November 07, 2006

Second-Half Surge Powers Kansas Past Emporia State, 90-55

Nov. 7, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

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Freshman guard Sherron Collins scored 20 points and sophomore forward Julian Wright added 10 points and 14 rebounds as the University of Kansas men’s basketball team defeated Emporia State, 90-55, Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks held the Hornets without a field goal for nearly 11 minutes in the second half while going on a 27-2 run to seal the victory.

Collins, a 2006 McDonalds High School All-American from Chicago, Ill., stole the show, knocking down four 3-pointers and swiping three steals in his first career start. Wright’s 14 rebounds would have set a new career high and his five assists would have tied a career high had this been a regular-season game. Collins fed Wright for a massive two-handed dunk midway through the first half that electrified the crowd.

Four other Jayhawks reached double figures on the evening. Sophomore Brandon Rush, junior Russell Robinson and freshman Darrell Arthur each scored 12 points for KU while junior Darnell Jackson added 11. Arthur logged a double-double with his 10 rebounds while Jackson chipped in an additional seven boards.

KU outscored Emporia State, 49-18, in the second half after taking a 41-37 lead into halftime. The Kansas defense clamped down in the second half as it held Emporia State to 4-of-24 shooting in the stanza, finishing the game shooting 36.4 percent.

The Jayhawks pounded 38 points in the paint and held the Hornets without a single fast-break point. KU forced 22 Hornets’ turnovers, which it converted into 25 points.

The victory, KU’s 26th-straight exhibition victory, signals the end of the preseason for the squad. Kansas hosts Northern Arizona in the regular-season opener on Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

– KU –