If Phog Allen Fieldhouse was ever a party, it was tonight. The most hated rival was in the house. Broadcasting legend Dick Vitale was in the house, and giving love to the Kansas Jayhawks. For the Missouri Tigers, this was a house of pain and a 32-point drubbing.
Last year, Kansas had its troubles on Big Monday. This year looked to start out along those same lines as the Jayhawks and Tigers traded blows throughout the first half. MU struck first and held a very early 5-2 lead, but it was Kansas who controlled most of the half.
Missouri held the lead only once, and briefly, after those first minutes, although there were several ties. Kansas built up a 10-point lead with just under eight in the half, but Missouri went on a 13-3 run to tie the game at 38.
By halftime KU was holding on to a slim lead of only one point.
Whatever Roy Williams did to his troops in the lockers, it transformed the Jayhawks.
Drew Gooden eased in a layup just nine seconds into the second period and Kansas was off to the proverbial races. Kansas never trailed again. The lead stretched to 20 before the Tigers could mount any serious comeback, but even that got them no closer than 13.
Kansas then rattled off 10 straight points, and the lead never dipped back below 20 points. Kansas doubled up Missouri in the second half, 62-31.
Before the game Dick Vitale predicted good things from Kirk Hinrich, and HInrich came through in a big way, scoring 23 points. Drew Gooden, as usual, led all scoring with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
Jeff Boschee and Nick Collison each put in 13 points, and Wayne Simien added 10. Aaron Miles dished out eight assists to go with his seven points.
Kansas shot over 60% from the court, and held the Tigers to 40%. The Jayhawks ended the night with 26 assists to just 13 turnovers, and hit 19 of 21 free throws. Missouri only went to the line six times, making five.
Next up for Kansas is a home game Saturday against Colorado. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
See tonight's 6News broadcast on Sunflower Broadband channel 6, tomorrow's Lawrence Journal-World and KUSports.com, for full coverage of tonight's game.
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