College Basketball Roundup : Kansas Defeats South Alabama in OT

South Alabama Coach Mike Hanks said his team’s 90-81 overtime loss to Kansas at Mobile, Ala., Friday night was disappointing but not disheartening.

“We played hard and got into position to win the game, and I’ve got to be happy we did that,” Hanks said. At the same time, when you come so close, it’s disappointing to lose,” Hanks said.

With 7-foot-1 Greg Dreiling at center and 6-foot-11 freshman Danny Manning at forward for Kansas, South Alabama’s normally strong inside game was neutralized. Kansas is ranked 10th in the Associated Press poll and ninth by United Press International.

Dreiling scored 30 points, including four free throws in the overtime period after South Alabama’s Dexter Shouse sank two foul shots to tie the score, 77-77, at the end of regulation.

Kansas is 12-2. South Alabama is 9-5.

SMU 73, Texas A&M; 60--SMU Coach Dave Bliss and his Mustangs had a goal to meet before they face North Carolina in a nationally televised contest Sunday. They met it.

After defeating Texas A&M; Friday night in a Southwest Conference matchup, Bliss revealed that the Mustangs had discussed their aims following a loss to Chaminade at Hawaii over the Christmas holidays.

“We sat down and talked about our first four conference games as a four-game season and how good it would be to go into the North Carolina TV game undefeated,” Bliss said.

But it took some top-caliber play to make the plan work, as Texas A&M; gave the Mustangs a run for their money.

Jon Koncak, SMU’s 7-foot Olympian, ignited a late rally as the Mustangs ran off 12 unanswered points to break open a tight game en route to victory.

SMU (13-1, 4-0) was nursing a 56-54 lead with 5:56 remaining when Koncak scored a field goal and two free throws. Kevin Lewis and Koncak hit field goals, Butch Moore made two free throws, and Carl Wright hit from outside to put the Mustangs ahead, 68-56, with 1:17 remaining.

Wright lead the Mustangs with 17 points while Koncak added 16 and Moore 14.

Kennie Brown scored 15 of his game-high 21 points for the Aggies, 9-5 overall and 1-2 in SWC play.

SMU is ranked third by UPI and fourth by AP.