Collins Breaks KU Free Throw Record As Jayhawks Conquer Baylor
Feb. 2, 2009
WACO, Texas –
Junior Sherron Collins made his first six free throws to break the Kansas record for consecutive free throws made, while scoring a team-high 17 points to help lead the No. 21 Kansas men’s basketball team to a 75-65 win at Baylor during ESPN’s Big Monday.
KU’s seventh straight win improved the Jayhawks to 18-4 on the season and 7-0 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2004-05 when the team opened league play 9-0. Baylor lost its fourth straight game as it fell to 15-7 overall and 3-5 in conference games.
Collins made 35 straight free throws to break Wayne Simien’s record of 34 consecutive free throws made in 2004-05. Collins missed his next free throw attempt and finished the night 7-for-8 at the charity stripe.
Ahead 30-28 at the half, Kansas opened the second half on a 13-4 run to widen its lead. Baylor responded with nine unanswered points to cut the Jayhawks’ lead to one at 48-47 with 12:25 left in the game but KU’s Tyrel Reed and Mario Little hit back-to-back baskets to hold off the Bears.
BU stayed within single digit points for much of the half but never got closer than five points to the Jayhawks.
KU sank 12-of-15 from the free throw line in the second half, including 9-for-12 in the final five minutes, to help seal the victory.
Freshman Marcus Morris and Little contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively, in the contest, while sophomore Cole Aldrich was just shy of a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
After opening the game hitting one of its first eight shots, KU closed out the first half making five of its last six shots, including a two-pointer from the corner by Collins at the buzzer to give the Jayhawks a 30-28 edge going into the locker room.
Kansas trailed the entire first half until there were 43 seconds left on the clock. Marcus Morris was fouled going to the basket but made the bucket and the ensuing free throw for a three-point play to knot the score at 26-26. Collins then hit a jumper on KU’s next possession for the Jayhawks’ first lead of the game.
The Jayhawks outrebounded the Bears 37-29 and have beat their opponents on the boards in five of their last six games. KU also outscored Baylor in the paint recording 42 points in the lane compared to 20 for BU.
Kansas returns home to host Oklahoma State on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m. on ABC, and then hits the road for games at Missouri, Monday, Feb. 9 on ESPN, and at Kansas State, Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
