#1 KU Rolls Texas in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas - Three Jayhawks finished with 15 or more points, including a team-high 18 points from sophomore Marcus Morris, as No. 1 Kansas defeated No. 14 Texas in Austin on ESPN’s Big Monday.

The win snapped a UT three-game home win streak over KU, was Kansas’ ninth-straight victory and improved the Jayhawks to 23-1 overall and 9-0 in the Big 12. Texas dropped to 19-5 and 5-4 in the conference.
 
Kansas controlled much of the second half and built up a 19-point lead by the 9:02 mark. But the lead began to slip away as Texas battled back using a 14-5 run to come within eight points at 64-56 with 3:38 left in the game, UT’s first single-digit deficit since 6:43 in the first half.
 
In Kansas’ next trip down the floor, freshman Xavier Henry fought through traffic and was fouled in the paint. He proceeded to sink both free throws and Tyrel Reed soon followed with a fastbreak layup to put the Jayhawks back up by 12 at 2:32.

Texas sent Kansas to line 10 times in the last two and half minutes and KU hit all 10 tries during that time to seal the win. For the game, KU was 22-for-29 (75.9 percent) at the free throw line, its best percentage in five games.
 
Collins scored eight of his 15 points at the free throw line, making all eight of his charity stripe attempts and dished out five assists in the win to go along with four steals. Freshman Henry also added 15 points in the contest.
 
Collins, Morris and Henry each scored 10 points in the final 20 minutes of the game.
 
A 22-0 run in the first half gave Kansas its lead for the rest of the game. At 14:08, Texas had built up a six-point lead at 14-8. Junior Brady Morningstar and sophomore Markieff Morris, who both had eight points in the contest, quickly erased the Jayhawks’ deficit with back-to-back three-point baskets to knot the score. From there, KU scored 16 straight points to extend a 22-0 run as it led 30-14 with 4:54 on the clock.
 
KU went 8-for-15 during the run, including four three-pointers, while Texas missed 10-straight shots. Kansas was able to out-do UT on the boards pulling down 11 more rebounds with 45. Markieff Morris led KU for just the second time this season with nine rebounds.
 
The Jayhawks added just three more point, all free throws, in the final five minutes but managed to hold a double-digit lead for the rest of the half and led 34-24 at the break.
 
Kansas converted 17 Longhorn turnovers into 27 points during the game and out-scored UT 16-2 in fastbreak points.
 
Kansas returns home to face Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. on ESPNU. KU head coach Bill Self will be going for career-win 400 Saturday. KU will then make its third ESPN Big Monday appearance of 2010 when it travels to Texas A&M on Feb. 15.

Box Score

Story courtesy:  KUAC