Fast recap: Kansas blows out Texas A&M-Corpus Christi without Peterson
Playing without Darryn Peterson, Kansas picked up a blowout 77-46 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday night in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks’ offense wasn’t great at times but used their athleticism to limit the Islanders’ offense and find easy points.
Scoring came by committee as Peterson missed Tuesday’s game. Kansas’ star freshman missed the exhibition against Fort Hays State and came out in street clothes against the Islanders. Four Jayhawks landed in double-figures, led by Kohl Rosario with 16.
Kansas held A&M-Corpus Christ to 32.2% shooting from the field and 1/14 from three. The Islanders often went on extending scoring droughts, including a four-minute stretch in the second half for a 14-0 Kansas run.
First half: Rosario sparks Kansas in sluggish first half
All three of Kansas’ first baskets came via alley-oop dunks. Tre White was the distributor of two of the three, hitting Flory Bidunga to open the game and Kohl Rosario on a back-door cut.
The Jayhawks’ offense struggled in the half court, being at their best in transition. Kansas held Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to a 0/5 start from the floor, forcing the Islanders to heavily contested threes late in the shot clock.
The Islanders went on a 1/6 stretch after scoring its first basket of the game. Jamari McDowell knocked down a contested three to end a quick two-minute scoring drought, in which neither team showcased a particularly clean display of basketball.
Rosario continued to be the biggest spark for the Jayhawks. He continued to use his athletic ability to his advantage. The freshman self-created points with a drive and threw down his third alley-oop of the night. Rosario also got the three to fall, extending Kansas’ lead to 24-8 with a triple.
A&M-Corpus Christi’s points came few and far between in the first half. The Islanders often endured spurts of scoring droughts. Kansas scored seven straight, with Elmarko Jackson getting downhill for a layup, to push the Jayhawks’ lead to 20.
Nginyu Ngala knocked down two threes in the last four minutes, and Kansas took a 38-18 lead into the half. The Jayhawks held the Islanders to 23.3% shooting in the first half.
Second half: Jayhawks close second half strong with 14-0 run
Kansas held its comfortable lead early in the second half. It wasn’t a dominating stretch, as the Jayhawks fell asleep defensively on a couple of possessions for easy Islander points. Melvin Council Jr. dropped an assist to White in transition, who made a three to put Kansas’ lead at 49-26.
The second half again had stretches of sloppy play. Bryson Tiller woke things up momentarily after he knocked down a corner three. Bidunga threw down a dunk shortly after, and the Jayhawks led 56-34 at the under-12 timeout.
Kansas extended its lead to over 30 with an extended 14-0 run. The Jayhawks held the Islanders scoreless over that four-minute stretch. Tiller threw down a dunk on a downhill drive, and Jayden Dawson hit a three to put the lead at 34.
The Jayhawks got strong production from their front court during the second half from the trio of White, Tiller, and Bidunga. Rosario also knocked home his second three, and Kansas led 73-39 at the under-four timeout.
Samis Calderon threw down a dunk as Kansas emptied its bench. The Jayhawks improved to 2-1 on the season and will face Princeton at Allen Fieldhouse at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
