Normally, 6-foot-9, 255-pound Wayne Simien has a hearty appetite.

Just not on game day.

“I was nervous all day. At pregame I couldn’t eat anything. I was able to get down just a couple of pieces of steak,” Simien said after feasting on EA Sports All-Stars for 26 points in Kansas University’s 111-94 exhibition basketball victory on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks’ starting forward hit his first nine shots before missing his 10th and final attempt, a running jumper. He also was perfect in eight tries from the free-throw line and grabbed six rebounds in 22 minutes.

It was reminiscent of Simien’s play against the same team a year ago. Coming off the bench in his first game in a KU jersey, Simien burned the All-Stars for 25 points last November.

“I tend to have a good game against them,” the Leavenworth native said. “Too bad it couldn’t have come in a real game.”

Had it been a real game, Simien would have recorded personal highs in points and field goals made.

“He had one of these kind of games last year against them also. Maybe he likes playing against EA Sports,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “He’s averaging 251¼2 against ’em. That’s pretty good. He’s had a good preseason. He has the ability to shoot the ball and is strong around the rim. I’d like him to get more than six rebounds in 22 minutes.

“Their big guys were taking our big guys further out on the court and that sometimes got us away from the boards.”

Simien did it all, hitting some feathery jumpers to go with one jam in which he just about tore down the backboard. He also hit the press table while hustling after the basketball the second half, getting a bruise on a knee for his efforts.

He iced the knee after the game, but says he’s fine.

He’s more than fine, actually, in making his first career start as the post-Drew Gooden era begins.

“Wayne is tough to handle,” said senior guard Kirk Hinrich, who struck for 20 points off 5-of-7 shooting. He canned three threes in four tries. “He’s so big and aggressive. He’s tough to deal with.”

Forward Nick Collison was KU’s third player in double figures with 18 points off 7-of-11 shooting. Collison grabbed 11 rebounds as the Jayhawks outboarded the pesky All-Stars  who lost to Missouri in overtime on Saturday night  46 to 33.

“Wayne played great. It’s not a big surprise. He’s been doing it every day in practice,” Collison said.

The Jayhawks overcame a somewhat sloppy start  KU had 14 turnovers the first half and 22 for the game  to win going away. KU led 50-38 at the break, courtesy of an 8-0 run to close the half, then outscored EA Sports, 61-56, the second half.

“I was disappointed some in the defensive end of the floor. We didn’t create much tempo,” Williams said. “They got too many things from us inside. If you look they made 12 of 23 from the three-point line. Defensively it wasn’t as good a game as we need, to say the least. We have a long way to go there. We don’t have any set plays in.

“You’ve heard me say it’s a glorified practice, and that’s what it was. I saw some nice things, too. It was a fun night for our players. They were tired playing against each other, tired at me yelling at them a whole practice. It was important getting out and playing in front of some people, getting somebody different to play against.”

It also was fun for Williams to visit with his first marquee recruit  Adonis Jordan  before, during and after the game. The point guard jad nine points off 4-of-10 shooting and had three assists and four turnovers.

KU’s crowd gave Jordan a standing ovation during introductions.

“The crowd was phenomenal. Our crowd generally understands things like that,” Williams said. “That youngster is very important to our program.”

Williams also liked getting a good look at his bench.

Jeff Hawkins hit three of four shots, including a pair of driving layups, good for eight points. Big Jeff Graves had eight points and six boards, and thin Moulaye Niang contributed seven points. Also, Bryant Nash hit two threes. Michael Lee had no points.

“I think we were good,” Williams said of the reserves. “I don’t think we were great. It’s good for them to play against somebody else. Bryant has developed into a really good stand still shooter. He made both tonight and I thought both were going in.

“Jeff Hawkins did some nice things. Michael Lee probably didn’t get as much accomplished. Moulaye is very active. He can play better than he did tonight too, and I was glad Jeff Graves to get a couple of minutes in there as well.”