Kansas Basketball Defeats Texas Tech 109-51
March 3, 2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Six Jayhawks scored in double figures as fifth-ranked Kansas posted its most points in 194 games in a 109-51 basketball rout of Texas Tech on Senior Night in Lawrence Monday night.
Kansas improved to 27-3 overall and 12-3 in Big 12 play, while Texas Tech fell to 16-13 and 7-8. The Jayhawks finished 2008 with a perfect 20-0 home record. It is the first undefeated home season for KU since going 13-0 in 2001-02.
KU’s 109 points were its most since beating Emporia State 113-61 on Dec. 14, 2002. The 58-point victory margin tied for the seventh-largest in school history and the biggest since defeating Prairie View A&M 110-52 (58 points) on March 13, 1998.
Russell Robinson led KU with 15 points as he made all five of his field goal attempts, including three three-pointers. Texas Tech was led by Martin Zeno, who scored 19 and John Roberson, who added 15.
Kansas shot 59.7 percent from the field, its second best mark of the year behind a 61.4 percent night against Northern Arizona. Meanwhile the Jayhawks limited Texas Tech to just 29 percent from the field, the second lowest mark by a KU opponent this year behind Ohio’s 28.3 percent.
The teams stayed close midway through the first half as Texas Tech pulled within 20-16 before Kansas went on a 10-0 run. In fact, the Jayhawks outscored the visitors 31-10 the rest of the half, including another 10-point run which gave KU a 47-24 advantage.
Eight different Jayhawks scored at least five points in the first period as KU shot 56 percent in the half to Tech’s 28 percent. KU hit five of eight three-pointers, while Tech was just two of 14 in the first half. KU also out-rebounded the Red Raiders 26-17 over the first 20 minutes of play.
The KU seniors capped their home careers with a 108-23 overall record in five seasons. They have won three straight Big 12 regular-season titles as well as the last two Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournaments.
All five seniors started the game with three of them making a very rare start. Robinson and Darnell Jackson are regular starters. While Robinson led the team with 15 points, Jackson had 10 points and nine rebounds in 18 minutes.
The other senior starters included Sasha Kaun, who scored 10 points on four of five shooting and added three blocks. Rodrick Stewart had six points, while hitting two of two three-pointers and Jeremy Case had a season-high nine points, while making three of six threes.
Kansas outscored Tech 48-14 in the paint, 20-4 on second chance points and 15-0 in fast break points. Fifteen of the 16 Jayhawks who played in the game scored.
Kansas will play its final regular season game of the year when it travels to Texas A&M on Saturday, March 8. That game will be televised on CBS beginning at 3 p.m. Central.
