Robinson's Double-Double Leads No. 4 Kansas To 81-68 win over No. 14 Memphis In The Jimmy V Classic
Dec. 7, 2010
Box Score in PDF Format
NEW YORK –
No. 4 Kansas got 10 points and 10 rebounds from sophomore forward Thomas Robinson as the Jayhawks captured a 81-68win over No. 14 Memphis in the 2010 Jimmy V Classic Tuesday evening. Robinson recorded his first double-double of the season and the second of his career in helping the Jayhawks pick up their first win in Madison Square Garden in their last five appearances in the famed building.
Kansas used an 11-4 run in the first four minutes of the second half to turn a two-point halftime advantage into a 48-39 lead off a Tyrel Reed three-point basket. Memphis trimmed the lead back down to five points on a lay-up by Will Barton with 14 minutes to play in the contest, but it was as close as the Tigers would get the rest of the way.
Following a Kansas timeout, sophomore guard Travis Releford scored four points and Robinson added a lay-up to forge a double-figure Kansas lead. The Jayhawks were able to maintain the lead the rest of the way as four KU players finished the game with 10 or more points.
Junior forward Markieff Morris led all Jayhawk scorers with 16 points, while his twin brother Marcus finished with 14 points in the win. Hoboken, N.J., native Tyshawn Taylor had a solid outing in his homecoming game as he finished with 13 points, four assists and four rebounds.
Kansas shot 57.1 percent from the field for the game, making 32-of-56 shots from the floor. The hot shooting helped the Jayhawks overcome 22 turnovers, which Memphis turned into 29 points. The Tigers collected 14 steals, compared to eight for KU.
Reed opened the scoring for the Jayhawks knocking down a three from the corner just 15 seconds into the game. The Jayhawk defense held the Tigers scoreless for over three minutes before Memphis freshman Will Barton got the Tigers on the board with a bucket underneath.
KU took a five-point lead at 9-4, but Memphis quickly countered with an 11-4 run to take a 15-12 advantage on a three-pointer by Chris Crawford with 11:42 to play in the opening frame.
Kansas didn’t let the Tigers maintain the lead for long as a lay-up from Markieff Morris followed by a dunk by Taylor and a three by sophomore Elijah Johnson quickly put the Jayhawks back in the lead at 19-15.
Memphis took its last lead at the half off a lay-up and made free throw by Charles Carmouche with 9:37 to play in the half. Marcus Morris then hit a lay-up and Johnson threw down a dunk off a full-court outlet pass from sophomore Thomas Robinson as Kansas forged a 23-20 lead.
Robinson, who controlled eight rebounds in the first half, scored four points, Taylor added two free throws and senior Brady Morningstar knocked down a three as Memphis was forced to call a timeout trailing 30-22 with 5:41 left in the half.
Following the timeout, Memphis was able to stall the Kansas offense with its full-court press and tied the game up at 35 with 1:16 left to play before intermission. A second-straight floater in the lane by Taylor gave Kansas a 37-35 lead at the break.
Will Barton led Memphis with 16 points, while Crawford added 15 and Carmouche had 12. Barton also led the Tigers on the boards with seven, while Crawford and Carmouche each recorded three steals.
Kansas will return to action Saturday, Dec. 11, when it plays host to Colorado State in Kansas City. KU and CSU will tip-off at 5:30 p.m., in the Sprint Center with a live broadcast on ESPN2.
