Third-Ranked Kansas Defeats Loyola 90-60 In Final Non-Conference Basketball Game
Jan. 8, 2008
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>LAWRENCE, Kan. – Sherron Collins scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the first half to lead third-ranked Kansas to a 90-60 win against Loyola here Tuesday night.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
With the win Kansas improved to 15-0 for the fifth time in school history and the first time since the 1990 season. Loyola fell to 6-9. The win was the 15th consecutive home victory for the Jayhawks dating back to last season.
Collins reached double-figures for just the second time in the seven games he has played since returning from a leg injury. The sophomore guard had scored a total of 18 points in the previous three games.
Two other Jayhawks scored in double figures as Darrell Arthur and Sasha Kaun, each added 14 points. Loyola had three players in double figure points, including Gerald Brown, who had 13, Marquis Sullivan, who had 12, and Greg Manning, who scored 10.
Kansas took advantage of its inside play, outscoring the Greyhounds 38-12 in the paint and recording a season-high 10 blocked shots, including three by Arthur.
Arthur reached double-figure points for the 14th time in 15 games, while Kaun scored in double-digits for the first time in six games and was one point shy of his season high.
Darnell Jackson was just shy of a double-double as he had nine points and nine rebounds in just 21 minutes of play.
Kansas closed the first half on a 15-2 run to turn a 26-22 advantage into a 41-24 lead at the break. The Jayhawks opened the second half on an 11-2 run to build its lead to 52-26 less than four minutes into the second period.
KU forced 13 Loyola turnovers in the first half and turned those into 20 points. Meanwhile the home team turned the ball over just five times in the half and 12 in the game.
Arthur scored 12 of KU’s first 22 points in the game, including a stretch with 10 of KU’s 11 points in the early part of the half. Collins and Kahn took over the rest of the way scoring six and five of KU’s final 19 points of the half respectively.
Kansas will open Big 12 Conference play traveling to Nebraska for an 8 p.m. game on Saturday. That contest will be televised on ESPN. The Jayhawks will return home on Monday to host Oklahoma in ESPN’s season-opening Big Monday game at 8 p.m.
