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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Jalen Wilson scored a career-high 33 points and No. 6 Kansas survived a close contest against Southern Utah, hanging on for an 82-76 victory on Friday night.
Wilson set a career best for a second straight game after scoring 25 points in the Jayhawks’ 69-64 win over No. 7 Duke in Indianapolis on Tuesday night. The Thunderbirds (3-2) hung with Kansas (4-0) until the final minute at Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks had their biggest lead of the game, 77-69, with 2:11 remaining. Southern Utah responded with a 7-0 run, including five straight points by Tevian Jones, to get within one point with 1:03 left.
Gradey Dick’s 3-pointer with 40.6 seconds remaining made it 80-76 and Southern Utah didn’t make another basket.
Norm Roberts coached his final game for Kansas in place of Bill Self, who served the last of his school-imposed four-game suspension stemming from recruiting violations first uncovered in a federal investigation.
Jones scored 25 points for Southern Utah, Maizen Fausett added 14 and Harrison Butler had 12.
The Jayhawks got 18 points from Dick and 14 from Dajuan Harris Jr.
Southern Utah out-rebounded Kansas 45-41, including 14-6 on the offensive glass. The Thunderbirds hit four of their first seven 3-point attempts to build a 22-16 lead in the first half. Wilson had the final two baskets before halftime to give the Jayhawks a 41-39 edge.
THE TAKEAWAY
Southern Utah: The Thunderbirds were not intimidated. They answered every early Kansas run and led in the final minute of the first half.
Kansas: The Jayhawks are going to want another scorer besides Wilson and Dick. The duo scored 27 of the team’s 41 points in the first half and finished with 51 of the Jayhawks’ 82.
UP NEXT
Southern Utah: Heads to the Islands. The Thunderbirds will face Texas State next Friday in the opening round of the North Shore Classic in Laie, Hawaii.
Kansas: Plays North Carolina State Wednesday in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
