THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2013
KANSAS STATE 55
PAGE 11
REWIND
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Freshman guard Ben McLemore looks for an open teammate during the first half. McLemore scored 11 total points and secured five rebounds as Kansas defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 59-55.
Releford rebounds at Kansas State
RYAN MCCARTHY
rmccarthy@kansan.com
And with his struggle on offense, especially from three-point range, that wasn't his main priority.
MANHATTAN—Travis
Relefond already had plenty on his
plate guarding Rodney McGruder
in the Sunflower Showdown on
Tuesday.
Turns out the senior guard from Kansas City, Mo., found his rhythm with two early 3-pointers that helped him lead Kansas to its 59-55 win over K-State.
"I thought Trav played unbelievable," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "One of the better games he's played for us."
However, even with a team-high of 12 points. Releford's main focus remained McGruder, who he held to only two points in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
"The first half I thought I did real well making him uncomfortable and not letting him get easy looks," Releford said.
McGruder did warm up in the second half, finishing with 13 points. It was, however, still under his season average of 15.5 points.
"Trav did a tremendous job and he definitely did what he needed to do for us to win the game," sophomore guard Naadir Tharpe said.
Tharpe calmly walked to the free throw line and nailed both of his free throws, extending the Jayhawks lead to 58-53 and out of reach of the Wildcats.
Tharpe also had a big moment during the game of his own. With 22.6 seconds left in the game.
"I just focused and knocked them down," Tharpe said.
Tharpe has become a major player off the bench the past few games and appears to have moved into an established role in the
game.
He finished the game with six points and two assists.
One of the major factors for the Jayhawks was the physical play inside by both senior center Jeff Withey and senior forward Kevin Young.
At seven feet tall, Withey always draws a lot of attention, but last night he faced a pair of tough players in the Wildcats' sophomore Thomas Gipson and senior Jordan Henriquez.
More than anything Withey was just happy for a good win after a difficult battle against the in-state rival.
Young also managed to make a pivotal play as he dumped in a layup before the half, extending Kansas' lead to 31-27.
Although Withe managed to get his seventh double-double of the season (11 points and 10 rebounds), it was the first game this season he did not record a block.
"It was definitely a physical game, that's how the Big 12 is, everywhere you go you get elbows in the back," Withey said. "I'm used to it and Kevin's used to it."
"Those are plays that end up being the difference in winning and not winning." Self said.
More importantly this game made it the 20th win for Bill Self and his players since he arrived in Lawrence in 2003.
But this game means a lot to a senior who will never soak up a big-time Big 12 road win after this season.
"I haven't been here that long, but I've inherited the rivalry just like any other player that comes through these doors," Young said. "You just take a lot of pride in it."
Edited by Brian Sisk
15
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN Freshman forward Perry Ellis loses possession of the ball during the second half of the game against Kansas State at Bramlage Coliseum Tuesday night. Ellis scored eight total points in the game.
SCHEDULE
*all games in bold are at home
Date Opponent Result/Time
Oct. 30 EMPORTIA STATE W, 88-54
Nov. 5 WASHBURN W, 62-50
Nov. 9 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE W, 74-55
Nov. 13 MICHIGAN STATE L, 67-64
Nov. 15 CHATTANOOGA W, 69-55
Nov. 19 WASHINGTON STATE W, 78-41
Nov. 20 SAINT LOUIS W, 73-59
Nov. 26 SAN JOSE STATE W, 70-57
Nov. 30 OREGON STATE W, 84-78
Dec. 8 COLORADO W, 90-54
Dec. 15 BELMONT W, 89-60
Dec. 18 RICHMOND W, 87-59
Dec. 22 OHIO STATE W, 74-66
Dec. 29 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY W, 89-57
Jan. 6 TEMPLE W, 69-62
Jan. 9 IOWA STATE W, 97-89 (OT)
Jan. 12 TEXAS TECH W, 60-46
Jan. 14 BAYLOR W, 61-44
Jan. 19 TEXAS 1 p.m.
Jan. 22 KANSAS STATE 7 p.m.
Jan. 26 OKLAHOMA 3 p.m.
Jan. 28 WEST VIRGINIA 8 p.m.
Feb. 2 OKLAHOMA STATE 3 p.m.
Feb. 6 TCU 8 p.m.
Feb. 9 OKLAHOMA 3 p.m.
Feb. 11 KANSAS STATE 8 p.m.
Feb. 16 TEXAS 8 p.m.
Feb. 20 OKLAHOMA STATE 8 p.m.
Feb. 23 TCU 3 p.m.
Feb. 25 IOWA STATE 8 p.m.
March 2 WEST VIRGINIA 1 p.m.
March 4 TEXAS TECH 6 p.m.
March 9 BAYLOR 5 p.m.
PRIME PLAYS
1ST HALF:
14:28 Will Spradling steals from Jeff Withey in the paint, runs down and dishes to Angel Rodriguez who hits a 3. (10-8 KU).
12:08 — Elijah Johnson hits a three from the corner after Naadir Tharpe finds him all alone. The bucket is KU's first field goal in 3:30. (KU leads 15-8)
6. 02 — Perry Ellis breaks a 9-0 run by K-State and regains the lead for the Jayhawks after gets the ball at the top of the key and gets goal tended while driving the paint (KU leads 20-19)
2ND HALF:
17:48 — Travis Releford coasts into the paint in transition, spins under the hoop and knocks down a reverse layup. (KU leads 35-30)
BIG JAY'S THOUGHTS ON GAME DAY
16:16 — Kevin Young dishes to Jeff Withey in the paint who goes up strong for two. (KU leads 39-30)
THE JAYHAWKS DEALT WELL WITH THE HOSTILE BRAMLAGE COLISEUM CROWD SHOOTING 45.7 PERCENT FROM THE FIELD WHILE THE WILDCATS SHOT 35.1 PERCENT.
4:45 — After working the shot clock down Kevin Young makes a turnover in the paint that leads to a Wildcat fastbreak and layup. (KU leads 56-53)
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