Kansas University power forward Wayne Simien earned every one of his 15 rebounds Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“(You) put all that work in … it was a war out there, definitely,” Simien, KU’s 6-foot-9, 255-pounder, said after the Jayhawks’ 81-70 victory over a Pacific team that shadowed Simien’s every move.

He managed 12 points off 6-of-12 shooting on a day the Tigers scratched and clawed — and even bit him.

Simien, who played 35 minutes, left the game briefly in the first half after getting bit above the left (nonshooting) index finger.

“I got bit by a beast down there. I’ll get a few stitches. It’s nothing,” said Simien, who is ticketed to receive a tetanus shot.

“I don’t think it was an intentional bite,” KU coach Bill Self said. “His hands went toward somebody’s mouth. It cut him pretty good.”

Simien, who did not attempt a free throw all day, picked up his third foul with 11:16 left. On the ensuing possession, junior forward Christian Moody, who tied a career high with seven points, drove the baseline for a bucket.

“When Wayne got his third foul, Danny Manning (on KU’s bench) told me I really needed to step up. Without Wayne, our inside presence isn’t as strong. Danny said to take that jumper or drive and be more aggressive,” Moody said.

Creative ‘D’

Kansas University's Wayne Simien dunks for two of his 12 points against Pacific. Despite being targeted defensively by the Tigers, Simien also collected 15 rebounds -- and a bite wound -- in KU's 81-70 victory Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Pacific’s defense was designed with Simien in mind.

“I’ve never seen it guarded this way. It’s a tribute to them. I said he would have something up his sleeve,” Self said of UOP coach Bob Thomason. “They fronted Simien, and then they didn’t guard the high post, so when we threw the ball to the high post, the guy guarding the high post man went and played behind Simien, and the guy fronting Simien ran and guarded the high post. So they switched.

“I asked him after the game where they came up with that, and he said they did it a few years ago against Stanford, and it was successful.

“It was a unique twist. They dared us to make shots, and we didn’t make ’em.”

Good half, bad half

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Freshman Russell Robinson had seven points and three steals, all in the second half.

“The first half he was a dud. He was dead. He looked nervous,” Self said. “That’s one thing I love about him. He wasn’t very good and would be the first to tell you that. The second half he forgets that and plays through it and sparked us. He was terrific.”

Big-men blues

C.J. Giles didn’t play the second half after making one of four shots in three minutes the first half. The freshmen big-man trio of Giles, Sasha Kaun and Darnell Jackson had eight points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes.

“As a coach, I have to get where I trust the guys,” Self said. “In a close ballgame, I felt we were better playing small than we were big. Certainly, the big men should not be discouraged with today’s game.”

“Big Sasha and Darnell came in and gave us a blow,” Simien said. “Moody and I got in a little foul trouble. Maybe they are a little upset they didn’t play as much down the stretch. Coach made it really clear he was going to play the guys he was comfortable with down the stretch.”