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Texas Tech Is No Match For No. 3 Kansas
Lawrence, KS (Sports Network) - Marcus Morris had 20 points and eight rebounds to pace third-ranked Kansas in a convincing 89-63 win over Texas Tech in a Big 12 tussle at Allen Fieldhouse.
Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry posted 14 points apiece for the Jayhawks (16-1, 2-0 Big 12), who have bounced back with a pair of wins since tasting the season's first defeat last weekend against Tennessee.
Aldrich added seven boards and three blocks while Henry had a team-high five assists. Brady Morningstar checked in with eight points, six rebounds and four assists off the bench as Kansas extended the nation's longest homecourt winning streak to 52 games.
Sherron Collins had an off-performance, hitting just 3-of-10 from the field to finish with nine points.
John Roberson's 16 points and five assists paced the Red Raiders (12-5, 0-3), who were coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Missouri at home on Wednesday. Brad Reese and D'Walyn Roberts each had nine points and five boards in defeat.
“They are at a different level than us as a basketball team. They are probably at a different level than most of the teams in this league. Every once in a while special teams come around loaded with NBA-caliber guys and this is one of them,” said Texas Tech coach Pat Knight.
An early 9-1 burst had Kansas ahead 19-7 on two Morningstar free throws with 11 minutes to play in the first half. An ensuing 6-0 Red Raiders spurt cut the lead to six but the Jayhawks offense exploded down the stretch to gain a 24-point halftime lead.
Thomas Robinson's layup capped a 12-1 stretch that saw the lead grow to 31-14 with 3:09 remaining, and a Henry three ignited an 8-0 burst to close out the first half up 42-18.
“We really played well; we defended, rebounded and played like you’re supposed to play, but in the second half we traded baskets and that sickens me from a competitive standpoint,” said Kansas coach Bill Self.
The Jayhawks ran their lead to 29, 52-23, on an Aldrich jumper less than three minutes into the second half. Collins’ jump shot nearly five minutes in had the lead at 30 before a 12-0 Texas Tech surge gave the visitors life.
Darko Cohadarevic capped the stretch with a pair of layups for a 56-38 game with under 12 minutes left.
But Kansas kept knocking down shots and three-pointers from Morningstar and Markieff Morris moments later kept the margin above 20. The Raiders never cut the lead below that point over the final 10 minutes.
Texas Tech shot 32.8 percent from the field, while Kansas hit 43.3 percent of its shots...The Jayhawks won the battle of the boards, 48-37.
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