Second Half Run Pushes No. 1 Kansas To Win Vs. Nebraska
Feb. 6, 2010
Postgame Videos Aldrich | Collins |Mc. Morris |Coach Self
Boxscore in PDF Format 
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Cole Aldrich and Markieff Morris keyed a 28-5 run in the second half to push No. 1 Kansas to a 75-64 victory against Nebraska in men’s basketball action Saturday. Marcus Morris led the Jayhawks with 20 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
Kansas improved to 22-1 overall and 8-0 in Big 12 play, while Nebraska dropped to 13-10 and 1-7. The Jayhawks won their 15th straight game, as well as their 24th in the last 25 games against the Huskers. KU matched its second-longest home court winning streak with its 55th victory in a row. The school record is 62 from 1993-98.
After not scoring in the first half, while seeing extremely limited time due to foul trouble, both Aldrich and Markieff Morris were huge for the home team. After Nebraska turned a 37-33 halftime deficit into a 43-39 lead four minutes into the second half, the Jayhawks responded.
Collins hit a three-pointer before Aldrich scored six straight points as the Jayhawks moved ahead 54-44 while holding Nebraska without a field goal for six and one-half minutes. KU pushed the margin to 67-48 as Aldrich scored eight points and Markieff Morris nine in the game-changing run.
Aldrich finished the night with eight points, six rebounds and four blocks in 21 minutes, while Markieff Morris had nine points and three blocks in just nine minutes of play.
Sherron Collins, who moved into fourth place on the KU career three-point field goals made (208) and ninth on the career assists list (489), finished with 17 points and six assists.
Marcus Morris continued his torrid stretch in the last eight games. He registered 20 points, reaching that mark for the fourth time this season. He has scored at least 13 points and pulled down at least seven rebounds in eight straight games.
The Jayhawks shot 48 percent from the field, but made eight three-pointers to help off set their dismal performance from the free throw line. The Jayhawks made just 15 of 27 charity shots for a 55.6 percent clip.
The Kansas big men got into early foul trouble in the first half. Aldrich picked up two fouls in five minutes, while Markieff Morris had three in two minutes and Thomas Robinson three in six minutes.
That meant Jeff Withey saw plenty of action off the bench and he did not disappoint. The 7-0 transfer scored four points, pulled down six rebounds and blocked two shots in nine minutes of first-half action.
Meanwhile Marcus Morris was the only KU big man who did not commit a foul in the first half and fortunately for the Jayhawks he didn’t. Forced to play 18 minutes in the first half, he responded with 12 points and eight rebounds to keep the Jayhawks ahead.
Nebraska started the game working hard inside, helping force the KU foul trouble. The Huskers grabbed each of the game’s first four rebounds, all on the offensive end of the floor, as they attacked the glass hard.
KU meanwhile relied on an outside game at the beginning and its first three baskets were a pair of three-pointers by Xavier Henry and one by Sheron Collins. Morris then went to work inside hitting five of eight shots.
Kansas will play at Texas on ESPN’s Big Monday package. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. The Jayhawks will return home to host Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 13. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
