Kansas Dispatches of Niagara, 107-67, in NCAA Tournament
March 16, 2007
CHICAGO, Ill. –
The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Kansas (31-4) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night, defeating Niagara, 107-67, at the United Center. Sophomore Mario Chalmers sparked the victory with a team-high 19 points while sophomore Julian Wright posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
No. 1-seeded Kansas moves on to face No. 8 seed Kentucky Sunday in second round action at the United Center. The game will start at approximately 4:05 p.m. CST and will air on CBS. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Chalmers shot the ball impressively, finishing 8-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the three-point arc. He added three steals and two assists in the game. As a team, the Jayhawks shot 54 percent (40-of-74) and 11 different KU players scored in the victory.
Wright produced an equal number of offensive and defensive boards in the victory in his hometown. Junior Russell Robinson finished with 16 points, eight assists and five steals. Freshmen Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur were the other Kansas players to finish in double figures, finishing with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Arthur pulled down eight rebounds and Collins had four steals in the contest.
The Jayhawks took a commanding 52-27 lead into halftime. Robinson had 11 points and seven assists at the break. Wright added eight points and seven boards, while Collins poured in 11 off the bench. The 52 first-half points were a single-game season high for Kansas.
