This was supposed to be easy. Iowa State, having lost two of their best players from a year ago, own one of the few overall losing records in the Big 12. Tonight they played like the Cyclones that had previously beat Kansas five straight times.
Kansas established an early lead, helped in part by a technical foul on ISU coach Larry Eustachy just 1:40 into the game. KU's margin grew to eight points seven minutes later.
After that, ISU went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 26. The two teams went back and forth, trading the lead several times.
Jeff Carey came through with a clutch basket followed by a steal that led to a Jeff Boschee bomb. Carey then sank two free throws to give KU a 46-41 halftime lead.
The second half proved to be a carbon copy of the first. Kansas built a 12-point lead just after the second time out. However, just like in the first half, Iowa State fought back. A 20-4 Cyclone run later, and the home team was ahead by four.
The final 6:39 of the game was nothing short of a toe-to-toe fight. With the Jayhawks down 81-79, Drew Gooden hit a pair of free throws to tie the game with 90 seconds left. Iowa State would not score again.
Jeff Boschee hit his fourth three-pointer of the night to give Kansas the lead for good with just 36 ticks left. All that remained were four KU free-throws, and it was all over.
ISU's Jake Sullivan led all scoring with 27 points, a career high. Gooden paced Kansas with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Nick Collison scored 16, Boschee ended with 14 and Hinrich added 11.
Next up for the Jayhawks is another road trip, this time to Texas A&M. Tip-off is set for Saturday at 3 p.m.
See tonight's 6News on Sunflower Cable channel 6, tomorrow's Lawrence Journal-World, and KUSports.com, for full coverage of tonight's game.
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