photo by: Frank Franklin II/AP Photo

Kansas' Lagerald Vick (24) shoots over Marquette's Sam Hauser (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, in New York.

Brooklyn, N.Y. — A new-look lineup and some added energy and aggression saved the second-ranked Kansas basketball team in a 77-68 victory over Marquette in the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals Wednesday night at Barclays Center.

With Marcus Garrett starting the second half in place of Quentin Grimes and Udoka Azubuike back on the floor after playing just six minutes and picking up two fouls in the first half, Kansas looked a lot more like Kansas in the final 20 minutes.

Three quick baskets brought he partisan-KU crowd into the action and the Jayhawks (4-0) went on to erase a nine-point halftime deficit in the first five minutes of the second half.

While better effort, energy and execution played a huge part in the Jayhawks’ 22-0 run that spanned 9:15 to open the second half, the onslaught was fueled by a greater sense of urgency on defense.

Active hands turned into steals. The Jayhawks got into the passing lanes and challenged every Marquette pass. And Kansas dominated the glass and swiped all 10 Marquette misses in the devastating run. Freshman point guard Devon Dotson (10 points, four assists, three steals) sparked a lot of it.

It wasn’t just the second half, which KU won 39-21, that featured noteworthy runs.

Kansas responded to an early 8-5 deficit with an 11-0 run and watched Lagerald Vick heat up in the process. After opening the game trading 3-pointers with Marquette star Markus Howard (18 points, 6-of-23 shooting), Vick (16 points on 6-of-12 shooting) hit two more triples during the 11-0 run and led Kansas with 11 points at halftime.

The Jayhawks and Golden Eagles opened the game combining to make 10 of their first 14 3-point attempts, bringing a wide-open, offensive onslaught feel to the floor.

Marquette (3-2) hit 7-of-11 from 3-point range to open the game, many of them coming during a 15-4 run that put the Golden Eagles back on top, 23-22 with 10 minutes to play in the first half. Marquette finished 14-of-31 from 3-point range, just four off the record for most 3-pointers made in a game against Kansas, most recently set by Villanova in last year’s Final Four.

It marked the third consecutive game where KU struggled to defend the 3-point shot. But the Jayhawks survived and will play No. 5 Tennessee at approximately 8 p.m. Friday for the NIT Season Tip-Off title.

Turkey Day Plans

While today technically will be an off day for the Jayhawks, don’t expect Self to let his players loose in the city.

In addition to watching film and going over the scouting report for Friday’s 8 p.m. game with No. 5 Tennessee, the Jayhawks will do their best to stay off their feet and rest their bodies in order to be able to play two games in three days.

The team has a 6 p.m. Thanksgiving dinner planned for the coaches, players and families who made the trip to the Big Apple at the team hotel in Brooklyn.

Here’s a quick look back at some of the action:

• The game turned when: Kansas came out with more energy to start the second half.

After trailing by nine at the intermission, KU put together a 22-0 run to begin the second half. The Golden Eagles did not hit a bucket until the 10:42 mark in the second half. The Jayhawks reclaimed a 48-47 advantage near the 15-minute mark and never looked back from that moment on.

Junior center Udoka Azubuike was critical during the team’s run to start the second half after playing just six minutes in the first half due to foul trouble. He abused Marquette’s undersized post presence for much of the time he was on the court.

Same ball-screen action between two bigs that #kubball showed against Michigan State. pic.twitter.com/COJ6Bz1nU7

— Shane Jackson (@SJacksonLJW) November 22, 2018

• Offensive highlight: Senior wing Lagerald Vick kept on launching shots after consecutive 30-point outings last week.

Vick drilled a trio of 3-pointers in the first half, including a triple on KU’s first offensive possession. Later in the first half, Vick then had a stretch where he hit back-to-back long balls to add to the Jayhawks’ early lead.

This is Vick's world, we are just living in it #kubball pic.twitter.com/cjIvfhaFwS

— Shane Jackson (@SJacksonLJW) November 22, 2018

• Defensive highlight: Early in the first half, freshman Devon Dotson made an impressive play on the defensive end.

Dotson poked the ball away from a Marquette player around the perimeter. Dotson then fought for the loose ball the length of the court, while somehow staying on his feet. He capped the sequence with a layup on the other end to give Kansas an 11-8 advantage with 16:01 left in the first half.

Dotson with the steal and bucket. #kubball pic.twitter.com/HYB9ZJRygk

— We good? (@gifhawk) November 22, 2018

• Up next: Kansas will take on No. 5 Tennessee in the finals of the NIT Season Tip-Off at 8 p.m. Friday.