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Dominant Second Half For the Kansas Jayhawks
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- Dominant Second Half For the Kansas Jayhawks
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
The Kansas Jayhawks opened their regular season with an impressive 95-65 victory over Fordham Rams on Monday night, using a dominant second-half performance to pull away from the Rams and start the season 1-0.
Kansas entered halftime with a 43-31 lead, but the Jayhawks had plenty of room to improve after struggling at the free-throw line during the opening 20 minutes. The offense was productive from the field, while the defense made things difficult for Fordham throughout the first half.
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Tre White led all scorers at the break with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Kansas shot 53% from the field and 41% from three-point range in the first half. However, the Jayhawks left points at the free-throw line, converting just eight of their 15 attempts.
Defensively, Kansas held Fordham to only 31% shooting from the field. The Jayhawks used their size and athleticism to make it difficult for the Rams to find consistent offensive opportunities, helping build a 12-point halftime advantage.
The second half was where Kansas separated itself.
The Jayhawks came out with significantly more energy and put together a 19-3 run over a five-minute stretch. That scoring burst helped turn a competitive game into a comfortable Kansas lead and left Fordham struggling to keep pace.
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Kansas continued to find success offensively, finishing the night shooting 58% from the field. The Jayhawks also knocked down 36% of their three-point attempts and finished with 16 made free throws on 30 attempts. While the free-throw shooting remains an area to improve, the overall offensive production was enough to help Kansas reach 95 points.
White finished as the game's leading scorer with 22 points, shooting an outstanding 9-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. His efficiency and ability to score from multiple areas of the floor helped lead the Jayhawks throughout the night.
Tyran Stokes and Leroy Blyden Jr. also finished with 15 points apiece. Stokes shot 5-of-7 from the field, while Blyden Jr. connected on six of his nine attempts and knocked down two three-pointers.
Kansas also made an impact defensively, finishing with six blocks compared to Fordham's one. Keanu Dawes led the Jayhawks on the glass with nine rebounds, helping Kansas control the interior and limit second-chance opportunities.
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The Kansas Athletics basketball page will have additional coverage and updates as the season continues.
Overall, the Jayhawks showed what their offense can look like when multiple players are contributing and the defense is creating opportunities. The second-half run was especially encouraging, demonstrating how quickly Kansas can take control when it puts together stops and efficient possessions.
Kansas will look to carry that momentum into Friday night when it faces Middle Tennessee. After opening the season with a convincing 30-point win, the Jayhawks will have another opportunity to build chemistry and continue improving. JayhawksRoundtable .
