Senior guard Frank Mason led the Jayhawks once again as they dominated UNC Asheville 95-57 to improve to 5-1 at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday night. KU never trailed, as the team cruised to its 5th straight victory after the season-opening overtime loss to Indiana.
KU finished with four players in double figures including freshmen Udoka Azubuike and Josh Jackson. Mason continues to be the leader of the team as he finished with a game-high 21 points, finishing a perfect 5-5 from beyond the 3-point line.
Ahmad Thomas and Kevin Vannatta each had 12 points to lead the Bulldogs.
After struggling to rebound the basketball early in the season, the Jayhawks finally worked out some of the kinks against UNC Asheville. KU finished with a +26 rebounding margin. Sophomore guard LaGerald Vick led the Jayhawks with 9 rebounds. Vick also shot 6-7 from the floor and scored 15 points in his best game of the season.
KU shot a season-high 62.3% from the field to go along with 13-21 from the 3-point line. 3-pointers had been another area in which KU had underperformed through the first five games, but that changed quickly against UNCA; however, both teams shot poorly from the free-throw line. The Jayhawks’ free-throw shooting woes continued, as they finished 37.5% from the line. UNCA hardly shot better, as they finished 45.5%.
KU committed a season-low 15 fouls, and it was the first time this season the Jayhawk big men mostly avoided getting into foul trouble.
KU will return to action in Allen Fieldhouse at 7 pm on Tuesday night against Long Beach State.
Follow us on Twitter:
KJHK – @kjhk
KJHK Sports – @KJHKsports
Nick Springer – @NickSpringer29
Feature Photo:
Andrea Torres – @andreamarriie
Contact us:
sports@kjhk.org