ANSAN 2008
THE UNIVERSITY OF DARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008
7
KANSAS 100, NEW MEXICO STATE 79
5B
BALL REWIND
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Jon Goering/KANSAN
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really helped us," Aldrich said. "It got a little energy in the building and picked up our intensity."
For the fourth straight game, Aldrich posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Junior guard Sherron Collins followed Aldrich's lead and added a double-double of his own with 15 points and 11 assists.
But Taylor stole the attention. Even Mario Little noticed. When Taylor approached Little after the game, he didn't have anything to say.
"He just smiled." Taylor said, "and shook my hand."
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Edited by Jennifer Torline
Freshman forward Marcus Morris looks on as freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor jokes around with sophomore guard Conner Teahan during the final minutes of the game. The Jayhawks defeated the Aqies 100-79.
GAME NOTES
ANOTHER HARD FOUL
A game after an official ejected freshman forward Markieff Morris for committing a flagrant foul, Morris struck again.
But Morris only received an intentional foul this time. It happened 12 minutes into the first half when New Mexico State guard Jahmar Young broke free on a fastbreak.
As Young went to the basket, Morris shoved him from behind. Young would have fallen into the cheerleaders if Morris wouldn't have caught him from behind.
Although an intentional foul doesn't result in automatic ejection, Kansas coach Bill Self opted not to check Morris back in for the rest of the first half.
GOING SMALL
With Kansas' main three big men — sophomore Cole Aldrich and freshmen Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris — in foul trouble, Self opted to go with an interesting lineup at the end of the first half. He substituted 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Conner Teahan in to play power forward and pushed 6-foot-7 freshman forward Quintrell Thomas to center.
Tyshawn Taylor, Tyrel Reed and Tyrone Appleton ended the first half at the three guard spots.
Kansas fans might not get another opportunity to see those five together on the court for the rest of the year.
HALFTIME TO REMEMBER
Don't call it spectacular. It was Spintacular.
SERIES HISTORY
A large number of Kansas fans stayed in their seats at halftime to watch the Spintacular Basketball Show. The show was a 12-member family performing stunts that included riding on eight- to 10-foot unicycles in unison and dribbling multiple basketball.
The Aggies were able to keep the score a little more respectable on this trio to Allen Fieldhouse.
The only other game between Kansas and New Mexico State was on Dec. 7, 1965, when the Jayhawks won 102-51.
PRIME PLAYS
00:40 — Kansas responded well to the New Mexico State run. After going about three minutes without scoring, the Jayhawks closed the half on an 11-4 run. The best of it? Sherron Collins goes for a pump fake then a layup to make it 40-29.
Case Keefer
FIRST HALF
5:43 — Maybe this will be a game after all. Jonathan Gibson makes a three for New Mexico State and pulls the Aggies within 6 at 31-25. States threes have been keeping them close up to this point.
19:55 The first bunny fell in Kansas has had trouble with close shots, including Tyshawn Taylor. But not this time. He takes the opening tip for a layup.
12. 31 — Make it two in a row. Sherron Collins squares up and hits a three-pointer. His three comes about 20 seconds after Tyreel Reed made one and gives Kansas a 21-12 lead.
SECOND HALF
16:57 — Jonathan Gibson is making sure the Jayhawks don't pull early in the second half. He makes a three-pointer, cutting the lead to eight at 48-40. At this point, he's made four of seven from long range.
11:25 — Tyrel Reed three-pointers came at important times. Again, NMSU was close. Again, Sherron Collins made a three. On the next play, Reed makes one, extending Kansas' lead to 66-51.
7:33 — So Cole Aldrich didn't get a lot of action in the first half — 0 points in five minutes. He made up for it in the second. Aldrich dunks in the paint, giving him 9 points and the Jayhawks a 75-57 lead.
3:39 — Nothing like icing a career high 23 points with a dunk. Tyshawn Taylor does this on a KU inbounds play and gives Kansas an 85-63 lead.
-Tavlor Bern
VIEW FROM PRESS ROW
IT WAS OVER WHEN ...
Markieff Morris blocked New Mexico State forward Troy Gillenwater's shot attempt with eleven and a half minutes remaining in the game. The Aggies stayed within striking distance of the Jayhawks all night until moments later when Morris' block turned into a three-pointer from the corner by Tyrel Reed on the other side of the court. It set Kansas off on a 15-4 run that made the score 73-55 with eight and half minutes to go. New Mexico State didn't have enough time to recover.
GAME TO REMEMBER ...
Freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor. Not to be repetitive, but Taylor was the story of the night for the Jayhawks. He recorded 23 points and kept the Jayhawks ahead when the rest of the team seemed to be slumping in the first half by driving the lane and playing tough defense. And he saved enough energy to throw down a memorable dunk as the game wound down in the second half.
Taylor
GAME TO FORGET ...
Sophomore guard Brady Morningstar. He played arguably the two best games of his life leading up to the clash with New Mexico State.Wednesday night looked closer to his worst.He committed a few laps defensively and let New Mexico State guards get to the basket.Turnovers and fouls were also problems.Morningstar finished with four fouls.
Morningstar
STAT OF THE NIGHT ...
15-for-17 second straight game, Kansas shot better than 85 percent from the free-throw line. Tyshawn Taylor and Cole Aldrich each missed one free-
throw a piece. Other than that, the Jayhawks were perfect. Taylor also made the most free throws for Kansas with seven.
Case Keefer
1