Rush Returns in KU's 92-60 Rout of Washburn
Nov. 15, 2007
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Junior forward Brandon Rush scored seven points in his season debut, while four of his teammates scored in double-figures as No. 4 Kansas downed Washburn, 92-60, in front of 16,300 fans Thursday evening at Allen Fieldhouse.
Sophomore Darrell Arthur’s 14 points were a game-high and helped the Jayhawks improve to 3-0, while Washburn falls to 0-1 on the season.
While Arthur’s 14 points were a season-high, his performance couldn’t overshadow the return of Rush. The 2007 All-American came off the bench to a standing ovation four minutes into the first half and sent the crowd into a frenzy with a jumper in traffic to give KU a 10-9 advantage, a lead the Jayhawks would not relinquish.
Rush played a total of 15 minutes and was 3-of-5 from the field and collected a pair of assists. He was one of 12 different KU players to score in the contest.
The visiting Ichabods held tough until midway through the first half, when Kansas broke open a see-saw battle with a 17-3 run. After Washburn’s James Williams cut KU’s lead to 15-13 at the 9:16 mark, the Jayhawks would outscore Washburn 19-5 over the rest of the half. Senior forward Darnell Jackson led the charge, scoring all 10 of his points during the first half.
KU came out blazing in the second half, stretching a 16-point lead into a 51-24 advantage in the first five minutes of the second period.
The Jayhawks shot 57 percent from the field in the second half and 52 percent for the game, while holding the visiting Ichabods to just 36 percent from the field.
Arthur led all scorers with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field, while senior Sasha Kaun, junior Mario Chalmers and Jackson each chipped in 10 points. KU’s bench outscored Washburn’s 41-21, including 19-0 in the first 16 minutes of the game.
Kansas also outrebounded the visitors 43-36, and collected nine blocked shots, compared to just two for Washburn.
The Jayhawks will play host to Northern Arizona next Wednesday in a 7 p.m. contest at Allen Fieldhouse. The game will be televised statewide on Jayhawk TV.
