No. 6 Kansas routs Mizzou 95-67 in first visit in 10 years
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Kevin McCullar Jr. heard the boos and catcalls from the Missouri student section hours before tipoff, when Kansas first emerged from the tunnel for pregame warmups. The noise rose to an ear-splitting roar as the bitter rivals began their first showdown in Columbia in more than a decade.
All that McCullar heard by the end was the haunting refrain of ''Rock Chalk Jayhawk.''
McCullar finished with 21 points, Jalen Wilson had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the sixth-ranked Jayhawks pounded their old Big 12 foe 95-67 on Saturday night in just their second meeting since the Tigers bolted for the SEC.
''The atmosphere was electric tonight,'' McCullar said. ''We just tried to embrace the environment.''
KJ Adams Jr. also had a career-high 19 points and Gradey Dick scored 16 for the Jayhawks (9-1), who romped past the Tigers last year in Lawrence but were making their first visit to Columbia since Feb. 4, 2012, the year Missouri switched conferences.
The fevered pitch for the latest showdown of century-old rivals evaporated in the opening minutes, though, when Kansas raced to a 30-16 lead. It swelled to 26 points early in the second half before the Jayhawks cruised to the finish.
''In all honesty, you want to be in environments where people care,'' Kansas coach Bill Self said, ''and it was obviously a caring environment today. The crowd was great. And I thought our guys really did a good job of not letting them go on runs that could have really gotten the crowd more into the game.''
D'Moi Hodge and Nick Honor scored 15 apiece to lead the Tigers (9-1), who had been one of 10 remaining unbeatens in Division I men's basketball at the start of the day. Noah Carter finished with 12 points and DeAndre Gholston had 11.
''There's a reason why Kansas is top 10 in the country. There's a reason why Bill Self is a Hall of Fame coach,'' Tigers counterpart Dennis Gates said. ''I thought we showed and displayed different things throughout the game where we almost had runs going, but something - a missed free throw or a missed 3 - kind of took the wind out of our sails.''
There are rivalries in college basketball and then there is Kansas-Missouri, marked by a pervasive hatred predating James Naismith and his peach baskets to actual guerrilla warfare along their border in the years leading up to the Civil War.
One fan walking through the concourse of Mizzou Arena on Saturday even wore a hat that read ''Remember Quantrill'' - as in the Confederate sympathizer William Quantrill, who led a massacre in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1863.
So it wasn't surprising that the smoke billowing out of the tunnel leading to the Tigers' locker room seemed a little thicker Saturday night. The student section and their notorious bunch known as ''the Antlers'' a little more vulgar. And the roars of their first sellout crowd this season just a little bit louder.
It didn't take long for the Jayhawks to silence all of them.
After missing their first two shots, they proceeded to hit 11 straight, including five by Dick. Two of his were effortless 3-pointers, the second giving Kansas a 28-14 lead and prompting Gates to finally call a timeout.
''I think that gets us jacked up to play,'' Adams said of the atmosphere. ''It really set a tone for us.''
Not even the return of Hall of Fame basketball coach Norm Stewart nor football coach Gary Pinkel could shake Missouri from its malaise. The Tigers missed 16 of their first 22 shots, allowing Kansas to establish a 36-17 lead - to the chagrin of three-time Cy Young Award winner and former Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer, who also was in the crowd.
''We just didn't execute how we planned,'' Honor said.
Dick and Adams had 15 points apiece by halftime as Kansas took a 50-33 lead to the locker room.
Nothing changed there: Missouri turned the ball over on four of its first six second-half possessions, and the Jayhawks turned the miscues into nine straight points. And despite a second-half slump that allowed Missouri to put together an 11-2 run, the Jayhawks were never seriously threatened down the stretch.
''Every segment of the game is a learning experience to get better. You have to learn to win on the road,'' Self said, ''and I thought we did a pretty good job with that tonight.''
THE TAKEAWAY
Kansas got sloppy midway through the second half but otherwise was dominant on both ends of the floor. The Jayhawks were 10 of 22 from the 3-point arc, caused 21 turnovers and had 24 assists to just eight for the Tigers.
Missouri has played at a breakneck pace this season, scoring a nation-leading 23.9% of its points on fast breaks. But the more athletic Jayhawks outran the Tigers on Saturday night, outscoring them 22-10 in transition.
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks begin a three-game homestand against No. 14 Indiana next Saturday.
