Marcus Morris Reaches 1,000 Career Points in Close Win Versus Nebraska
Jan. 15, 2011
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Marcus Morris put the Jayhawks on his back for the second-straight game as Kansas men’s basketball pulled out a tight one with Nebraska, 63-60 at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, January 15. The win makes No. 3 KU 17-0 on the year and 2-0 in Big 12 play.
Morris recorded his second straight double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Morris tied fellow Jayhawk Tyrel Reed with a game-high 16 points, while the 11 rebounds were also a game-high.
With his 16 point effort, Morris became the 53rd player in Kansas history to reach the 1,000-point mark in a career. Morris is the latest to join the list since former Kansas star center Cole Aldrich accomplished the feat during the 2009-10 season.
“I have good teammates that like to pass me the ball. I love my teammates and they love me. Those guys know when to get the ball to me. If I didn’t get to 1,000, but we still got the win it wouldn’t have mattered. It was good to get it at home,” Morris said.
Kansas trailed for a majority of the game to the Cornhuskers, but managed to pull out the victory and also extend the current nation’s longest home winning streak to 69 games in Allen Fieldhouse.
“During the last timeout we knew we had to win. We put everything on the line and I think we wanted it a little bit more,” Morris said. “You have to give Nebraska a lot of credit because they are a good team. Anyone you play in the Big 12 is going to be a tough team, whether it’s home or away.”
Morris was held to only three points in the first half. As a team KU was held to four total points in the paint in the first half. The Jayhawks credited the Huskers defense as they shut down KU’s inside game.
“I wouldn’t say we played down to the level of the competition because those guys (Nebraska) are players, they aren’t low-caliber players. I think they can play with any team in the Big 12. We competed tough, I just think they came ready to play early, but in the end we buckled down and finished it.”
Morris erupted for 13 points in the second-half as he led the Jayhawks to the finish line.
“There’s a sense of urgency when we get out there on our floor. We have the best fans and home court in the country. We use it to our advantage and when we get going, we’re hard to beat.”
Morris and the Jayhawks take their perfect record on the road when they travel to Waco, Texas, to take on Baylor on Monday, January 17 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
