Kansas Hands Texas Tech Another Drubbing

[March 04, 2008]  LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- Russell Robinson's 15 points led No. 5 Kansas in a 109-51 thrashing of Texas Tech on Monday night, the second time in three games the Red Raiders suffered the most lopsided loss in school history.

Texas Tech (16-13, 7-8 Big 12) -- and rookie coach Pat Knight -- lost 98-54 at Texas A&M last week, then the biggest loss in school history. In between the record losses, the Red Raiders upset then-No. 5 Texas 83-80, one of the program's biggest wins in several seasons.

For Kansas (27-3, 12-3), it was the biggest win in a conference game in that program's storied history.

All but one of the 16 players in uniform for Kansas scored as coach Bill Self, obviously displeased at humiliating Knight and his team, hustled every available player onto the court in the final 6 minutes.

The victory gave Kansas a 20-0 record at home, the 14th time the Jayhawks have been unbeaten in tradition-soaked 53-year-old Allen Fieldhouse.

The rout began taking on historic proportions with about 10 minutes left when Jeremy Case, a little-used senior making his final appearance on Senior Night, hit a 3-pointer that made it 80-36.

As Self sat on the bench looking gloomy, Case drilled two more 3-pointers and Cole Aldrich rebounded a miss and hit a hook shot, making it 88-38 with 8:11 left and bringing a thunderous, sustained roar from the sellout crowd.

Knight, who took over when his father, Bob, unexpectedly stepped down on Feb. 4, sat back in his chair, arms folded dejectedly, as Rodrick Stewart canned another 3 for a 91-38 lead.

Six Jayhawks scored in double figures.

Martin Zeno had 19 points for Texas Tech and John Roberson added 15.

The Jayhawks, who pride themselves on being one of the most balanced teams in the country, had 51 points in the first half without anyone reaching double figures.

They got off to a ragged start, with Brandon Rush throwing up two straight air balls on 3-point attempts, but finally found their rhythm and went on a 10-0 run, capped by Aldrich's basket that made it 30-26.

After Roberson hit two uncontested 3-pointers over an uncharacteristic Kansas zone, the Jayhawks called time out and then unleashed a 17-2 run and went into halftime with a 51-26 lead.

Sherron Collins had 13 points in the historic win for Kansas, while Mario Chalmers and Aldrich both had 11 and Jackson and Sasha Kaun had 10 each.

The five seniors -- Case, Jackson, Kaun, Robinson and Stewart -- are 108-23 and going for their fourth straight Big 12 championship.

[Associated Press; By DOUG TUCKER]

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