February 24, 2007

Jayhawks Storm Past Cyclones, 89-52

Feb. 24, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Six Jayhawk players scored in double figures, including a game-high 18 from sophomore guard Mario Chalmers, as the University of Kansas blitzed Iowa State, 89-52, Saturday evening at Allen Fieldhouse. The win improved the Jayhawks to 25-4, 12-2, while ISU fell to 14-14, 5-9.

The victory marked the seventh time this season that KU has won a game by more than 30 points, and the 37-point margin was the largest in the series since Kansas blasted the Cyclones, 118-75, on March 9, 1990 in Kansas City.

After a slow start by both teams that saw KU leading 6-4, the Jayhawks quickly blew the game open, using a 24-4 run, including a stretch 14 straight points, to take a 30-8 lead capped by a three-pointer from Chalmers. Kansas went into the break ahead 41-15 following a tip-in at the buzzer by junior forward Darnell Jackson.

KU held Iowa State to a dreadful 17.9 percent shooting in the opening frame, which was the lowest by a Kansas opponent since Colorado shot 17.9 percent in the first half on Jan. 25, 2004.

The Jayhawks continued their dominating play in the second half, eventually stretching their lead to 41 points with just over 10 minutes to play.

For the game, KU connected on 52.2 percent of its shots and converted 19 Iowa State turnovers into 32 points. The Jayhawks outscored ISU 42-20 in the paint and outrebounded the Cyclones by a count of 47-30.

Freshman forward Darrell Arthur notched his second-straight double-double with 15 points and 11 boards. Sophomore forward Julian Wright added 12 points and eight rebounds while freshman Sherron Collins, who started the game in place of the injured Russell Robinson, scored 12 points and dished out six assists. Jackson and junior center Sasha Kaun each finished with 10 points.

Kansas will next be in action when it travels to Norman, Okla. to take on the Sooners on Monday night. Tip set to tip at 8 p.m., and the Big Monday game will be televised nationally on ESPN.