LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Thomas Robinson, two days after his mother’s funeral, shook off a slow start and had 17 points and nine rebounds Saturday to help lead No. 6 Kansas past Kansas State 90-66.
Markieff Morris had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Jayhawks (20-1, 5-1 Big 12), who celebrated the 150th anniversary of Kansas’ statehood with their 181st victory over the outmanned Wildcats (14-8, 2-5) in a series that began in 1907.
Robinson had three straight buckets in one span that brought the biggest roar of the night from the sellout crowd of 16,300 which had stood and applauded when he entered the game.
Tyshawn Taylor had 13 points and Josh Selby 12 as Kansas took charge from the opening tip.
Jacob Pullen had 21 points and moved into second place on Kansas State’s career scoring list.
When the entire team and coaching staff returned late Thursday afternoon from services in Washington, D.C., for Lisa Robinson, they did not deny that they were exhausted. In one week, they had flown back and forth through three time zones and dealt with the deaths of Josh Selby’s close friend as well as the loss of Robinson’s mother.
But they showed no signs of fatigue against the Wildcats.
With Selby and Tyrel Reed hitting 3-pointers and Markieff Morris completing a three-point play, the Jayhawks bolted to a 15-2 lead en route to their 15th win in their last 16 meetings with Kansas State. In the Big 12 era, the series stands at a lopsided 34-2.
Jamar Samuels was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 10 points.
The entire crowd of 16,300 came to its feet and applauded when Robinson came off the bench at the 16:47 mark. He missed his first three shots, all from point-blank range. On one fast break opportunity, it was obvious his teammates were trying to get the ball to him to score.
But right after missing two foul shots in the second half, the 6-foot-9 sophomore scored three straight buckets, putting the Jayhawks on top 55-31 and bringing another roar from a crowd that was filled with signs in support of the player they call “T-Rob.”.
Time after time the Jayhawks got uncontested dunks and easy shots. Until the final minutes, Kansas State had only five offensive rebounds and got almost no second-chance points.
A disgusted Kansas State coach Frank Martin called a time out when Marcus Morris was left unguarded and all by himself under the basket for a thunderous slam-dunk less than 2 minutes into the second half.
But less than 3 minutes later, it happened again when Brady Morningstar whipped a pass to a wide-open Marcus for another dunk that made it 47-24. Marcus Morris wound up with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Selby’s second 3-pointer and free throws by Reed and Marcus Morris keyed an 11-2 spurt that put the Jayhawks on top 37-17 with 1:14 left before Juevol Myles’ three-point play ended the half with Kansas ahead 37-20. It was Kansas State’s lowest-scoring half of the year.
Selby, whose close friend was killed last Saturday in Baltimore, hit a 3-pointer that put the Jayhawks on top 81-49, their biggest lead. Pullen answered with a 3-pointer.
BIG 12 CONFERENCE BASKETBALL
At Lawrence
No. 6 KANSAS 90, KANSAS ST. 66
KANSAS ST. (14-8)
Kelly 0-3 0-0 0, Samuels 2-8 6-7 10, Pullen 8-22 1-4 21, Southwell 0-4 0-0 0, McGruder 5-10 2-4 15, Peterson 2-3 0-0 4, Irving 0-2 0-0 0, Myles 1-1 1-1 3, Ojeleye 2-2 0-0 4, Henriquez-Roberts 0-0 0-0 0, Potuzak 0-0 0-0 0, Judge 1-7 3-4 5, Spradling 2-6 0-0 4. Totals 23-68 13-20 66.
KANSAS (20-1)
Mark. Morris 8-10 4-5 20, Marc. Morris 4-6 2-2 10, Taylor 5-6 3-4 13, Reed 1-6 2-2 5, Selby 4-6 1-2 12, Robinson 7-11 3-8 17, Withey 0-0 0-0 0, Woolridge 0-0 0-0 0, Morningstar 1-2 2-4 4, Johnson 0-3 0-0 0, Roberts 0-1 0-0 0, Little 3-3 0-0 6, Releford 0-0 0-0 0, Juenemann 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 34-55 17-27 90.
Halftime—Kansas 37-20. Three-point goals—Kansas St. 7-22 (Pullen 4-10, McGruder 3-7, Southwell 0-1, Samuels 0-1, Spradling 0-3), Kansas 5-10 (Selby 3-3, Juenemann 1-1, Reed 1-3, Morningstar 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Roberts 0-1). Fouled out—Judge. Rebounds—Kansas St. 34 (McGruder 6), Kansas 38 (Mark. Morris, Marc. Morris, Robinson 9). Assists—Kansas St. 8 (Henriquez-Roberts, Judge, Myles, Ojeleye, Peterson, Pullen, Southwell, Spradling 1), Kansas 20 (Johnson 6). Total Fouls—Kansas St. 20, Kansas 18. Technical—Robinson. A—16,300.
