Kansas Jayhawks hit century mark against second rival this season: KU 102, K-State 83
Ochai Agbaji walked out the doors of Allen Fieldhouse with his mom, Erica, and dad, Olofu, after Kansas’ 102-83 victory over Kansas State late Tuesday night feeling about the same as he did after a similar game back in December.
“The other rivalry we had this year we put up 102. In those two rivalries it’s like we’re ready to go,” Agbaji, KU’s 6-foot-5, 215-pound senior guard from Kansas City, Missouri told The Star after scoring 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting with seven rebounds and five assists against the Wildcats in 35 minutes.
The previous rivalry game he was talking about was KU’s 102-65 victory over Missouri on Dec. 11 in the fieldhouse. Agbaji hit five threes and had 21 points that day versus the Tigers.
“I think everything’s clicking in those rivalry games if you think about it. Putting up 100 against rivals is definitely fun,” Agbaji said with a smile.
He hit 4 of 6 threes and was 1 for 1 from the line on a night No. 5-ranked KU (23-4, 12-2) went 15 of 24 (62.5%) from beyond the arc to K-State’s 11 of 32 (34.4%).
Christian Braun scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting (3 of 4 from three), Jalen Wilson 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting (3 of 4 from three) and Mitch Lightfoot 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting with three rebounds as KU scored the second-most points by any team in the history of the Sunflower Showdown.
The 102 points trailed only the 103 points KU scored against K-State in a 103-68 home win over the Cats on Feb. 27, 2002.
“We like when teams push the pace with us because i don’t think any team in the country can play that fast with us,” Braun said. “We are a good team in transition, so when good teams want to play like that we will score 100.”
Jalen Coleman-Lands was 3 of 3 on three-pointers and Joseph Yesufu 2 for 3 from three good for nine points apiece off the bench.
Dajuan Harris had seven assists (and six points) as the Jayhawks totaled 23 assists to K-State’s 12.
“We’re happy with our performance obviously offensively,” said Agbaji, who Tuesday moved past Wilt Chamberlain into 26th place on KU’s all-time scoring list (1,444 points).
“That’s an honor to pass him, but I didn’t know (he accomplished the feat),” Agbaji said. “That’s just an honor.”
The Jayhawks, who led 53-43 at halftime, over a K-State team (14-13, 6-9) that had five players score in double figures (Markquis Nowell led the way with 20 points), put up some impressive numbers on offense.
KU’s 64.1 shooting percentage was the squad’s best since a 64.4% mark against Chaminade on Nov. 23, 2015. It was KU’s best shooting performance in a Big 12 game since a 66.0% outing versus Texas Tech in the 2013 Big 12 Tournament. It was best mark in a regular-season conference game since 66.0% against Oklahoma State on Feb. 27, 2005.
KU’s three-point shooting percentage of 62.5% was the Jayhawks’ best since hitting 63.2% versus Vermont on Nov. 12, 2018. It was KU’s finest shooting performance in a conference game since 68.8% against Texas on Feb. 29, 2016.
KU’s 15 threes were two off the school record in a conference game (17 against Texas on Dec. 29, 2017) and most in a game since hitting 16 versus West Virginia on Dec. 22, 2020.
“We played pretty well offensively. I mean we were cooking there for a while,” KU coach Bill Self said. “K-State played pretty well offensively. We couldn’t stop them and they couldn’t stop us there for a stretch.
“It was a good game — a game that had more pace to it than probably any game we’ve played this year and that was more so because of K-State. I think K-State did a lot to try and force the issue. I’m sure that Bruce (Weber, KSU coach) said, ‘Were going to go in there and shoot 35 threes and make 15 to 17 and have a chance.’ They were right on pace to do that for a while and finally the law of averages kind of prevailed for us,” Self stated.
Perhaps the only negative for KU was the fact power forward David McCormack scored just five points with three boards in 19 minutes.
“Dave wasn’t himself tonight and his foot was a little sore, so he wasn’t really effective,” Self said. Self has said McCormack’s surgically repaired foot does cause him pain from time to time.
“It’s hard to nitpick too much. I’m pleased. We were pretty good tonight. The ball moved offensively and guys stepped up and made shots,” Self assessed.
KU will meet Baylor at 7 p.m., Saturday in Waco, Texas. K-State will meet Iowa State at 1 p.m., Saturday, at Bramlage Coliseum.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 10:17 PM.
