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Kansas Too Much For West Virginia
February 09, 2016 09:41 PM | Men's Basketball
Perry Ellis scored 21 points and Frank Mason III added 14 to lead sixth-ranked Kansas to a 75-65 victory over 10th-ranked West Virginia tonight in Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Jayhawks shot 56.1 percent from the floor against the Mountaineers to pull into a three-way tie atop the conference standings with West Virginia and Oklahoma at 8-3.
“We didn’t score in transition and we had opportunities,” said West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. “We must have missed six or seven layups; we didn’t score it close. We had a couple of tip-ins that didn’t go in and we had open shots.”
With the exception of two early ties, Kansas (20-4) led throughout the game, building its lead to nine early on baskets by Landen Lucas, Mason III and Lucas again. Two Ellis free throws with 2:05 left built Kansas’ lead to 10, 34-24, and after exchanging baskets, Jaysean Paige finished the first half by knocking down a three – West Virginia’s first of the game.
The Mountaineers scored nine of the first 13 points of the second half to pull to within two, 40-38, with 16:12 remaining, but Kansas scored the next eight points to get its lead back to 10.
Again, West Virginia battled back to get within four on a Paige layup with 7:26 remaining, but Seldon Jr. responded with a three to key a 14-6 Jayhawk run to push the lead back out to double digits with 2:37 left.
West Virginia, playing without forward Jonathan Holton for a fourth consecutive game, had trouble handling Ellis and Lucas near the basket. The two combined to shoot 11 of 14 from the floor, scored 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.
“Because of Perry Ellis and his ball skills it’s hard to play Elijah (Macon) and Devin (Williams) at the same time,” Huggins said. “It’s hard to play Brandon (Watkins) and Devin at the same time and that’s why we needed Nate Adrian on the floor because he’s our one big that can guard (on the perimeter).”
Devonte’ Graham and Brannen Greene added 10 each to give Kansas 20 wins for the 27th straight year.
“We just didn’t have enough people,” said Huggins. “To play the way we play we need more people. Our philosophy is our 10 is better than their 10. Now we’re down to about eight so we’ve got to get those other guys playing and doing some things.”
West Virginia (19-5 overall) got 14 points and nine rebounds from Devin Williams. Paige added 14, but shot just five of 16 from the floor.
Starting guards Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles Jr. combined to make just three of 14 as West Virginia shot just 37.3 percent for the game.
“I can only put Jaysean in so many places,” said Huggins. “I hoped one of those other guys would make some shots and obviously they didn’t.
“We needed to keep the ball out of Frank Mason’s hands on the press and we didn’t,” said Huggins. “He’s the one guy that can break pressure.”
Kansas has now won 38 straight at Allen Fieldhouse; the Mountaineers have lost all four times they have played here.
WVU returns to the WVU Coliseum on Saturday afternoon to play an important Big 12 contest against TCU. That game will tip off at noon and will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
The game has already been announced a sellout. The 2016 Cactus Bowl champion football team will be honored at halftime.
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