Collins, Chalmers Lead KU over Kansas State, 71-62

Feb. 19, 2007

Final Stats | Notes | |

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>MANHATTAN, Kan. – Led by 20 points from freshman Sherron Collins, the University of Kansas continued its dominance of the Sunflower State rivalry with a 71-62 win over Kansas State on Monday night, marking KU’s 34th win in the series’ last 35 games and its 24th straight in Manhattan.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Collins, who reached the 20-point mark for the second time this season, finished 8-of-11 from the floor while also dishing out three assists.

The Jayhawks (24-4, 11-2) also got 17 points from sophomore Mario Chalmers, which were his most since scoring 21 against Colorado on Jan. 29. Kansas, which connected on 51 percent of its shots, limited the Wildcats (19-9, 8-5) to just 32.3 percent from the field and outrebounded K-State by a count of 40-30.

After Kansas State scored the first five points of the game, KU engineered a 13-3 run, highlighted by Collins’ coast-to-coast reverse layup, take the lead. The Wildcats’ first five made field goals came from three-point range, but the Jayhawks surrendered just three treys for the remainder of the contest.

Kansas held the Wildcats scoreless for a span of 5:35 near the end of the first half and into the second, turning a 30-29 halftime deficit into a four point lead on Chalmers’ three pointer with 16:26 left to play.

K-State pulled to within one at 41-40, but KU then used an 18-7 run, capped by two Collins free-throws, to take its largest lead of the game at 59-47, all but putting away the Wildcats with just over five minutes to play.

Freshman Darrell Arthur scored 13 and pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds for the Jayhawks, marking his first career double-double. Kansas also got 11 points from sophomore Brandon Rush.

The Wildcats were led by Cartier Martin’s 19 points.

KU will next be in action when it hosts Iowa State on Feb. 24. Tip is set for 5 p.m., and the contest can be seen nationally on ESPN.