Notebook: Kansas finds energy, plays faster

Kansas players Jamari Traylor (31) and Wayne Selden react to a dunk by teammate Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk during the second half on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

• Box score

Kansas University’s basketball team obviously played with more energy Tuesday night than in the Jayhawks’ last game — a 25-point loss to Temple on Dec. 22 in Philadelphia.

“We played faster. They are an easier team to play faster against. They (Kent State’s players) are OK with it,” coach Bill Self said after KU’s 78-62 victory over the Golden Flashes in Allen Fieldhouse. “We were on the floor tonight more than we’ve been on the floor. We blocked more shots (season-high eight). Our activity level was much better tonight.”

KU forward Landen Lucas, who had a career-high seven rebounds to go with two points, said the Jayhawks have tinkered with their secondary break at recent practices. KU had 19 points in transition to KSU’s none.

“Instead of having everything kind of mechanical and robotic — you go here and you go here — it’s kind of go wherever, just make sure you get the ball side to side as soon as we get downcourt,” Lucas said.

“That’s what we were doing, trying to get it inside and we did a good job of moving fast. That was the first game we tried it. I think it can only get better with time. I think it’s something this team can be good at. When we are playing uptempo, everybody gets a little bit more juiced,” Lucas added.

Tyler scores: KU sophomore walk-on guard Tyler Self hit a layup to conclude the scoring. He has two points this season, six for his career.

“Tyler … he went with the right hand on the left side. He said, ‘Dad, I had to make sure I got this one down,”’ Bill Self said. “I think he was measuring his steps. His steps got off a bit so he decided to just go lay it up. That was good somebody off our scout team made a basket tonight.”

Second half success: KU freshman Cliff Alexander had eight points, three boards and two blocks while playing eight minutes the second half. He had no points and a board in five first-half minutes.

“Cliff had a productive game in the minutes he got,” Self said.

“When Cliff is playing like Cliff plays, he definitely brings us energy,” said Kelly Oubre, Jr. “He hasn’t shown what he can do for sure, yet. It’s coming. He’s getting dunks, rebounds. Everything he does is athletic. It boosts us.”

Stats, facts: KU is 10-2 or better for the sixth time in Self’s 12 seasons at KU. … KU is 2-0 versus Kent State and 12-1 against current membership of the Mid-American Conference. … KU is 63-8 in games following a loss under Self. … KU has won 14 in a row in Allen. … KU tied a season high with 44 rebounds to KSU’s 31. … KU had a season-high-tying nine steals. … Kansas finished the game with 19 points in transition to KSU’s none. … Due to a 9-of-15 performance at Temple and a 13-of-22 showing against Kent State, the Jayhawks are now on a skid of 22-for-37 over their last two games at the free-throw line for 59.5 percent. … Kelly Oubre Jr. had 11 points just 6:23 into the game. He became KU’s fastest player to reach double figures since Ben McLemore scored 10 points in five minutes and 33 seconds against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament on March 14, 2013. … Perry Ellis began the game 2-of-8 from the field, but recovered to make four-consecutive shots, finishing 6-of-13 with 12 points in the opening half.