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2010 Feb 06
MBB: Jayhawks Knock Out Huskers
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The top-ranked Jayhawks’ spectacular 28-5 run midway through the second half flipped a 43-39 deficit into a 67-48 lead faster than one of those home design shows redecorates a shabby living room.
“The light came on,” said Kansas coach Bill Self. “We played about as well as we’ve played all year long for those ten minutes.”
And so a 56th straight home win for KU. And 24 out of 25 against Nebraska.
But those other 30 minutes in front of a packed house at Allen Fieldhouse may have comprised the Cornhuskers’ best basketball of the season. And it may have provided Nebraska (13-10 overall and 1-7 in the Big 12 Conference) with some needed momentum as it heads into the easier half of its league schedule.
“The effort was the best that we can do,” head coach Doc Sadler said. “We made some shots.”
That they did, shooting 43 percent overall and hitting 10 of 17 3-point attempts. Two consecutive treys early in the second half by guards Sek Henry and Ryan Anderson gave NU a 41-39 advantage. Center Brian Diaz - who led all scorers with 20 points - padded the lead to four on a layup. Self, furious, called a timeout. Sadler even flashed a brief smile at finding his young Huskers in the thick of the Phog - and thriving.
On the next possession, KU's All-American candidate, guard Sherron Collins, swished a 3-pointer.
“Which great players do,” Sadler said.
Then center Cole Aldrich scored six straight on two baskets and two free throws. Kansas drew fouls. Nebraska did not. KU also grabbed several key offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive. The Huskers were limited to one-and-done trips. They went nearly seven minutes without a basket.
“That is why they are where they are at and that is why we are where we are at,” Sadler said. “I challenged our team that until we start making the plays that are the 50-50 plays, then we are going to struggle.”
In the opening half, Nebraska, behind Diaz and a spirited Christian Standhardinger off the bench, had won those battles. Self even drew a technical when his star freshman, Xavier Henry, bled from his eyebrow, the victim of an unseen elbow.
KU (22-1, 8-0) led 37-33 at halftime, but had been knocked on its heels by NU’s aggression. When the Huskers took that four-point lead with 16 minutes remaining in the second half, the Jayhawks looked ripe for the upset they escaped Wednesday in an overtime win at Colorado.
But Nebraska’s assertiveness waned as KU turned up the heat. Diaz continued to get his points - he also finished with nine rebounds - but guards Brandon Richardson and Eshaunte Jones combined for one point in 37 minutes of play. Jones, who scored 12 in the first meeting with Kansas, has scored just 11 in the last six games.
Kansas was led by Marcus Morris, who scored 20 and had 11 rebounds, Collins, who scored 17, and Aldrich, who sat with foul trouble in the first half but finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks.
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