No. 4 Kansas survives scare at Texas
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Ben McLemore scored 16 points and No. 4 Kansas stormed back from a late double-digit deficit to stun Texas 64-59 on Saturday for its 15th straight win.
Jeff Withey added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Jayhawks (16-1, 4-0 Big 12), who trailed by 11 points in the second half before McLemore steered a rally that prevented the reeling Longhorns (8-9, 0-4) from a badly needed victory in this troubled season.
Travis Releford added 12 points for Kansas.
Sheldon McClennan led the Longhorns with 18 points. Texas has lost four straight, its longest losing streak since coach Rick Barnes’ first season in 1998-99.
Texas’ Julien Lewis had a chance to force overtime but missed a corner 3-pointer with 13 seconds left. Lewis had made just three of his previous 12 from behind the arc before that shot, and McLemore even said afterward that taking that one so early with plenty of time left on the shot clock even surprised him.
“We just had to play through it,” McLemore said of the slow Kansas start. “We talked in the huddle. Coach told us to be more aggressive, and that’s what we did.”
McLemore was 6 of 10 from the field and had six rebounds. Kevin Young added 6 points for the Jayhawks.
Lewis finished with 11 points while Jonathan Holmes had 10 for Texas.
The Jayhawks played listless from the start before roaring back.
McLemore showed no hint of an injury after spraining his ankle in Monday night’s win over Baylor, but the Big 12′s second-leading scorer took just three shots in the first half while his teammates missed shot after shot.
Defense hasn’t been the problem for the Longhorns during this forgettable season — their offense takes the blame there. That showed while holding Kansas to a season-low 26 points in the first half on 28 percent shooting, which was easiest to notice as the Jayhawks went 1 for 7 from behind the arc.
That lone 3-pointer belonged to McLemore in the opening minutes to give Kansas the lead, something the Jayhawks wouldn’t get back until the second half when the star freshman made another 3. … [For more on No. 4 Kansas survives scare at Texas for 15 straight win, click here.]
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