Kansas Overwhelms Niagara, 134-73

Raef La Frentz scored 27 points and Scot Pollard had 20 points as No. 1 Kansas stayed unbeaten, overwhelming Niagara 134-73 Thursday night.

Kansas (15-0) took a 69-39 lead at halftime and then made its first 11 shots of the second half before Billy Thomas missed a sot with little more than eight minutes to go.

Niagara (6-5) sent Kansas to the free throw line 52 times, with the Jayhawks making 38 to match a school record.

Kansas had endured through poor shooting nights in the last two games against Kansas State and Texas, but a collection of dunks and layups by LaFrentz and Pollard help the Jayhawks shoot 72 per cent.

Thomas came off the bench to make 17 points. Jerod Haase also had 17.

Jeff O’Connor and Chris Watson each had 15 points for Niagara.

With just over a minute left in the first half, the Jayhawks stole the ball on two straight trips by Niagara down the court. Nick Bradford streaked in for a dunk after the first steal, and Haase followed suit seconds later with a slam of his own for a 63-37 lead with 1:27 left in the half.

The Purple Eagles called time out, but it did no good as Kansas again stole the ball and Haase went down the court on another breakaway only to be intentionally fouled by Akbar Waheed.

Haase made one of the two free throws, and then hit a 3-pointer for a 67-37 lead wit 51 seconds left.

The half ended with yet another steal as T.J. Pugh tipped the ball away from Jermaine Young, Jacque Vaughn picked it up and hit Pugh for yet another breakaway dunk. It was the sixth-most points scored in a half in coach Roy Williams’ nine seasons.

The second half started with another breakaway by Haase on a pass from Jacque Vaughn.

Pollard and LaFrentz, who had 11 rebounds in coming off his worst game Monday against Texas, combined to dominate the inside and were frequently open or layups and dunks as the Jayhawks consistently beat Niagara down the court on fast breaks.

LaFrentz, who took heat from Williams on Monda after scoring one point and making three turnovers in the first half, scored 20 of his points from the first half.