Lubbock, TX – Kevin Young led a balanced attack with 14 points as No. 6 Kansas downed Texas Tech, 60-46, on Saturday.
Travis Releford and Jeff Withey added 12 points apiece for the Jayhawks (14-1, 2-0 Big 12), who have not lost since a 67-64 setback to Michigan State on Nov. 13.
Jamal Williams posted 11 points for the Red Raiders (8-6, 1-2), who have dropped two straight.
An early second-half burst allowed Kansas to take control for good.
Up by one, Withey kicked off a 12-0 run with a layup, followed by a bucket from Young. Releford added a shot off the break, then Young added back-to- back scores before Releford ended the surge with two free throws for a 41-28 contest.
"I was disappointed in our play in the first half. That's as miserable as an offensive team can play, I think," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "But I thought their defense was good, and they kind of punked us, without question, on the glass and being physical.
"We had to decide whether or not we want to be here or not. I thought the second half, though we didn't play great, I thought we played with more energy and played much better."
The Jayhawks eventually expanded their lead to 46-32 thanks to a Naadir Tharpe shot from beyond the arc with 9:36 to play, but the Raiders briefly counterpunched.
A three-pointer from Josh Gray pulled Texas Tech within nine at 46-37 just over a minute later -- but it was the last time the hosts saw their deficit in single digits -- then Withey began a 12-3 burst by hitting 1-of-2 from the line.
Tharpe again connected from long distance during this run, which ended on a Releford slam with 4:25 to play which gave the Jayhawks a 58-40 advantage.
The Raiders had nothing left in the tank for the remainder of the contest.
"In the second, half I felt like we got too comfortable, and they noticed we got comfortable, and that's when we took the first punch," Williams said.
Williams' basket provided the hosts with a 10-9 edge with just over six minutes played in the first half, but Withey's two from the line keyed an 8-0 run for the visitors.
Kader Tapsoba's layup pulled Texas Tech to 22-19, but Ben McLemore and Withey converted all four free-throw tries to extend Kansas' edge to seven as the clock ticked under four minutes left. The Red Raiders fought back before the end of the half, closing to 27-25 after Williams was fouled on a three-point try and made his free shots.
Game Notes
Kansas has won 22 of 27 meetings with Texas Tech and nine straight ... The Jayhawks produced 10 steals and forced the Red Raiders into 16 turnovers ... Dejan Kravic pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, helping Tech claim a slight 28-26 edge on the glass
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