their strongest second half of the season to take down Tennessee and advance to the Orlando Classic Championship. Alexander had another strong performance off the bench. With efficient shooting and a strong finish, the freshman took advantage of the fact that he was the biggest man on the court. By the 16-minute mark in the half, Alexander finished his third alley-oop slam of the game, two in two straight possessions. In his first nine minutes, Alexander was 4-for-5 from the field with 12 points. On a 13-1 run, Tennessee pulled the game within one with 12:12 left to play. The rest of the half was tightly contested with both teams trading baskets and turnovers. With 5:37 left, Alexander grabbed an offensive rebound and finished it, drawing the foul and converting the free throw, giving Kansas a five-point lead. Kansas went on a 7-0 run and secured the lead for the remainder of the game. Ellis led Kansas in scoring with 24 points, and he had 10 rebounds and three assists, while Alexander finished with a career high 16 on 5-for-6 shooting. Kansas defeated Tennessee 82-67.
Ben Felderstein
ANDY LARKIN/KANSAN
KANSAS VS. MICHIGAN STATE, CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Kansas freshman Devonte' Graham celebrates a 3-pointer during the non-bracket game of the Orlando Classic against Rider on Monday, Nov. 24. Kansas won the game 87-60, then went on to win the tournament Sunday.
First Half:
Kansas trailed 36-35
Kansas started strong with the same starting lineup as the previous three games, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead. Soon after, the Spartans took the largest lead of the game, 23-16, but the Jayhawks surged back with the help of a three off the hands of freshman guard Sviatoslav Mykhaliliuk as well as an and-1 from sophomore guard Frank Mason. The Jayhawks took a 24-23 lead when Mason made the foul shot. Ellis led the Jayhawks with 12 points and five rebounds.
Ben Carroll
Second Half:
Kansas won 61-56
Kansas was blistering to start the second half and jumped back in front of the Spartans early, 39-38. Freshman forward Cliff Alexander started the second half and made his presence early with a block. It took nearly six minutes for Michigan State to make a field goal in the second half. Ellis was one rebound shy of his second-straight double-double.
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