The Tigers play Central Florida in the Orange Bowl Classic next Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:51 | Gradey Dick vs. Noah Carter (Nick Honor gains possession) | |||
19:41 | Nick Honor turnover (traveling) | |||
19:31 | KJ Adams Jr. misses two point layup | |||
19:29 | Jalen Wilson offensive rebound | |||
19:20 | Jalen Wilson misses two point layup | |||
19:18 | DeAndre Gholston defensive rebound | |||
19:07 | +2 | Kobe Brown makes two point layup (D'Moi Hodge assists) | 0-2 | |
18:47 | +2 | Gradey Dick makes two point layup | 2-2 | |
18:25 | +2 | DeAndre Gholston makes two point layup | 2-4 | |
18:08 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point layup (Kevin McCullar Jr. assists) | 4-4 | |
18:00 | D'Moi Hodge misses three point jump shot | |||
17:58 | Jalen Wilson defensive rebound | |||
17:52 | +3 | Kevin McCullar Jr. makes three point jump shot | 7-4 | |
17:31 | KJ Adams Jr. shooting foul (Nick Honor draws the foul) | |||
17:31 | +1 | Nick Honor makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-5 | |
17:31 | +1 | Nick Honor makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-6 | |
17:15 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point layup (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 9-6 | |
17:14 | Noah Carter shooting foul (KJ Adams Jr. draws the foul) | |||
17:14 | +1 | KJ Adams Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-6 | |
17:01 | Tre Gomillion turnover (KJ Adams Jr. steals) | |||
16:55 | +2 | Jalen Wilson makes two point layup (Gradey Dick assists) | 12-6 | |
16:50 | Kevin McCullar Jr. personal foul | |||
16:45 | +3 | D'Moi Hodge makes three point jump shot (Tre Gomillion assists) | 12-9 | |
16:19 | +2 | Gradey Dick makes two point jump shot (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 14-9 | |
16:08 | DeAndre Gholston misses two point layup | |||
16:06 | Gradey Dick defensive rebound | |||
16:00 | +2 | Kevin McCullar Jr. makes two point layup (Gradey Dick assists) | 16-9 | |
15:39 | Kobe Brown misses two point jump shot | |||
15:37 | D'Moi Hodge offensive rebound | |||
15:30 | D'Moi Hodge misses three point jump shot | |||
15:28 | Gradey Dick defensive rebound | |||
15:27 | D'Moi Hodge shooting foul (Jalen Wilson draws the foul) | |||
15:25 | TV timeout | |||
15:25 | +1 | Jalen Wilson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-9 | |
15:25 | +1 | Jalen Wilson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-9 | |
15:12 | Ernest Udeh Jr. personal foul | |||
14:58 | Kobe Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
14:56 | Tre Gomillion offensive rebound | |||
14:49 | Tre Gomillion turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Wilson steals) | |||
14:49 | +3 | Gradey Dick makes three point jump shot | 21-9 | |
14:36 | +2 | Tre Gomillion makes two point layup | 21-11 | |
14:36 | Bobby Pettiford Jr. shooting foul (Tre Gomillion draws the foul) | |||
14:36 | +1 | Tre Gomillion makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-12 | |
14:12 | +3 | Gradey Dick makes three point jump shot (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 24-12 | |
14:12 | DeAndre Gholston misses two point layup | |||
14:10 | Jalen Wilson defensive rebound | |||
14:02 | +2 | Gradey Dick makes two point layup (Jalen Wilson assists) | 26-12 | |
13:50 | Tigers 30 second timeout | |||
13:35 | +2 | Noah Carter makes two point jump shot | 26-14 | |
12:57 | +2 | Dajuan Harris Jr. makes two point layup (Ernest Udeh Jr. assists) | 28-14 | |
12:50 | Sean East II misses three point jump shot | |||
12:48 | Tre Gomillion offensive rebound | |||
12:48 | Tre Gomillion misses two point layup | |||
12:46 | Noah Carter offensive rebound | |||
12:46 | +2 | Noah Carter makes two point layup | 28-16 | |
12:30 | DeAndre Gholston personal foul | |||
12:20 | KJ Adams Jr. turnover (lost ball) | |||
12:07 | Tre Gomillion misses three point jump shot | |||
12:05 | Jalen Wilson defensive rebound | |||
12:03 | Gradey Dick turnover (lost ball) (Aidan Shaw steals) | |||
11:56 | Noah Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
11:54 | Kevin McCullar Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:35 | Kevin McCullar Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
11:33 | Sean East II defensive rebound | |||
11:19 | Noah Carter misses two point layup | |||
11:17 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
11:17 | TV timeout | |||
11:05 | Tre Gomillion turnover (Kevin McCullar Jr. steals) | |||
10:51 | +2 | Kevin McCullar Jr. makes two point dunk | 30-16 | |
10:51 | Bobby Pettiford Jr. shooting foul (Tre Gomillion draws the foul) | |||
10:51 | Tre Gomillion misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:51 | Tre Gomillion misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:51 | Kobe Brown offensive rebound | |||
10:40 | Tre Gomillion turnover (Dajuan Harris Jr. steals) | |||
10:16 | Kevin McCullar Jr. offensive foul (Tre Gomillion draws the foul) | |||
10:16 | Kevin McCullar Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:56 | KJ Adams Jr. blocks Aidan Shaw's two point layup | |||
9:54 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
