MANHATTAN, Kan. (Kansas State Athletics) – No. 5/5 Kansas connected on better than 60 percent from the field in both halves, as the Jayhawks captured the 297th edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown with an 102-83 win on Tuesday night before a sold-out crowd of 16,300 at Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas (23-4, 12-2 Big 12) was simply spectacular on offense, connecting on 64.1 percent (41-of-64) from the field, including 62.5 percent (15-of-24) from 3-point range en route to posting just the second 100-point game in the series and the first since 2002. The 64.1 field goal percentage is the ninth-highest field goal percentage by an opponent in school history and the highest since Kentucky connected on 68.8 percent in 2008.
Four Jayhawks scored in double figures, including 20-point outings by the scoring duo of senior Ochai Agbaji (23 points) and junior Christian Braun (20 points), who accounted for 43 points on 17-of-25 shooting, including 7-of-10 from 3-point range. Sophomore Jalen Wilson added 17 points on 7-of-9 field goals.
Kansas broke open a competitive game midway through the second half, using an 11-2 run over a near 3-minute span to build a 20-point lead at 83-63 on a 3-pointer by senior Jalen Coleman-Lands with 9:20 to play. The lead grew to as many as 27 points (96-69) on a triple by Agbaji with 5:40 remaining.
K-State (14-13, 6-9 Big 12), which dropped its second straight after winning 4 of its last 5 games to start February, saw 5 players score in double figures for the first time in Big 12 play. Junior Markquis Nowell led the way with his third 20-point game of the season, including second in the last 3 games, scoring his 20 points on 8-of-15 field goals, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range, to go with a game-high 8 assists.
Three other Wildcats – fifth-year senior Mike McGuirl and sophomores Selton Miguel and Nijel Pack – each scored 13 points, while fifth-year Mark Smith nearly added to his Big 12-best double-double tally with 11 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.
It was the Wildcats’ third 80-point game of the season, including their first in Big 12 play, as the team connected on 47.1 percent (32-of-68) from the field, including 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from 3-point range. They have now scored 70 or more points in 6 of the last 7 games.
The Jayhawks have now won 16 straight at home in the series and 7 straight in the series.
