Henry Leads No. 1 Kansas To 101-65 Victory in Season Opener

Nov. 13, 2009

Box Score | Quotes | Notes

Coach Self Interview

X. Henry Interview

Collins Interview

Henry Leads No. 1 Kansas To 101-65 Victory in Season Opener

LAWRENCE, Kan. – True freshman Xavier Henry scored 27 points in his first college game to lead No. 1 Kansas to a 101-65 season-opening victory against Hofstra Friday.

The 27 points were the most by a Jayhawk freshman in his collegiate debut beating out the 21 points Norm Cook scored versus Murray State in 1973.

KU won its season opener for the eighth straight season and marked the 37th straight year the Jayhawks won their home opener. Kansas extended its nation-leading home-court winning streak to 42 straight games. Utah State ranks second in the country with 34 consecutive home wins.

For the second time in the last 18 years Kansas scored 100 points in its season opener as the Jayhawks also reached 100 with a 107-78 victory against UL-Monroe to open the 2007-08 campaign.

The 36-point victory margin was KU’s largest since beating Albany by 36 (79-43) on Dec. 30, 2008.

Preseason All-Americans Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins added 23 and 11 points respectively for the Jayhawks. Hofstra was led by guard Charles Jenkins, who scored 23 points. Halil Kanacevic came off the bench for the visitors to register a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Henry drilled a three-pointer for the Jayhawks’ first basket of the game and made five of eight from three-point range on the night. Overall, he was eight of 12 from the field and made all six of his free throw attempts. The 6-6 guard also added five rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal without a turnover in 24 minutes of play.

Hofstra scored the first basket of the game, but Kansas responded with a three-pointer by Henry, a dunk and free throw by Aldrich and a pair of free throws by Henry to jump out to an 8-2 advantage.

KU pushed the margin to 23-7 with a 10-point run. After the Jayhawks led 31-14 Hofstra scored eight straight points to pull within 31-22. However, KU responded with 10 consecutive points, including a crowd-pleasing dunk by Henry on a break-a-way to lead 41-22.

The Jayhawks took a 48-27 lead into the break as Collins had 12 points and Henry 10 in the first 20 minutes.

The first half was marred by fouls and Hofstra was whistled 18 times, including four fouls in five minutes by starting forward Greg Washington. Three other Pride had three fouls by halftime. The Jayhawks took advantage sinking 18 of 27 free throws in the first period.

KU led by as many as 43 points in the second half, while shooting 50 percent from the field, including 47 percent (11 of 27) from three-point range. Hofstra shot just 36 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 49-37.

The Jayhawks posted nine blocked shots on the night, including four by Aldrich. The 6-11 junior center was four of five shooting from the field and added eight rebounds in 24 minutes of action.

Kansas will head to St. Louis, Mo. to meet Memphis on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The game will be televised on ESPN beginning at 9 p.m. The Jayhawks’ next home game will be on Thursday, Nov. 19 when KU hosts Central Arkansas on Jayhawk TV at 7 p.m.