Fast recap: Kansas overcomes slow start to beat Princeton

Playing without Darryn Peterson for the second straight game, Kansas powered through a sluggish start to beat Princeton 76-57 on Saturday. Flory Bidunga was the catalyst for the Jayhawks’ run, scoring 15 points over the final nine minutes in the first half.

Bidunga finished with a career game. He scored 25 points on 10/11 shooting for a new career-high. Bidunga added 10 rebounds and three blocks for his third career double-double.

Princeton had its chances early in both halves, leading 18-13 through 10 minutes and going on a 7-0 spurt after halftime. Dalen Davis and Jack Stanton were the bulk of the Tigers’ offense, combining for 36 points. Princeton launched threes all afternoon, making 10 of 35.

Kansas countered runs from a feisty Princeton team, going on runs of 11-0 and 14-3 in the second half to close out a win.

First half: Flory Bidunga powers Kansas through slow start

Kohl Rosario started the scoring with a three, but Bill Self wasn’t happy with Bryson Tiller’s start. Princeton beat Tiller on a back cut and made a three in his face. Self called a timeout just over two minutes into the game, subbing in Jayden Dawson for Bryson Tiller. Princeton held an early 6-5 lead, knocking home two three-pointers.

Self continued to show his frustration with Kansas’ start. Walk-on Wilder Evers subbed in the game for Melvin Council as 10 Jayhawks played in the first seven minutes. None of the combinations played great basketball, but Dawson had a transition and-one to give Kansas some momentum.

After a rough start defensively, Kansas found a spark after it started forcing turnovers. Princeton turned it over four times in a two-minute stretch. Two of the giveaways led to Jayhawk dunks that tied the game at 18-18 and forced a Princeton timeout.

Another defensive play gave Kansas its first lead since it was 3-0. Flory Bidunga blocked a shot that led to a layup from Melvin Council. The Jayhawks held the Tigers scoreless for a five-minute stretch, going on an extended 9-0 run to lead 22-18.

Jack Stanton broke the ice with a triple as Kansas started settling for missed threes. Bidunga started showing aggression, scoring on consecutive possessions to give the Jayhawks a 26-22 lead with 3:04 left in the first half.

Princeton’s best offense over the late stretches of the first half came from the free throw line. Davis made three free throws after Kansas fouled him on a three-point attempt.

Bidunga further sparked the Jayhawks as they extended their lead heading into halftime. He threw down a pair on dunks to ignite the crowd. After Davis hit a three, Bidunga converted an and-one to take a 37-29 lead into halftime. Bidunga scored 15 first-half points and took over after a sluggish start.

Second half: Jayhawks overcome another rough start

Kansas couldn’t build on the late first-half momentum as Self called another timeout early in the half. Stanton scored seven straight, including a four-point play. The Jayhawks’ lead dwindled to three just two minutes into the second half.

Bidunga continued to power the Jayhawks, throwing down another alley-oop. However, he picked up his third foul with 15:25 left in the second half and went to the bench for over five minutes.

The Jayhawks had a response after Davis cut their lead to one with a three. Tiller knocked down a three to spark a 9-0 run. Dawson made one of his own to put the Kansas lead back at double digits, 53-43, and force Princeton to call a timeout.

Kansas extended its lead without Bidunga on the floor. Elmarko Jackson threw down a dunk in transition, and Council scored on a quick drive to grow the Jayhawks’ lead to 14. Bidunga checked back in at the 9:06 mark and immediately scored four straight as Kansas led 67-49 at the under-eight timeout.

White showed aggressiveness in the second half, getting to the line and the rim. He scored 18 points for the game, with 10 coming from the foul line.

Kansas didn’t score for four minutes late in the second half, but Nginyu Ngala made a three from the top of the key to close out the win. The Jayhawks will head to Madison Square Garden to take on Duke on Tuesday.