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Friday, Nov. 26 12:00pm ET
Jayhawks hope third time's the charm | |||||
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ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Every time the Kansas Jayhawks have come to the Great Alaska Shootout, they've made it into the championship game. For once they would like to win it. The Jayhawks (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 AP) gave themselves a third chance Friday, overcoming a shaky start to smack Xavier 111-70 with double-digit scoring by six players. Georgia Tech advanced to the final behind Jason Collier's 22 points in an 82-65 victory over Washington. Kansas lost championship games in 1984 (to Alabama-Birmingham) and 1988 (Seton Hall). This time they will have to overcome Georgia Tech's version of the Twin Towers, the 7-foot Collier and 6-11 Alvin Jones. The Jayhawks have a 7-footer of their own, but Eric Chenowith hasn't had the impact of Collier, averaging only 8.5 points and four rebounds in the tournament. Chenowith was still in the game late even with Kansas up by 40 points. "We were trying to get some more positive things for Eric...give him a little more confidence," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "We realize that they (Georgia Tech) do have great size inside," Williams said of Saturday's championship. "We've got to be able to compete with them on the backboards." The Jayhawks competed very well on the boards Friday, outrebounding Xavier 51-26. Kansas didn't need much from Chenowith on Friday thanks to strong bench play and a willingness to share the ball. The Jayhawks had trouble with Xavier's press in the early going, turning the ball over and falling behind 12-4. But reserves, led by Luke Axtell, came off the bench to score 22 points in the first half and put Kansas in control. Jeff Boschee led the Jayhawks with 16, followed by Kenny Gregory with 15, Axtell and Nick Bradford with 14, Chenowith with 11 and Ashante Johnson 10. The Jayhawks set a tournament record by handing out 36 assists, tying the school record. Maurice McAfee led Xavier (2-1) with 16, but he scored only two in the second half. Lloyd Price added 15. Tech's Collier, a 7-foot senior, was simply too much for the smaller Huskies. Collier dominated inside and when Washington managed to clog the middle, he popped out to nail several medium-range jumpers. "In high school I was 6-6 and playing the forward position, so I'm used to playing outside," Collier said. He also was a force on the defensive end, grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking a shot. "He played well, but he needs to more patient," said Tech coach Bobby Cremins. "We'll keep working him outside and inside." Washington will play Xavier for third place Saturday. In consolation play, Alaska Anchorage found its shooting touch and blew by Grambling 104-85. The Division II Seawolves, after shooting just 32 percent from the field in the opening round, sank 12 3-pointers and led the entire game. Alaska Anchorage will meet the Louisville Cardinals, who blasted Georgia 85-62 in the other consolation game. Six-foot-8 senior guard Tony Williams led all scorers with a career-high 28 points, including 19 in the first half, when he keyed a 16-3 run that blew the game open for Louisville (1-2). Anthony Evans scored 16 for the Bulldogs (0-3), who will play Grambling for seventh. | ALSO SEE Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
AUDIO/VIDEO   Lloyd Price drives past Nick Bradford for two.avi: 609 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Nick Colllison goes up for the dunk.avi: 588 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 | |||||