Men's Basketball Suffers 11-Point Loss at No. 5 Kansas

Saturday, January 27

Lawrence, Kan.

3:30 p.m.

Texas A&M

13-8, 2-6SEC

Kansas

17-4, 6-2Big 12

Texas A&M

Kansas

Photo by: Mike Gunnoe

Jan 27, 2018 | Men's Basketball

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By: Associated Press/Texas A&M Media Relations

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP)-- Svi Mykhailiuk poured in 24 points, Malik Newman added 15 and fifth-ranked Kansas built a big lead on Texas A&M in the first half before sustaining it most of the way in a 79-68 victory Saturday.

Lagerald Vick added 10 points, and Udoka Azubuike had a couple of rim-rattling dunks, as the Jayhawks (17-4) won their fourth straight in the Big 12-SEC Challenge and 10th in a row over the Aggies.

Tyler Davis had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead Texas A&M (13-8), which dug a 45-27 halftime hole and only managed to climb about halfway out of it over the final 20 minutes.

Robert Williams added 11 points, nine boards and four blocks for the Aggies.

Texas A&M's only win over Kansas in 22 tries came in 2007, when they were both in the Big 12.

The Jayhawks took control with a 10-0 run midway through the first half, stretching a 20-18 lead into a 30-18 advantage behind the kind of 3-point barrage that has become so common this season.

At one point, they had hit nine of their first 13 from beyond the arc.

Mykhailiuk had three in the first half, part of his 17 points in 17 minutes, as the Jayhawks shot 53 percent from the field and took a 45-27 lead into the break against one of the nation's best defenses.

Kansas kept the pace hot in the second half, creating run-outs every time the Aggies missed a shot -- and there were plenty of them. And even when they were forced to set up offense, the Jayhawks managed to get high percentage shots, including a rim-shaking dunk by Azubuike early on.

Azubuike had barreled through Davis before slamming it home, then straddled the Aggies' big man as he dropped back to the floor. He gave him a mean mug, too, that earned him a technical foul.

The Aggies finally clawed within 72-62 on free throws by Davis with 4:40 to go, but Marcus Garrett scored on a driving layup and Azubuike added a baby hook to restore the Jayhawks' advantage.

The Aggies never managed to get within single-digits down the stretch.

Postgame Notes

RECORDS / SERIES NOTES

Texas A&M fell to 13-8 on the season following a 79-68 loss to No. 5 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday during the Big 12-SEC Challenge.
The all-time series between the former Big 12 rivals now stands at 21-1 in favor of the Jayhawks.
With today's loss, Texas A&M is 1-3 in four showings during the Big 12-SEC Challenge.

TEAM NOTES

A&M is 2-3 vs. ranked teams this season, having carded wins over No. 11 West Virginia (Nov. 10 at Ramstein Air Base Germany) and No. 10 USC (Nov. 26 in Los Angeles) against losses vs. No. 21 Kentucky (Jan. 9 in Lexington), No. 24 Tennessee (Jan. 13 in Knoxville) and No. 5 Kansas (Jan. 27 in Lawrence).
Texas A&M trailed 45-27 at intermission before outscoring KU 41-34 during the second half.
A&M used the starting lineup combination of TJ Starks, Admon Gilder, DJ Hogg, Robert Williams and Tyler Davisfor the first time this season (0-1) … the grouping was A&M's ninth different starting lineup this season.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Texas A&M was led in scoring by junior center Tyler Davis, who finished with 18 points on 8-of-17 shooting … Davis fell just one rebound short of his fourth consecutive double-double, pulling down nine boards.
Sophomore forward Robert Williams was also just short of a double-double outing, ending play with 11 points and nine boards … the Oil City, La., native blocked a game-high four shots give him at total of 116 for his two-year A&M career, fifth most in school history
Freshman guard TJ Starks drew his first career start, producing 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in 25 minutes of action.
Aggie head coach Billy Kennedy fell to 128-93 during his seven-year tenure at Texas A&M and 339-272 in 20 seasons as a head coach.

UP NEXT

The Aggies return to SEC play on Tuesday night when the Aggies host Arkansas at Reed Arena ... the game will be televised on ESPNU and tip off at 8 p.m. (CT).