November 11, 2011

No. 13 Kansas Overwhelms Towson, 100-54, in Season Opener

Nov. 11, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior forward Thomas Robinson recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds and was one of six Jayhawks in double figures as No. 13 Kansas opened the regular season with a 100-54 rout of Towson in front of a sold-out Allen Fieldhouse Friday night.

The Jayhawks, who shot 65.6 percent in the first half, won their season-opener for the 10th-consecutive year and scored at least 100 points in their first game for the third-straight season.

Robinson, a preseason All-American, collected the sixth double-double of his career, by shooting 8-of-16 from the field and grabbing 11 rebounds. Early on however, it was Robinson’s teammates carrying the weight.

Robinson helped Kansas build a 13-5 lead before leaving the game with two quick fouls. Kansas responded with a 19-2 run over a four-minute span to take control of the game. Six different Jayhawks scored during the first half surge, including a pair of three-point baskets by junior guard Elijah Johnson.

Robinson put the final exclamation point on the run with a thunderous dunk at 12:21 of the half, which gave the Jayhawks a commanding 29-7 advantage.

The Jayhawks were 21-of-32 from the field in the first half, including 7-for-15 from beyond the three-point arc. Junior forward Travis Releford scored 12 of his career-high 14 points in the opening period.

The second half was more of the same as Kansas held the visitors to just 25 points on 33 percent shooting in the period.

Senior guard Tyshawn Taylor scored 12 points and added four assists in his first action of the season. Johnson added eight points and eight assists, while senior Conner Teahan and junior Jeff Withy chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Freshman Naadir Tharpe made his Kansas debut and scored six points with four assists and no turnovers. Fellow freshmen Christian Garrett and Merv Lindsay also made their first appearances in a regular season game late, along with sophomore Anthony West.

As a team, Kansas recorded 30 assists and committed just five turnovers. The 30 dimes were the most by a Jayhawk team since the 2003 season. KU also converted 23 Towson turnovers into 31 points.

Kansas will take on No. 2 Kentucky at historic Madison Square Garden as part of the Champions Classic on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN.