December 04, 2006

Kansas Outlasts USC, 72-62

Dec. 4, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Five KU players scored in double figures, including 11 off the bench from junior Darnell Jackson, as the University of Kansas grinded out a 72-62 victory over USC on Monday at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas improves to 7-2 while the Trojans fall to 5-2.

Jackson, who was filling in for the foul-plagued Darrell Arthur, finished one rebound shy of his fourth career double-double, pulling down nine boards, including five on the offensive glass. Jackson, along with freshman Sherron Collins, who also scored 11, paced a strong effort from Kansas’ bench, which outscored the Trojans’, 23-3.

Sophomores Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush led Kansas with 13 points and five rebounds apiece. Chalmers also added four assists and tied a career high with six steals. Sophomore Julian Wright scored 11, while Collins tied a career high with his five rebounds.

Junior Russell Robinson equalled a season high with eight assists and also chipped in five points.

After a slow start, the tempo picked up late in the first half, eventually resulting in seven lead changes and three ties. KU turned 14 Trojan turnovers into 17 points and scored 16 on fast-breaks as the Jayhawks took a 37-33 lead into the locker room, led by Chalmers’ 10 points.

USC, despite getting a game-high 23 points from Lodrick Stewart — twin brother of KU’s Rodrick Stewart — and shooting 45.5-percent from the field, committed 25 turnovers, the most forced by Kansas this season, and was outrebounded by the Jayhawks, 39-30.

Kansas matched a season high with nine blocks — three by Wright — and outplayed USC on the offensive glass, snatching 20 rebounds to the Trojans’ eight.

The Jayhawks got clutch free-throw shooting, making 20, a season-high, of their 27 attempts.

Next up for KU will be the American Century Investment Shootout on Saturday, Dec. 9 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. Tip is set for noon, and the contest will be televised nationally on ESPN.