No. 7 Kansas Overpowers Longwood In Basketball Season Opener

Nov. 12, 2010

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Markieff Morris recorded a double-double of points and rebounds and Tyshawn Taylor had a double-double of points and assists to lead No. 7 Kansas to a 113-75 victory against Longwood College in the season opener for both teams Friday night.

Morris, a junior, who made just his 10th career start, finished the night with 14 points and a career-high tying 15 rebounds. The 6-10 post also added a career-high five assists, two blocks and a career-high four blocks to go along with his second career double-double. Taylor, a junior registered 17 points and 10 assists, just one shy of his career best.

Three other Jayhawks scored in double figures as Marcus Morris led the team with 18 points, Thomas Robinson scored a career-high 16 and Tyrel Reed chipped in 11. Longwood was led by Antwan Carter, who recorded 22 points and eight rebounds. Jeremiah Bowman added 13 points and five assists and three steals for the Lancers.

Kansas won its season lid-lifter for the 10th consecutive year and in fact the win marked the 19th time in the last 20 years the Jayhawks have started the season 1-0. The victory also extended the nation’s longest home-court winning streak to 60 games. That streak is the second longest in school history behind a 62-game streak from 1994-98.

Kansas reached the 100-point mark for the first time in 32 games (defeated Tennessee Tech 112-75 on Nov. 27, 2009). The Jayhawks also scored 100-plus points for the third time in the last four season openers. KU’s 113 points were its most since defeating Emporia State 113-61, Dec. 14, 2002.

KU overpowered the visitors scoring 60 points in the point and registering 36 points off 24 Longwood turnovers. KU finished the night shooting 62.3 percent from the field and holding Longwood to just 45 percent shooting.

KU’s opening-night lineup featured three players who had made less than 10 career starts before this season. Markieff Morris made his 10th career start, Reed his third and sophomore Travis Releford his first career start.

The game started with Kansas dominating the inside as the Jayhawks jumped out to a 13-2 lead with every point coming off turnovers and all except a free throw being scored in the paint. All five KU starters scored on a dunk or a layup in the first three in a half minutes of the contest.

Midway through the half Longwood pulled within 24-18, but the Jayhawks held the visitors without a field goal for almost four minutes and scored 11 straight points to lead 35-18. KU’s run continued the rest of the half as the Jayhawks outscored Longwood 40-9 in the final 10 minutes to take a 54-27 lead at the break.

Three Jayhawks reached double-figure points in the first 20 minutes of the game as Taylor had 13 points, four assists and two steals, Marcus Morris 11 points and Markieff Morris 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in the first half alone.

By halftime KU had scored 32 points in the paint and 28 points off 16 Longwood turnovers.

The Jayhawks will return to the court Monday for a home game against Valparaiso. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and the contest will be televised on Jayhawk TV. The game is part of the Las Vegas Invitational.