Kansas sets up for a big rematch
Jayhawks dispatch Iowa State and get ready for game against top-ranked Baylor.
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Devon Dotson had watched Iowa State torch the nets in Allen Fieldhouse long enough, so the do-everything Kansas guard began raining down three-pointers and getting to the rim in what started out as a oneman scoring showcase.
The rest of the thirdranked Jayhawks eventually followed his lead.
Dotson finished with six three-pointers and 29 points, and wound up being one of five Kansas players in double-figures scoring, helping the Jayhawks to a 9171 victory over the Cyclones to keep pace in the Big 12 race.
“When they’re hitting shots like they did, I mean, yeah, we’ve got to respond,” Dotson said. “I think every game we try to knock down our shots, but this game, people were rolling.”
Ochai Agbaji finished with 14 points, Udoka Azubuike and Christian Braun scored 13 apiece and David McCormack had 10 points to send the Jayhawks (23-3, 12-1 Big 12) into a pivotal rematch with No. 1 Baylor with some momentum.
The Bears (23-1, 12-0) visit Oklahoma on Tuesday night before facing the Jayhawks at Ferrell Center on Saturday. Kansas hasn’t lost since the two teams met at Allen Fieldhouse in midJanuary.
“We have a couple days to get rested for obviously the biggest game of the year,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said.
Prentiss Nixon scored 20 points, Matt Jacobson had 13 and Rasir Bolton 12 for the slumping Cyclones (11-15, 4-9), who have lost 14 of their last 15 games at Kansas and still have not won a road game this season.
Their frustrating season was summed up by the first half, when they did just about everything right and still trailed 50-40.
Iowa State was nine for 12 from beyond the arc in a torrid display of shooting, and at one point connected on three-pointers on three consecutive trips down floor.
Maybe a little better defense would have helped.
As good as the Cyclones were on offense, the Jayhawks were even better. They kept pounding the ball inside to the 7-foot Azubuike, who dunked his way toward 10 first-half points, and that opened things up outside. Dotson had 15 points by the break, and Braun scored 13 points in just 12 minutes.