Jayhawks Rout the Huskers, 70-53

Feb. 21, 2009

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas rode a strong performance from Sherron Collins (22 points) and used Cole Aldrich’s 15th double-double of the season, 18 points and 12 rebounds, to pull away from the Huskers in the second half and come away with a 17 point victory, 70-53, before a sold out crowd at Allen Fieldhouse.

With the win, Kansas extended its nations-longest home court winning to 39 games and improved to 22-5 on the season and 11-1 in Big 12 play. Nebraska dropped to 16-9 and 6-6 in Big 12 action.

Early three-point shooting and a stifling defense helped the Jayhawks open up a 15-5 lead in the first eight minutes of the contest. Brady Morningstar, Tyshawn Taylor and Marcus Morris each drained three pointers to allow the Jayhawks some breathing room from what was a sluggish start to the game for both squads. Nebraska managed only two field goals in the first 10 minutes of the first half.

Nebraska used a quick 7-0 run from Ryan Anderson and Steve Harley just after the 10 minute mark in the first half to pull within three at 15-12, but a Cole Aldrich jumper and a twisting layup by Travis Releford spread the lead back out to seven. Collins then started heating up scoring KU’s next eight points to make the lead 27-16.

Following another Nebraska run, Aldrich knocked in the half’s final four points to match the Jayhawks’ biggest lead of the game at 11, 34-23.

Like the first half, as many times as Nebraska would cut into the KU lead, the Jayhawks always had an answer. A layup by Nebraska’s Ade Dugonduro with 16:49 left in the second half cut the score to 38-31 and was the closest the Cornhuskers would get the rest of the way as the Jayhawks pulled away down the stretch.

The Jayhawks held Nebraska to 38.2 percent shooting from the field and just 27.8 percent from behind the arc. The Jayhawks shot a solid 47.4 percent and had a 22 rebound advantage on the glass, 46-24. Nebraska was lead by Dagunduro’s 13 points and Harley’s 11 points.

KU will head to Norman, Okla., for ESPN’s Big Monday matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Lloyd Noble Center in what will be battle for first place in the Big 12 standings. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. The game marks the fourth time this season that Kansas will be featured in an ESPN Big Monday broadcast.