9:47 | Kobe Brown misses two point jump shot | |||
9:45 | Ronnie DeGray III offensive rebound | |||
9:45 | Ronnie DeGray III misses two point layup | |||
9:45 | Kobe Brown offensive rebound | |||
9:45 | Jump ball. Kobe Brown vs. Dajuan Harris Jr. (Dajuan Harris Jr. gains possession) | |||
9:45 | Kobe Brown turnover (lost ball) (Dajuan Harris Jr. steals) | |||
9:42 | Jalen Wilson turnover (bad pass) (D'Moi Hodge steals) | |||
9:31 | Dajuan Harris Jr. shooting foul (D'Moi Hodge draws the foul) | |||
9:31 | D'Moi Hodge misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:31 | +1 | D'Moi Hodge makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-17 | |
9:14 | Jalen Wilson misses three point jump shot | |||
9:12 | D'Moi Hodge defensive rebound | |||
9:05 | D'Moi Hodge misses two point jump shot | |||
9:03 | Ronnie DeGray III offensive rebound | |||
8:48 | Nick Honor turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Wilson steals) | |||
8:48 | +3 | Gradey Dick makes three point jump shot (Jalen Wilson assists) | 33-17 | |
8:35 | Nick Honor misses two point layup | |||
8:33 | KJ Adams Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | +3 | Joseph Yesufu makes three point jump shot (Gradey Dick assists) | 36-17 | |
8:16 | Tigers 30 second timeout | |||
8:08 | +2 | DeAndre Gholston makes two point layup | 36-19 | |
7:51 | Joseph Yesufu misses two point jump shot | |||
7:49 | Tigers defensive rebound | |||
7:43 | DeAndre Gholston misses two point jump shot | |||
7:41 | Gradey Dick defensive rebound | |||
7:29 | Gradey Dick misses three point jump shot | |||
7:27 | Noah Carter defensive rebound | |||
7:17 | DeAndre Gholston misses three point jump shot | |||
7:15 | Gradey Dick defensive rebound | |||
6:46 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point dunk (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 38-19 | |
6:36 | MJ Rice shooting foul (DeAndre Gholston draws the foul) | |||
6:33 | +1 | DeAndre Gholston makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-20 | |
6:33 | +1 | DeAndre Gholston makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-21 | |
6:25 | Aidan Shaw personal foul | |||
6:23 | Dajuan Harris Jr. turnover | |||
6:14 | Sean East II misses three point jump shot | |||
6:12 | DeAndre Gholston offensive rebound | |||
6:10 | DeAndre Gholston misses two point jump shot | |||
6:08 | Jalen Wilson defensive rebound | |||
6:01 | DeAndre Gholston personal foul | |||
5:58 | Aidan Shaw blocks Gradey Dick's two point layup | |||
5:56 | Jayhawks offensive rebound | |||
5:55 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point layup | 40-21 | |
5:48 | DeAndre Gholston offensive foul | |||
5:48 | DeAndre Gholston turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:46 | Joseph Yesufu turnover (traveling) | |||
5:29 | +3 | D'Moi Hodge makes three point jump shot (Nick Honor assists) | 40-24 | |
5:06 | KJ Adams Jr. turnover (Nick Honor steals) | |||
5:01 | +2 | Aidan Shaw makes two point dunk (Nick Honor assists) | 40-26 | |
4:59 | Jayhawks 30 second timeout | |||
4:36 | Jalen Wilson misses two point layup | |||
4:34 | KJ Adams Jr. offensive rebound | |||
4:29 | KJ Adams Jr. misses two point layup | |||
4:27 | Tigers defensive rebound | |||
4:10 | Kobe Brown turnover (traveling) | |||
3:55 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point dunk (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 42-26 | |
3:37 | +2 | Nick Honor makes two point layup | 42-28 | |
3:24 | Dajuan Harris Jr. turnover (traveling) | |||
3:24 | TV timeout | |||
3:20 | D'Moi Hodge misses three point jump shot | |||
3:18 | Gradey Dick defensive rebound | |||
2:44 | Jalen Wilson misses three point jump shot | |||
2:42 | KJ Adams Jr. offensive rebound | |||
2:41 | Sean East II personal foul (KJ Adams Jr. draws the foul) | |||
2:41 | KJ Adams Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:41 | D'Moi Hodge defensive rebound | |||
2:28 | Ronnie DeGray III misses two point layup | |||
2:26 | Bobby Pettiford Jr. defensive rebound | |||
2:16 | Bobby Pettiford Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
2:14 | D'Moi Hodge defensive rebound | |||
2:05 | Sean East II misses two point jump shot | |||
2:03 | Gradey Dick defensive rebound | |||
1:58 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point dunk (Kevin McCullar Jr. assists) | 44-28 | |
1:44 | +3 | Nick Honor makes three point jump shot | 44-31 | |
1:25 | +3 | Jalen Wilson makes three point jump shot (Gradey Dick assists) | 47-31 | |
0:57 | Aidan Shaw misses three point jump shot | |||
0:55 | Dajuan Harris Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:42 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point dunk (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 49-31 | |
0:10 | +2 | Sean East II makes two point jump shot | 49-33 | |
0:00 | Nick Honor shooting foul (Joseph Yesufu draws the foul) | |||
0:00 | +1 | Joseph Yesufu makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 50-33 | |
0:00 | Joseph Yesufu misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:00 | D'Moi Hodge defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |