First half

•  Key play: Elijah Johnson hit a jumper with 10:39 left that ignited an 18-0 KU run.

•  Key stat: Richmond made just seven of its 27 shots in the first half.

Second half

•  Key play: Jeff Withey had a steal and an assist in the first minute of the half as KU took a 41-18 lead.

•  Key stat: Sophomore guard Naadir Tharpe was four for four from the field.

Withey passes Pollard

Senior center Jeff Withey blocked four shots during Tuesday’s victory, surpassing former KU center Scot Pollard for fifth on Kansas’ all-time list. Withey entered the night with 215 career blocks, three behind Pollard, who sat on the baseline Tuesday while doing color commentary for a local Lawrence broadcast.

Withey now trails Eric Chenowith (242), Nick Collison (243), Cole Aldrich (253) and the school leader Greg Ostertag (258).

“I think Jeff is a great player,” Pollard said. “He’s really come into his own, and doing what we’ve all wanted Jeff to do for years. And I wish him success. And I think he’s got a chance at (the record).”

Withey added 17 points and 13 rebounds to go along with his four blocks. Pollard, who had a lengthy NBA career after leaving Kansas, said he thinks Withey can carve out a long pro career as well.

“The one thing he can do,” Pollard said, “is be 7-foot-tall. And as we know, in the last few years, Jayhawks have been getting drafted and not playing a whole lot because their height has been exposed. Well, Jeff’s height cannot be exposed.”

• Kansas received solid production from its rotating trio in the front court. Kevin Young, Perry Ellis and Jamari Traylor combined for 18 points and 13 rebounds. But KU coach Bill Self said he was still a little concerned with Traylor and Ellis’ rebounding. Traylor, who had two points, had four rebounds in 13 minutes, while Ellis, who scored eight points, had zero rebounds in 16 minutes.

“Jamari and Perry don’t rebound the ball,” Self said. “Perry gets 16 minutes and gets zero (rebounds), but he’s our best scorer in there. There’s definitely some areas for those guys to improve on.”

• Freshman walk-on guard Evan Manning, the son of KU great Danny Manning, entered in the second half and recorded his first points as a Jayhawk. Father and son have now combined for 2,953 points in a KU uniform.