Jayhawks embarrass Tigers again, win Border War 95-67
The Missouri Tigers clearly weren't content with allowing 100 points to the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence last season.
So, MU went out and hired a new coach. It turned over almost its entire roster and added plenty of experienced Division I talent via the transfer portal. And it enjoyed the fruits of its labor on Saturday afternoon.
This time around, in the latest renewal of the vaunted, historic and undeniably meaningful Border War rivalry, the Tigers were once again blown out but only allowed 95 points to the Jayhawks
For KU, it was more of the same, another blowout win over an overmatched rival from a couple hours east on Interstate 70.
Missouri took a brief, early lead at 2-0 and then 4-2 in the nascent moments of the contest, but from that point forward it was all Kansas.
The Jayhawks shot 64.5% from the floor and 60% from three-point range in the first half, putting the game out of reach by the break. A pair of underclassmen led the early charge for KU, with freshman guard Gradey Dick and sophomore forward K.J. Adams each chipping in 15 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Dick did most of his work from beyond the arc, starting the game 3-of-4 from three, while Adams was an efficient 7-of-9 from the field against a Tigers defense that looked interested in anything other than actually defending.
Missouri, meanwhile, one of the highest-scoring teams in the country entering this weekend, was held to just 33.3% shooting in the first half, and the Tigers also turned the ball over nine times.
The Jayhawks never relented when they resumed play, continuing the offensive onslaught while the Tigers never got any closer than 15 points throughout the second half.
KU's worse half was the second, and yet it still shot 50% as a team in the final period.
Junior forward Jalen Wilson ended up with the game high in points in Saturday's victory, pouring in 24 while also grabbing 10 rebounds to secure his sixth double-double of the year. That's also now
Senior guard Kevin McCullar also broke the 20-point threshold, adding 21 on 8-of-12 from the floor. Adams went 9-of-11 for the game and ended up with 19 points, a new career high, while Dick scored just one free throw in the second half to finish with 16.
As a team, the Jayhawks shot 57.4% for the game and 45.5% from long distance. Kansas held Missouri to just 40.4% shooting and 30% from beyond the arc.
Both programs are now 9-1 on the season, while this was KU's 176th all-time win over MU.
The Jayhawks will go another full week before playing again with Indiana coming to Lawrence on Saturday, Dec. 17. That game will tip at 11:00 a.m.
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