Robisch fires 27 more
KU waltzes past Oklahoma, surges into Big Eight lead
Photo by John Burke
DAVE ROBISCH . . . another 27-point spree.
'Huskers stop Meely; Helmbock rescues MU
By United Press International
Nebraska held Colorado's Cliff Meely, the Big Eight's leading scorer, to only 13 points and handed the Buffers a 79-65 setback last night.
Host Nebraska, after trailing in the initial stanza, ran off 10 straight points to take a 37-29 halftime lead, and after that, never trailed.
The Cornhuskers were led by Bob Gratopp and Marv Stewart with 22 and 21 points respectively. Leroy Chalk added 18 for the winners.
Gordon Tope paced the Colorado attack with 15.
Colorado closed the gap to within one at 41-40, and later to three, but wilted under the Huskers' fast break and pressing defense.
Nebraska's record now stands at 5-7 in the Big Eight.
Colorado dropped to 8-4, and now awaits a Saturday showdown at home against conference leader Kansas.
Missouri's Pete Helmbock hit a layup in the final three seconds for a 66-62 victory over Kansas State, dimming the Wildcats' hopes of a repeat for the Big Eight title.
It moved the Tigers to a 7-5 league mark and K-State to 7-4.
After, Hammock's crucial shot,
Dave Pike added two free throws.
He was fouled at the gun.
Kansas State jumped to an 18-12 lead midway in the first half and stayed in front 34-32 at intermission. The Tigers made six consecutive points to take the lead, but the Wildcats tied it at 53-53 at 10:03 in the second
half and 62-62 with 57 seconds left.
KU FROSH (70) -Stallworth 9-3-2;
Nash 7-5-2; Mask 6-4-0; Pointdexter
10-2-8; Highfill 0-9-0; Spong
0-0-0; Tots 26-18-14.
Helmbock took scoring honors with 23. Pike added 15. Jerry Venable was K-State's best with 14. Gene Williams and Jeff Webb each got 12.
NEOHSO JUCO (62) - Atkinson 2-2-
4; Langvander 1-3; Wilson 1-2; Marpe
1-1-0; Mathews 5-0-5; Heath 0-0-1;
Brown 0-0-2; Fortune 0-0-3;
Wilson 0-0-0; Trosch 28-6-7;
Haltifee: Neohso Juco 34, Kansas
Frosh 32
KU boosted its mark to 20-4, but more important, its Big Eight reading to 9-3. Colorado, which has dropped three of its last four league tests, slumped to 8-4 and Kansas State dropped to 7-4.
The Oklahoma match was a laugher most of the way. KU gunned to an early 7-2 lead with less than four minutes gone and spent most of the evening widening that margin.
Robisch, Russell and Bruce Sloan each pulled down 10 rebounds, pacing Kansas to a substantial 57-44 rebounding edge. Sloan also contributed four steals in the first $2\frac{1}{2}$ minutes, leading to three quick baskets and setting the tempo for what would be a long night for OU ballhandlers.
6 KANSAN Feb.25 1969
Only close once
"We were really souped up for this one," Owens said. "Of course, hearing that Nebraska score didn't hurt things any."
KU's Dave Robisch again topped all scorers, hitting his second straight 27-point performance. Pierre Russell chipped in with his career high of 17 points, including 11 of 13 free throws.
Only once did the Sooners get close, that coming at the 8:49 mark of the first half with Kansas clinging to an 18-15 edge. Then, following an announcement of Nebraska's 8-point halftime bulge over Colorado, the Jayhawks exploded on a 14-1 blitz and put things out of reach, 32-16 at 2:23.
It was during this span that Kansas piled up 20 points to Oklahoma's five, emerging with a 38-20 halftime lead.
Coach Ted Owens was pleased with his club's effort, his 12th victory without a defeat against his alma mater.
"During the last six or seven minutes of the first half, we were moving the ball better than at any other time this year."
"One thing we were doing well was moving, and I'm always happy to see that. Oklahoma was zoning us early, and to beat that, you've got to be active," Owens said.
Owens was also heartened at the manner in which his Jayhawks broke the OU press.
Happy with everyone
"Then too, Dave Nash has been giving us a big lift, as has Roger Brown, whose shot blocking and defensive movement tonight were much improved," continued Owens.
"It will take that to assure us of the NCAA berth."
Stallworth's 21 points were complemented by Aubrey Nash's 19 markers and Neal Mask's 16 points.
"Richard Bradshaw and Pierre Russell handled the ball much better which is good to see because Colorado is liable to pressure us.
Bud Stallworth rolled up 21 points and collected 15 rebounds as KU's freshmen topped Neosho Junior College, 70-62, in the preliminary game.
"To win the title outright and that's what we're after—we about have to win at Boulder Saturday and here against K-State the week after that.
Asked about that Saturday struggle with Colorado, Owens replied that it was still a "must" game.
Neosho has forged a slim 34-32 edge at halftime. The eventual difference came at the free throw line where the KU frosh connected on 18 of 34 to Neosho's 6 of 17.
The triumph was the eighth in nine games for Coach Gale Catlett's yeearlings. KU's freshmen close against Kansas State March 8.