Jayhawks drop Cyclones in Big 12
by Randy Peterson, USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sixth-ranked Kansas didn’t need overtime this time to defeat Iowa State.
Friday’s semifinal-round game of the Big 12 Conference tournament was all-Jayhawks, defeating the Cyclones 88-73 before a record Big 12 Conference tournament crowd of 19,116 to advance to their ninth conference championship game.
Iowa State enters next week’s NCAA Tournament with a 22-11 record, while Kansas takes a 28-5 record into Saturday’s title game. Two of the wins were against the Cyclones – 97-89 in overtime in January, and then 108-96 in overtime last month, but that wasn’t needed this time after a quick and big start to the second half.
The Jayhawks led 35-31 at the end of a spirited first half that included technical fouls on Jayhawks coach Bill Self and player Ben McLemore. They raced to a 55-39 lead in the second half.
Iowa State made just 4 of its first 15 3-point shots in the first half, continuing its accuracy woes in this tournament.
The Cyclones missed 11 of 12 3-point shots in the first half of Thursday’s quarterfinal round victory against Oklahoma.
Self’s technical followed by 90 seconds a technical by McLemore. His team reacted by scoring 37 of the following 57 points.
Randy Peterson writes for The Des Moines Register, a Gannett property.
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