No. 16 Kansas shuts down No. 8 Iowa State in desperation recreation for each groups within the Massive 12 race

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas had simply turned the ball over within the first half in opposition to Iowa State on Monday evening when it immediately popped free once more alongside the sideline, and Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris Jr. made maybe the hustle play of the sport.

With a textbook baseball slide, Harris managed to corral the ball and throw it from his rear to teammate Hunter Dickinson, who in flip tossed the ball forward to David Coit. After a few dribbles, Coit unloaded a go from the midcourt line that KJ Adams leaped into the air and slammed for a dunk that appeared to shake the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse.

It was a play that underscored a uncommon reality in regards to the Jayhawks at this level within the season.

They have been taking part in with a way of desperation.

Zeke Mayo scored 17 factors and Dickinson added 14 factors and 9 rebounds as the No. 16 Jayhawks roared to a 69-52 win over eighth-ranked Iowa State. However it was the protection, which practically shut down the Cyclones’ prolific backcourt, and the hustle on each ends of the ground that allowed Kansas to stay within the regular-season Massive 12 title hunt.

Kansas (16-6) moved right into a tie with Iowa State (17-5) at 7-4 within the league, 2 1/2 video games again of Houston and Arizona.

“We talked a few mindset of simply, you understand, how a lot can we belief one another? And the way a lot can we take pleasure in taking part in with one another?” Jayhawks coach Invoice Self stated. “I do not suppose the emphasis was protection. I believe the emphasis was, ‘If our head is true and we play with freedom, we are able to look fairly good at instances,’ and that’s what occurred tonight.”

The Jayhawks held Iowa State to simply 3-for-21 capturing from past the 3-point arc. And whereas the Cyclones solely turned the ball over seven instances, nearly all of them — like that alley-oop dunk by Adams — became fast-break factors.

“There’s most likely not a spot or a staff or a program that does a greater job than what Kansas does in transition,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger stated. “In case you have a turnover and the way they flip it into factors — we had only a few turnovers however you’re feeling like each one that we had became a layup or a dunk on the different finish.”

Whereas the Jayhawks, who blew a 19-point halftime lead at Baylor final weekend, thrived with their backs in opposition to the wall, Iowa State misplaced its third consecutive recreation whereas struggling with out injured ahead Milan Momcilovic within the lineup.

Momcilovic, who harm his non-shooting hand final month, went via pregame warmups and could possibly be again quickly.

“He continues to do the issues he wants,” Otzelberger stated. “I do suppose he’ll be again within the subsequent few weeks. However it’s a day-to-day state of affairs. As we speak was step one for him, really feel what it feels wish to undergo the sport warmup. However we’ll see. I do not wish to rush him again. I would like it to be on the timeline that is on his finest curiosity and at any time when that’s he’ll be able to go.”

Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert and Joshua Jefferson have been held to 11 factors apiece by Kansas, and it took an entire lot of pictures for them to get there. The trio of Cyclones was 13 of 42 from the sphere and a couple of of 14 from past the 3-point arc.

In the meantime, main scorer Curtis Jones was held to seven factors on 3-for-11 capturing.

“It sucks for certain. Dropping is just not supreme,” Jones stated, “however I imply, we did some issues nicely. We bought 17 offensive rebounds, solely had seven turnovers. It is simply actually pictures weren’t falling. We clear up free throws, make a pair 3s, it is a totally different recreation.”

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