KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) – Ochai Agbaji tried to convince everyone who listened that he didn’t stop by UTEP for a showdown with Missouri.
The grin he tried to hide gave him away.
Still, the highest-scored Kansas security guard kept his focus long enough to score 23 points Tuesday night and helped the Jayhawks in eighth rank in their final vote on a 78-52 committee for the return of the border war Miners to roll.
“I know the rivalry. I know the border war, ”said Agbaji. “It means a lot to me because I grew up on the Missouri side and understand their perspective on KU. Now at the KU I just know that they hate each other. “
There was no such contempt for UTEP, although the Jayhawks did not treat their visitors kindly.
Christian Braun scored 20 points, David McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot each had eight points as the Jayhawks (7-1) built a 21-point lead by the break at the T-Mobile Center and never looked back in any of their most dominant performances of the season.
“Ochai plays really well and like I said last game, I’m just feeding him,” said Braun. “Especially early, he was on the move. This is Ochai. We no longer have to wonder or think that he’s on a little run. That’s how he will be. “
Souley Boom had 18 points and Keonte Kennedy 11 for UTEP (4-4), which the Jayhawks famously beat during their national title run, immortalized in the 1966 film “Glory Road”. The Miners also beat Kansas to hit the Sweet 16 in 1992.
Such a story had little meaning on Tuesday night.
The Jayhawks, the team with the nation’s sixth-highest goalscoring, immediately showed they can play a bit of defense, forcing UTEP to miss their first six shots and four losses before Boum knocked down a 3-pointer.
By then, the Jayhawks had a 10-point lead and weren’t looking back. They forced a series of ball losses – one time four out of five possessions – and most of them turned into layups at the other end. When Kansas was forced to go on the offensive, all it had to do was find Braun cutting the net or posting McCormack for a simple lay-in or dunk.
“They’re a well-rehearsed basketball team and sometimes they can really question you,” said UTEP head coach Jeremy Cox. “You are extremely talented, extremely well trained. You have a good pace. I didn’t enjoy watching and watching a team get into anything more than this. They are worth the price of admission to see them. “
The Miners played most of the game without starting PG Jamal Bieniemy, who collided with Kevin Kalu when both attempted a loose ball midway through the first half.
The Jayhawks eventually led 42:21 at halftime and then drove the rest of the way into Saturday’s showdown.
Kansas and Missouri began playing in 1907 but have not spoken together other than a hurricane relief exhibit since the Tigers left the Jayhawks and the rest of the Big 12 for SEC fortune. In their last game, Kansas bounced down from 19 to win at Allen Fieldhouse on February 25, 2012.
The Jayhawks and Tigers were supposed to start their six-game series last year, but it’s been postponed until this year because of the pandemic. Their soccer teams have since decided to play a set of four games starting in 2025.
“I assume there won’t be a lot of vacancies,” said Kansas coach Bill Self. “It’s the best game on our schedule. You can talk about Kentucky or Texas or Baylor – this is the best game on our schedule, at least in terms of fan and player participation. “
“T” ME UP
Self got a technical foul 9:44 minutes back and his team led 58-39. He took offense when the official Amy Bonner pronounced a foul on Jalen Wilson in a fight for a rebound. Self clapped sarcastically after the “T” was given.
TAKE AWAY
UTEP: Had been competitive in his first three losses with a total of 21 points, but the Miners were down 7 1/2 minutes in the first half on Tuesday night. Even so, they even played against the Jayhawks for most of the second half.
Kansas: Got sloppy on the offensive after the break, especially the quick break. That was pretty much the only mistake in what may have been the Jayhawks’ best defensive performance of the season so far.
NEXT
UTEP: Head to The Pit to play in New Mexico on Sunday.
Kansas: Welcome to Missouri Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
