Kansas Jayhawks crush Missouri Tigers as Border War returns to Allen Fieldhouse
Kansas, which entered Saturday’s Border War battle against Missouri as an overwhelming 22-point favorite, did indeed tame the Tigers, 102-65, in the return of the rivalry at Allen Fieldhouse after a nine-year hiatus.
KU senior guard Ochai Agbaji, a native of Kansas City, scored 21 points, while sophomore point guard Dajuan Harris, who happens to be a native of Columbia, Missouri, hit three three-pointers and tied a career high with 13 points as the No. 8-ranked Jayhawks (8-1), who sizzled in making 55.9% of their shots, prevailed in the first game between the old rivals since the 2011-12 season.
Christian Braun scored 13 points, while David McCormack contributed 11 points and seven rebounds and Remy Martin 10 points with five assists for KU, which in dropping MU to 5-5 on the season, won its 14th consecutive game versus the Tigers in Lawrence.
Javon Pickett scored 19 points, while and DaJuan Gordon and Trevon Brazile added 10 each and Sean Durugordon 11 for Mizzou, which was trying to win its first game in Allen Fieldhouse since the 1998-99 season when Norm Stewart coached the Tigers. MU forward Kobe Brown was held to five points points and six rebounds.
Instead, Bill Self improved to 10-0 against MU in Allen.
According to the KU media guide, it was KU’s most lopsided win in the series since a 47-point win by the Jayhawks over the Tigers in 1977 in Kansas City..
The Jayhawks improved to 174-95 versus MU, which next season will play host to Kansas in the second game of the teams’ six-year, six-game series.
The two teams had last played during the 2011-12 season, splitting a pair of epic games prior to the Tigers exiting the Big 12 for the SEC.
Agbaji scored 13 points, while Braun and Harris scored 10 for KU as the Jayhawks, despite a 15-point early onslaught from MU’s Pickett, led 49-27 at halftime on Saturday.
Missouri, which had hit 2 of 19 threes in its last two games, hit 3 of its first 4 and was 3 of 6 from three at the half. KU hit 6 of 11 threes the first 20 minutes. KU finished the game 14 of 27 from three; MU, meanwhile, was 5 of 16.
MU head coach Cuonzo Martin was hit with a technical foul with 8 minutes, 41 seconds left in the half and KU up 30-21.
He was upset KU’s Jalen Coleman-Lands ripped the ball from Jordan Wilmore down low with no foul called. Agbaji, however, missed both free throws and MU was not hurt by the technical foul. KU, though, did score two points on the ensuing inbounds possession on two Martin free throws.
KU grabbed a 17-point lead (42-25) with 4:02 left in the half following three spectacular plays, a dunk by Braun and left-handed layup by Harris following a nice pass from Braun and another bucket by Harris.
The Jayhawks were supported by several ex-KU players who sat behind the KU bench. On hand were Tyshawn Taylor, Sherron Collins, Tyrel Reed, Jamari Traylor among others.
Game two of the resumed Border War series will be held next season at Mizzou Arena, where KU is 5-4 in the 19-year Self era. KU is 10-0 in Allen versus MU under Self and 1-0 in Dallas.
Game three will be back in Allen Fieldhouse during the 2023-24 season. Game four will be at Mizzou Arena in 2024-25. The series will conclude with games in T-Mobile Center in 2025-26 and 2026-27.
The four-game football series between KU and MU will begin on Sept. 6 2025 at Missouri. It will continue Sept. 12, 2026 in Lawrence; Sept. 6, 2031 at Missouri and Sept. 11, 2032 in Lawrence.
This story was originally published December 11, 2021 at 4:41 PM.
