Kansas Rallies Past a Reeling Missouri

Two picture-perfect one-handed lobs by Aaron Miles set up easy baskets by Christian Moody and J.R. Giddens, and all of a sudden there seemed little doubt that No. 3-ranked Kansas would rally to beat Missouri.

Giddens’ basket gave Kansas a nine-point lead -- after trailing by eight at halftime -- got the crowd screaming and sent the Jayhawks rolling to a 73-61 victory Monday night at Lawrence, Kan.

“I was sitting on the bench, but I was yelling my lungs out,” said Wayne Simien, who had 22 points and eight rebounds. “That was huge.”

Kansas, 17-1 overall and 7-0 in the Big 12 Conference, shot 70% in the first 15 minutes 30 seconds of the second half and handed the reeling Tigers (10-11, 2-6) their seventh loss in eight games.

Embattled Coach Quin Snyder, who got the job six years ago over Bill Self when the Kansas coach was at Tulsa, fell to 3-10 against the Jayhawks and 0-7 against Self. But Snyder refused to discuss the criticism he is drawing from Missouri fans.

“Ultimately, I am accountable,” he said. “But I have to focus on the team.”

Miles, the Big 12’s career assists leader, had 14 points and 10 assists.

No. 16 Pittsburgh 86, Providence 66 -- Chris Taft scored a career-high 25 points and Carl Krauser adeptly ran the host Panthers’ fastbreak and played one of his best games on defense this season.

Krauser had 19 points, nine assists and two steals and helped shut out point guard Dwight Brewington for nearly 32 minutes. Brewington, averaging 18.5 points in his last four games, had eight points but didn’t score until Pittsburgh (15-3, 5-2) led by 21, at 66-45 in the Big East game. Ryan Gomes scored 24 points for the Friars (9-11, 0-7).

No. 21 Utah 72, Brigham Young 58 -- Andrew Bogut had 20 points and nine rebounds, and the Utes (18-3) defeated the Cougars (7-14) at Provo, Utah.