McMorris Lights Up Michigan, KU Wins

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Sophomore forward Marcus Morris scored a career-high 23 points and recorded 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season, lifting top-ranked Kansas past Michigan, 75-64, Saturday before a sold out crowd at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks improved to 10-0 for the third time under head coach Bill Self, while the Wolverines dropped to 5-5.
 
Marcus Morris was one of three Jayhawks in double-figures, while KU’s defense held the Wolverines to just 36 percent shooting from the field.
 
After Michigan led 11-10 early on, the Jayhawks went on a 28-7 run midway through the first half to take control. During the eight-minute stretch, Morris scored nine of his 23 points, including a three-point play to stretch the lead to eight with 8:14 remaining in the first half.
 
Michigan trailed by as much as 21 in the first half, but switched to a 1-3-1 zone defensively to cut the lead to 11 in the final two minutes of the first half. However, KU’s defense kept the advantage to double-digits the entire second half, holding the Wolverines to just 13-of-34 shooting from the field, including 2-of-15 from beyond the three-point line.
 
Morris tallied 14 of his 23 points in the second half, finished 4-of-5 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free throw line following the intermission.
 
After a slow first half, Xavier Henry got more involved offensively, and scored 10 of his 15 points in the second 20-minute period. Senior Sherron Collins chipped in 19 points – his highest total since he recorded 23 against Hofstra in the first game of the season.
 
Collins’ three-point field goal in the first half moved him into fifth-place on the Jayhawk career list with 182, surpassing Brandon Rush.
 
Junior center Cole Aldrich was held without a field goal for the first time this season, but contributed a game-high 11 rebounds, three blocks and five points – all from the foul line. Junior Brady Morningstar played 22 minutes in his first action of the season, and chipped in two points, three assists and a steal off the bench.  
 
The Jayhawks will face California on Tuesday evening at Allen Fieldhouse in a game that can be seen on ESPN2. Tip off is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Story courtesy:  KUAC