Kansas Tops Idaho State In Season Opener

Nov. 18, 2005

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LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Behind a career night from sophomore Sasha Kaun, the University of Kansas officially opened up its 2005-06 campaign with a 90-66 victory over Idaho State on Friday evening in Allen Fieldhouse. The center scored 25 points and added 16 rebounds on the game, both career bests.

“We did some good things tonight,” commented head coach Bill Self after the game. “Sasha carried us tonight, no doubt about it. We had a size advantage and our guards did a good job of getting the ball into the post.”

The Jayhawks used their superior inside presence to outscore the Bengals 52-14

Freshmen Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush and Julian Wright combined to score a total of 36 points in their first collegiate game. Chalmers chipped in three assists and four steals while shooting 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. Rush added 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Wright tallied nine points, five rebounds and four assists in just 14 minutes of action.

Offensively, Idaho State was led by Tim Henry and Slim Millien. Henry made 5-of-8 attempts from behind the arc and finished with 23 points on the night. Millien added 22 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

The win tonight marked Kansas’ 33rd straight home-opening victory and gives the Jayhawks 14 wins in their last 15 season-opening games.

The Jayhawks will travel to Maui, Hawaii, to face Arizona in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational on Monday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.