Kansas Improves to 3-0 on Canada Trip with 106-71 Win
Sept. 5, 2004
ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia – Kansas guards J.R. Giddens and Keith Langford combined for 44 points in Kansas’ 106-71 win against the University College Fraser Valley All-Stars, here Sunday.
Giddens led all scorers with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, which included three three-point field goals. Langford was 2-for-3 from three-point range and 9-of-16 from the field in scoring 21 points for the Jayhawks who improved to 3-0 on their current tour of British Columbia. Senior Wayne Simien scored 15 points and made his only three-point attempt for KU.
“I thought everybody did well,” said Kansas head coach Bill Self. “J.R. was great. Keith was great. They kind of keyed it for us tonight. That’s the good thing about this team. It could be a different guy every night.”
Before a packed crowd of 1,400 at the Mennonite Education Institute Secondary Gym, Kansas used multiple combinations the wear down the all-star team and pull away midway through the first half. Self used 13 players in the contest with nine playing 10 or more minutes for the game.
The Jayhawks forced 23 Crusaders’ turnovers which included 19 steals. They also registered 18 assists and 23 second chance points for the contest.
Giddens scored 16 of his 23 points in the first half with two three-pointers. At the conclusion of the contest Giddens was named the visiting outstanding player by the UCFV athletic staff.
“I’m just glad we got the victory and I was able to get some exercise by running up and down the court,” said Giddens. “This was one of our (himself and Langford) better games coming off the injuries. We are still a little sluggish.”
A preseason Wooden Award candidate along with Simien, Langford made five of his nine field goals in the first and four after intermission.
“I think the team has been focusing on how to play with each other rather than focusing on the competition,” Langford said. “I am still no where near where I need to be. It’s frustrating but everyone is staying positive around me. That’s the important thing. I’ll be ready when the time comes.”
The Jayhawks will conclude the trip against the Burnaby Mountain All-Stars Monday at 1 p.m. (Central). The game will be played on the campus of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C.
