Men's Basketball Opens Season With 96-62 Exhibition Win

Nov. 9, 2005

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LAWRENCE, Kan. –

The University of Kansas men’s basketball team opened up its 2005-06 campaign with a 96-62 exhibition victory over Fort Hays State on Wednesday evening in front of a sellout crowd in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks never trailed in the game.

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“I thought we did pretty well tonight,” head coach Bill Self said after the game. “I think we can build off of this. I’m not leaving here overly excited, but I am leaving here encouraged.”

Center Sasha Kaun led all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-11 shooting. The sophomore out of Melbourne, Fla., connected on his first nine attempts from the field. In the first game of his collegiate career, freshman Brandon Rush exploded in the second half to finish with 17 points and 10 rebounds after having only two points and five boards at the break.

Sophomore Russell Robinson dished out a game-high 11 assists to go with three points and two steals.

Fort Hays State guard Tyrone Shephard paced the Tigers with 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Freshman guard Colin Olberding added 10 points and three rebounds.

KU shot 55.6 percent in the game, connecting on 35-of-63 from the field, while holding Fort Hays under 40 percent shooting.

Kansas will continue its exhibition season at home on Monday, Nov. 14, against Pittsburg State before officially opening up the season against Idaho State on Nov. 18 in Allen Fieldhouse.