Balanced Attack, Defense Help Jayhawks Top Buffaloes
Feb. 16, 2008
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | | | | 
LAWRENCE, KAN. – A balanced offensive attack and an impressive defensive performance guided the third-ranked University of Kansas men’s basketball team to a 69-45 victory in a Big 12 match-up with Colorado at Allen Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.
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On a day when more than 200 former men’s basketball coaches, players and managers were honored at halftime as part of Kansas’ celebration of 110 years of basketball, the Jayhawks improved to 24-2 en route to its 22nd-straight home win. Kansas remains atop the Big 12 Conference at 9-2. Colorado fell to 10-14 overall and 2-8 in the conference.
The Jayhawks’ defense was stifling, as Colorado shot just 35 percent from the floor. CU’s 45 points were the fewest scored against KU this season, while the fourth-leading scorer in the Big 12, Richard Roby, was held to two points on 1-of-11 shooting.
KU’s defense led to a 23-12 advantage in points off turnovers. No Jayhawk scored more than junior Mario Chalmers’ 13. Senior Darnell Jackson was the only other player in double-figures for Kansas with 12.
Colorado’s time-consuming offense kept the game close for much of the first half, however, Kansas scored nine of the half’s final 11 points and took a 32-20 advantage into the intermission.
Colorado had pulled within 23-18 at the 6:03 mark of the first half, but Kansas held the Buffaloes to just one field goal for the remainder of the period.
Wearing throwback uniforms in honor of the Jayhawks’ 1988 NCAA national championship team, Kansas commanded much of the second half.
KU started the final 20 minutes on an 18-4 run, scoring 13 unanswered to take a 50-24 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. The Buffaloes were never able to pull within 20 after that point.
Kansas hits the floor again next Saturday, Feb. 23, when they travel to Stillwater, Okla. for a 3 p.m. tip against Oklahoma State.
