December 09, 2006

Rush, Jayhawks Stuff Rockets, 68-58

Dec. 9, 2006

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –

Sophomore Brandon Rush scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds Saturday afternoon as No. 13 Kansas trumped Toledo, 68-58, in a non-conference men’s basketball game at Kemper Arena.

The Jayhawks improve to 8-2 overall on the season, while the Rockets fall to 2-5. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Rush, who scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half, also set a career high with four blocks. The sophomore guard hit four three-pointers, in the first half to help KU build a 44-34 lead at the break. Rush finished the contest with career-highs of five three-pointers made and 10 attempted. Junior Sasha Kaun added a season-high 10 points off the bench, while freshman Darrell Arthur chipped in with nine points off the bench.

The Jayhawks’ bench outscored Toledo’s 24-10, while KU had 11 second-chance points, compared to just four for the Rockets.

KU went on a 15-0 run midway through the first half to take control of the game. Toledo cut the lead to five early in the second half, but a pair of Rush free throws and a Darnell Jackson lay-up brought the lead back to nine. Toledo never got closer than six points after that.

KU’s defense, which set a school record with 15 blocked shots, held Toledo to just 29 percent shooting in the second half and 35.5 percent for the game, and has now held its last 16 opponents to sub-50 percent shooting.

The Jayhawks will be in action again when they host Winston-Salem State on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. on Jayhawk TV.