When it comes to big-time games, Allen Fieldhouse is no secret. Today, the Jayhawks hosted one of their toughest tests in a while. No.4 Houston and their stellar defense came into Lawerence looking to pull off the near impossible.
1st Half
Kansas was hot early and would hit seven of their first eight shots from the field in the opening minutes. That would push the Jayhawks lead out to (16-8) advantage at the first media break. Dickinson scored six of the 16 early points in the first five minutes.
The Jayhawks athletes had the edge early on.
Kansas would hit their first three shots from deep range and help them to a nine-point lead just minutes into action.
The Jayhawks were not missing, and they weren't messing around and starting the game by making nine of their first ten shots. Even with the 5-for-11 start the Cougars had, there is no answer for a team only missing the net once in over eight minutes of play.
Kansas 23 - Houston 11 would read the score at the media timeout with 11:30 remaining in the first half.
Houston seemed to settle in over the following stanza of play. However, the offense was still at a stalemate early.
Kansas would hold a double-digit advantage, and the reason was apparent. The Jayhawks were hitting more shots. Houston would finally hit a three to pull the game back to nine. But Kansas would respond with a three of their own to push the lead back to 12. This was followed by an and one to give Kansas their most significant lead yet with just 5:11 left in the opening half of play.
In a flash, Kansas had hit five straight shots, and a nine-point game was suddenly (37-21) in favor of Kansas.
Shooting (16-20) from the field and (4-5) from deep over 17 minutes into one of the biggest games of the year, the Jayhawks entered the last media timeout of the half up 15.
Johny Furphy would be the game's name in the first half, going for 14 points and leading the team in rebounds.
The Jayhawks would shoot 40% better from the field in the half, leading to their halftime lead by a score of (43-28).
2nd half
Kansas picked up right where they left off, scoring the first two buckets of the second half.
The Jayhawks would maintain a firm hold on the game as they led by 15 at the first media break of the last half of basketball.
The story remained the same for the opening eight minutes of the second half. Kansas held between a 12 to 20-point lead and never felt like looking back.
The Jayhawks made shots, and Houston did not.
Kansas made one of the best coach defenses in the country play below their standard.
With 11:58 remaining in the game, Kansas would lead by 20 (58-38). It was a nightmare game for the Cougars, but maybe the reality check they needed to gear up for March.
Houston came out swinging and brought the game back within reason: a couple of fast break threes forced an angry Bill Self timeout with 9:06 left—Houston 48, Kansas 60, the score when the Jayhawks called timeout.
L.J. Cryer was doing all he could to keep Houston in the game. He shrank Kansas' lead down to ten for the first time since the first half after a three with 4:50 remaining.
Houston would do its best to try to keep this a game. But, the firepower of the Jayhawks would prove to be too much.
With just 44 seconds left in the game, Kansas held a 15-point lead as they had had most of the second half. It was just as simple as the Jayhawks being more efficient at putting the ball in the net.
Kansas would have four players in double figures, led by Dickinson with 20.
Kansas would put a bow on this one and take down Houston 78 to 65, the final score.
Closing
It was not felt in a game where Kansas was almost seen as an underdog.
This was Kansas's game from the jump, and Houston could never bounce back fully.
Cryer would finish with 24 points for the Cougars.
Kansas would beat the 4th-ranked Cougars in just their third loss this season, while the Jayhawks improve to 18-4.