Jayhawks Take Round One of Border Showdown

Jan. 31, 2005

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas men’s basketball team trailed visiting Missouri 36-28 at halftime, but the Jayhawks shot 58 percent in the second half to claim round one of the 2005 Border Showdown, 73-61, Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

KU committed 10 first half turnovers and shot just 37 percent from the field. The Jayhawks regrouped at the break and outscored the Tigers 45-25 in the second half, committing just three turnovers.

Senior Wayne Simien led four Jayhawks in double-figures with a game-high 22 points. Simien also added a game-high eight rebounds. Sophomore J.R. Giddens added 15 points, while senior Aaron Miles recorded his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 assists. Fellow senior Keith Langford rounded out double-figure scorers with 11.

Junior Christian Moody scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in the win.

“We played very bad in the first half,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “At halftime it was like we flipped a switch and came out to play very well in the second half.

“Missouri came in here and executed very well,” Self added. “We did a good job when we changed to a zone defense on them and we rebounded well. We can now catch our breath before we start thinking about Nebraska.”

Missouri senior Jason Conley led the Tigers with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Sophomore Linas Kleiza added 11 points before fouling out in the second half. Freshman Jason Horton had nine points in the loss.

Kansas (17-1, 7-0) will hit the road for the next two games. The Jayhawks will travel to Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday to face the Huskers. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m.