4B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KU 64 - OSU 49
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Key plays:
Freshman forward Julian Wright drove from the right corner early in the first half and was able to complete a reverse layup to put Kansas up 8-0. That would be the largest lead the Jayhawks would hold until late in the second half.
OklahomaState looked to have the momentum when junior forward Mario Boggan stole the ball from Kansas freshman guard Brandon Rush and drove all the way to the basket, where he laid the ball in and was fouled by Rush. That gave the Cowboys the lead with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
♦ Freshmanguard Russell Robinson brought the Jayhawks back by responding to Boggan's play, connecting on one from the right corner, giving Kansas a 43-42降. Kansas never gave up the lead.
Ryan Colaiani
Basketball Notes:
- Kansas freshman guard Mario Chalmers was named Big 12 player of the week yesterday after averaging 21.5 points per game last week. Chalmers was the first freshman to be named player of the week since Oklahoma's Drew Lavender won the award in 2003. Earlier in the season Chalmers was named Big 12 rookie of the week.
- ♦ Kansas' eighth straight victory extended its longest winning streak of the season.
- Self got his first victory at Gallagher-Iba Arena, a venue where he played his college basketball days during the 1980s.
- ♦ Senior forward Christian Moody attempted his first free-throws on the road since the team's loss to Missouri in January.
- With his 13 points, Chalmers has now scored double figures in four straight games.
- ♦ Senior guard Jeff Hawkins has just two turnovers in his last nine games.
- Robinson's five steals were a career high.The team's 16 steals were a season high.
♦ The 23 first half points for Kansas were the lowest offensive output in a first half for Kansas this season.
— Ryan Colaianni
8:12 p.m. Oklahoma State takes a time-out after a freshman guard Brandon Rush layup and a freshman guard Mario Chalmers steal and dunk. On the other side of the four points is a 22. I don't get it. What does the 22 mean?
8-26 A clock blunder at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Clock operators are having a rough time lately.
8:54 The clock isn't working again.
8:49 Big 12 player of the week Chalmers breaks a long Kansas drought with a runner down the lane. Oklahoma State hasn't scored in the last 7-11.
8. 59 The clock has inadvertently stopped for the third time. They should just start using a stop watch. The clock technician makes an appearance.
9:09 Haltime. A defensive-minded, yet ugly first half. It's 23-23 and both teams have combined for 28 turnovers.
9:05 "That's the first lead tonight for Oklahoma State," according to broadcast announcer Ron Franklin. The score is 21-21.
9. 07 A fan in the Oklahoma State student section has a picture of a swimsuit model in an effort to distract Kansas players.
9. 32 Freshman forward Julian Wright goes behind the back and throws the left-handed bounce pass to sophomore guard Russell Robinson, who can't finish the highlight by missing the layup.
9:58 Alley-oop from Chelmers to Rush. Kansas is about to run away with this.
9:55 Robinson hits a three-pointer to take the 43-42 lead. He's been struggling with his shot and needed that to fall.
10:04 Sophomore forward Sasha Kaun with the finesse lefty hook in the lane (Sasha and finesse usually don't go hand in hand).
9:42 Thanks to sideline reporter Holly Rowe. After Rowe comments on how Rush has not scored yet in the first half, he drains a jumper from the wing.
10:05 Wright is taking over without scoring. He has three straight assists and Kansas leads by 11.
10:15 Rush throws it down to put the exclamation mark on the Jayhawks' eighth straight victory.
C. J. Moore
Freshman guard Brandon Rush flushes the ball for a dunk in the last minute of the game against Oklahoma State Monday in Stillwater, Okla. Rush scored ei half and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Victory
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
The Jayhawks calmed down eventually, connecting on nearly 50 percent of their shots in the second half and committing only five turnovers.
Early Kansas points came via layups or dunks, but those didn't come often. The teams went into halftime tied at 23 after connecting on only 13 shots combined.
Kansas failed to connect on a jump shot until freshman guard Brandon Rush hit a jumper from the right corner with less than 14 minutes to play.
"This was a game where we just weren't clicking offensively," freshman forward Julian Wright said. "We knew had to find a way."
Robinson. Although Robinson made only 1-of-8 attempts, his one made basket was pivotal. Robinson made a three-pointer that put the Jayhawks up 43-42. Kansas held onto the lead for the remainder of the game.
Kansas found a way to win, much to the credit of sophomore guard Russell
"We shouldn't look at percentages," Self said. "We should look at when he makes shots, because he makes big shots and that was the biggest shot of the game."
Freshman guard Mario Chalmers, who scored a team-high 13 points, said Robinson's shot energized Kansas.
Kansas made an effort to get the ball inside after that point, especially to sophomore forward Sasha Kaun, who banked in a key left handed hook shot that extended the Kansas lead to seven. Wright solidified the victory with behind-the-back passes that resulted in easy buckets.
The lack of offensive continuity during the first half was mirrored by the game clock, which malfunctioned on three separate occasions.
Despite the offensive struggles, four Jayhawks reached double figures in a balanced scoring output.
"We knew sooner or later we were going to figure it out," Robinson said. "We did that late in the second half when we started to attack the basket."
"I love playing with Julian," Kaun said "He has such a great feel of when to pass where to pass. He sees really well."
The victory was Kansas' eighth straight, coming in its first game since breaking into the national rankings at No. 22. Kansas improved to 5-1 on the road.
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- Edited by Frank Tankard
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