KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Perry Ellis scored 21 points, Frank Mason III added 16 and top-ranked Kansas ran roughshod over tired Kansas State, 85-63, on Thursday in the quarterfinals in the Big 12 Tournament.
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If the Bears (22-10) are to get their third victory against the Jayhawks in their last four conference tournament meetings (dating back to 2009) they will need similar contribution from their seniors.
The Wildcats used an 8-0 run after trailing 23-11 to get back within four points. He collected 6 rebounds in the win.
Kansas guards Devonte’ Graham (4) and Tyler Self, left, celebrate at a timeout during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 conference tournament in Kansas Cit.
The Jayhawks shot 57 percent in the winning effort and dominated the majority of the game.
Kansas: Carlton Bragg had a career-high 12 points.
It’s Kansas’ 12th appearance in the title game in the 20-year history of the tournament.
Kansas still led most of the first half, but began playing more like Baylor for the final 13 minutes of the first half and the two teams actually flipped roles midway through the half, with KU dipping below 40 percent shooting and Baylor finishing the half at 41.7 percent. But the senior guard didn’t get almost as much help as he had in a first-round victory over Oklahoma State.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow saying that right now after I know this game meant so much to us, but for them to – for me to say they out worked us is tough”, head coach Shaka Smart said.
– It might have been sloppy for a while, but the minute the Kansas University men’s basketball team flipped the switch, it turned into a highlight show at Sprint Center. But I thought the second half, the first 10 or 15 minutes, I thought we played really well.
Ellis scored eight early second-half points as the Jayhawks scored on their first five possessions. Baylor is 11-7 against Texas since snapping a 24-game losing streak in the rivalry.
The Mountaineers play Kansas in the title game Saturday. The Longhorns had won three of their last four, with their lone loss to Kansas.
IL 68, NO. 20 IOWA 66: In Indianapolis, Jalen Coleman-Lands scored 17 points and Malcolm Hill broke a tie with a 16-foot jumper with 1:14 to go, helping IL fend off Iowa’s frantic comeback for a stunning upset in the Big Ten Tournament.
Baylor: Motley finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. They got another chance when West Virginia’s Jonathan Holton could only make the second of two free throws, and they quickly got the ball in the hands of the Big 12 player of the year.
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Tyler Davis scored 15 points, had three blocks and pulled down eight rebounds, and Alex Caruso made several big plays down the stretch as Texas A&M survived a poor shooting day due to a 12-7 edge on turnovers.
