No. 2 Kansas storms back to top Stanford in OT, 90-84
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Senior Lagerald Vick exploded for 19 of his 27 points over the final eight minutes of regulation and overtime to lift the No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks to a 90-84 come-from-behind win over the Stanford Cardinal Sunday evening inside Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas outscored the Cardinal 33-21 over the final 12 minutes of regulation to force it’s second-straight overtime and turn a 12-point second-half deficit into its sixth win of the season.
The victory moved KU to 6-0 on the year, while Stanford suffered its fourth loss, now sitting at 4-4 in 2018-19.
After going 0-of-6 from long range and shooting a season-low 40 percent from the field in the first half, KU’s shots started dropping in the second half, connecting on 53.6 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from long range, however, the Jayhawks would need five extra minutes to secure their 90-84 victory over the upset-minded Cardinal.
KU trailed Stanford by as many as 12 in the second half, but a 10-0 Kansas run capped by a Vick 3-pointer put the Jayhawks ahead, 62-60, with under six minutes to play in the game. Stanford battled to keep the game close though, and owned a 75-72 advantage with 12 seconds remaining in regulation.
Vick was the man who had his number called to take the final shot, which he converted to tie the score at 75-75 and send the Jayhawks to their second overtime in as many games. In the extra period, Vick continued what ended a personal 11-0 run with two more 3-pointers and a one-handed slam to seal the KU win.
Four Jayhawks posted double-figure scoring efforts against Stanford, led by Vick who scored a game-high 27 points on 7-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc. Vick made all seven of the Kansas’ threes. Redshirt-junior forward Dedric Lawson was the only other Jayhawk to score 20 points, notching his fourth double-double of the season with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
Junior center Udoka Azubuike and freshman guard Devon Dotson added 18 points and 10 points, respectively. Azubuike fell just one rebound shy of a double-double, ending the night with nine boards.
QUOTES – Full Quotes
Kansas head coach Bill Self
On the back-to-back overtime victories and Lagerald Vick’s presence:
“Lagerald took over with more than one shot, he made some big ones. We were awful the first half from an energy standpoint with foul problems and the second half was about as poor as you could start one. They were up 12 (points) two different times, if I am not mistaken, and (we) had nothing going. They were obviously out playing and out coaching us. For whatever reason, you make a couple shots, and the building really gets into it and guys really play well down the stretch. We gave Stanford confidence, and after we gave them confidence, they really played to their capabilities. They are going to be really good. They are young and have some guys who can really drive it. Obviously, they take away threes and we had one guy make a shot outside of three feet. I do not think any guy had a shot outside three feet the entire time other than Lagerald. To win that game, ‘miracle’ is probably too strong (of a word to use), but that was a long shot win.”
On Dedric Lawson’s game tonight:
“I did not think he had a great game, but he puts up numbers. He had 13 or so (points) the first half and kept us in it although we were down six. In the second half, I thought Doke (Udoka Azubuike) was a lot better because he played close to the basket and we were just waiting for Lagerald to take over. It was a good team win and is certainly one we look back on at the end of the season and be really happy that we got.”
Senior guard Lagerald Vick
On only scoring two points in the first half leading to second-half motivation:
“It was really just letting my game come to me. Our coaches always talk to me and keep me motivated and tell me to ‘Let my game come.’ I was able to
just (do that tonight); when it came, it came.”
On if his 3-pointer to tie the game is the greatest shot of his life:
“That was the greatest shot of my life, I would say, since I have been in college, but I wouldn’t say my (entire) life.”
NOTABLES – Full Notes
- The win made Kansas 6-0 for the second-straight year and sixth time in Bill Self’s 16 seasons at KU.
- Kansas moved to 2-0 in overtime games this season, 22-9 under Bill Self.
- The victory improved Kansas to 64-1 under Bill Self when scoring 90 points or more.
- The game marked first time that Kansas has been held without a three in half since the second half vs. Texas Tech (1/2/18)
- Kansas was held to fewer than 30 points in a half for the first time since scoring just 20 points in the first half vs. Baylor on Feb. 10.
- Kansas has now trailed by 8 or more in each of the last five games, and went on to win all of them by five points or more.
- Kansas has also trailed by 12 points three times this season, KU came back to win all three games
- KU outscored Stanford 33-21 over the final 12 minutes of regulation to force overtime. In that span Kansas was 11-of-15 (73.3 percent) from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
- The Jayhawks’ one first half assist were their the fewest in a half since Nov. 18, 2014 when KU had 0 against Kentucky at the Champions Classic.
- Kansas played in back-to-back overtime games for the first time since the 2009-10, season when it played Kansas State (1/30/10) and Colorado (2/3/10), winning both.
- The 15 lead changes was a season high and the most since Kansas and Duke traded the lead 18 times in KU’s overtime win over the Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of last year’s NCAA tournament on March 25, 2018.
- Lagerald Vick knocked down seven 3-pointers on the night, marking the fifth-straight game Vick has hit three or more threes in a game and the third time this season he has tallied seven or more triples.
- Vick’s five threes in the second half marked the most by a Jayhawk in a half since Svi Mykhailiuk made five against Iowa State on Jan. 9, 2018.
- With 24 points and 15 rebounds, Dedric Lawson tallied his fourth double-doubles this season and 40th for his career. He is now one of just four active players in the NCAA DI to have 40 or more career double-doubles.
AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will host Wofford on Tuesday, December 4 at 7 p.m., inside Allen Fieldhouse. The game can be watched on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN+ or listed to on the Jayhawk Radio Network.
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