Field Level Media
Dec 11, 2021
Ochai Agbaji scored 21 points as the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks renewed their rivalry with the Missouri Tigers with a 102-65 rout Saturday in Lawrence, Kan.
This was the first regular-season meeting between these former Big 12 foes since 2012. Their season series ceased when Missouri moved to the Southeastern Conference.
Christian Braun and Dajuan Harris added 13 points apiece for the Jayhawks (8-1) on Saturday. David McCormack (11 points, seven rebounds) and Remy Martin (10 points, five assists) also had strong games.
Kansas used 13 players for the second consecutive game, and 12 scored.
Javon Pickett led the Tigers (5-5) with 19 points. Sean Durugordon scored 11 in just six minutes off the bench, and DaJuan Gordon and Trevon Brazile added 10 each.
Kansas entered the game ranked 11th nationally in scoring offense, fifth in field-goal percentage and 16th in assist-to-turnover ratio -- and the Tigers had no answer defensively.
The Jayhawks shot 55.9 percent from the floor and made 14-of-27 shots from 3-point range. They also pressured Missouri into 20 turnovers and had a 36-26 rebounding margin.
Braun propelled the Jayhawks to an 11-3 start by hitting a 3-point jumper, converting a traditional 3-point play and banking home a layup in the opening minutes.
Harris came off the bench to hit consecutive 3-point jumpers as Kansas pushed its margin to 23-11.
Missouri countered with an 8-3 run with Gordon and Brazile hitting 3-pointers. But the Jayhawks used a 14-4 surge to take a commanding 42-25 lead with 3:24 left in the first half.
After Pickett scored on a drive to the basket, Kansas scored the last seven points of the first half. Then the Jayhawks opened the second half with a 13-3 run as the game got out of hand.
--Field Level Media