Texas and Big 12 Capsules: Top-ranked Kansas stifles sinking Texas 80-68

AUSTIN — Kansas gave Texas a lesson in not only what it takes to get to No. 1, but how to stay there.

It started with a big early run and a rally-killing finish as the top-ranked Jayhawks beat No. 14 Texas 80-68 on Monday night, easily handling a team that a few weeks ago was supposed to challenge them for the Big 12 title.

"Going into the season, we were ranked one and they were two," said Marcus Morris, who overcame dislocating his right ring finger in the first half to lead Kansas with 18 points. "We circled this game on our calendars. We were ready from day one to play this game."

It showed as Kansas (23-1, 9-0) outmuscled and outhustled Texas (19-5, 5-4) in just about every way.

Kansas, No. 1 for the second straight week after three weeks out of the top spot, outrebounded a physical Texas lineup 45-34, held the Longhorns to 37 percent shooting and scored 27 points off 17 turnovers.

And when Texas finally staged a late rally, Kansas slammed the door behind senior point guard Sherron Collins, who had 15 points, five assists, four steals and made several key plays down the stretch.

When the final seconds finally ticked off, Collins punctuated the win by slamming the ball down hard with a yell, bouncing it high in the air.

"We've put ourselves in pretty favorable position (in the Big 12)," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "Somebody can get hot and run the table, but it puts pressure on us to keep playing."

It's better than favorable as every other team in the league has at least three losses.

Texas seemed game for a good one until a 22-0 Kansas run in the first half seized momentum and took the buzz out of the raucous home crowd. The Longhorns never recovered and the team that a month ago looked like a national title contender now simply looks lost.

Texas started the season 17-0 to earn the first No. 1 ranking in school history in early January, but has since lost five of its last seven.

Kansas was No. 1 in the preseason poll and for the first eight weeks of the regular season before its only loss, at Tennessee.

Freshman J'Covan Brown led Texas with 28 points, scoring most of them in a late burst that cut Kansas' lead under 10 late before Tyshawn Taylor made two free throws. Collins then bulled through two defenders to fire a sharp pass to Tyrel Reed for a layup that ended the rally.

Damion James had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Texas but as has been the case in Texas' previous losses, he was the only reliable scorer when the game was close.

Texas tried to muscle up Kansas by inserting forward Gary Johnson into the staring lineup for the first time. But his 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting couldn't make a difference.

Texas led 14-11 early before Markieff Morris' long 3-pointer started Kansas' big run that left the Longhorns looking bewildered at both ends of the court.

Collins zipped a pass to Marcus Morris and he made a nifty grab in a dead sprint for a layup. Taylor made a 3-pointer before two Texas turnovers led to easy Jayhawks baskets. Collins' long 3-pointer from the left wing made it 30-14.

Texas went scoreless for more than 11 minutes and missed 12 straight shots before James banked in a 3-pointer. Kansas led 34-24 at halftime.

"I didn't know what was happening. It happened so fast," James said of Kansas' run. "They showed why they are No. 1 team in country. If we want to be there we have to watch this game and see what we can do to make things happen."

Kansas opened the second half with an alley-oop pass from Collins to Xavier Henry and the Jayhawks' stifling defense continued to force wild shots and turnovers.

When Texas guard Dogus Balbay mishandled the ball in the backcourt, all his teammates had already run to the other end. With four Jayhawks under the basket, Collins coolly tossed it to Marcus Morris for an empathic two-handed dunk and a 50-34 lead.

Everything seemed to be working for Kansas at that point. Brady Morningstar stroked a 3-pointer and Collins spun through the lane for a behind-the-the back pass to Cole Aldrich for a dunk. Even a botched alley-oop pass to Marcus Morris worked when the ball bounced right back to him on the other side of the basket for an easy putback.

"We were terrible on offense for long periods of time, and we helped them," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "You go back, 27 points off turnovers. That's been the biggest killer in us for every game."

Rice gets past Texas A&M-International 73-66

Nearly every team from the Sunflower and Lone Star states seems intent on making a run for the Big 12 title, making for a crowd along with the Jayhawks and Longhorns.

The one with the inside shot at surprising everyone is Texas A&M, which has won three straight and five of six. The surging Aggies (17-6, 6-3 Big 12) opened this week tied with No. 9 Kansas State for second place in the conference.

Texas, ranked 14th just three weeks after being No. 1 in the nation, was tied for third on Monday and No. 24 Baylor — picked 10th in the preseason poll — was fourth along with Oklahoma.

Top-ranked Kansas and Kansas State have lived up to lofty preseason expectations, but there is a surprisingly strong Lone Star feel to the 2009-10 season. Texas Tech (15-7, 3-5) is the only Texas team under .500 in the league — and the Red Raiders spent five weeks in the Top 25 this season.

"There's a lot of talent in Texas and the surrounding area, and I think the schools have been able to keep that talent close to home," Baylor coach Scott Drew said.

Homegrown stars like Donald Sloan and Bryan Davis were among the reasons Texas A&M was expected to be a factor in the Big 12 race this season. It seemed a stretch, though, to believe the Aggies had a legitimate shot at challenging for the league crown. But here they are after a grueling overtime loss to the Longhorns in Austin on Jan. 16.

Coach Mark Turgeon told his players after the game that he believed they were still a good team — and they've been playing like one ever since. Texas A&M took advantage of having four home games out of six by winning them all at Reed Arena, and followed a close win at Missouri by beating Baylor 78-71 on Saturday.

With home games against both Kansas and Texas later this month, Texas A&M could have a major say in who wins the league crown.

"We're executing offensively better. We're shooting a higher percentage, we're figuring out different ways to score," Turgeon said. "We've done the little things in close games to win, and I think that's kind of been the difference."

Baylor (17-5, 4-4) has been bolstered by Michigan transfer Ekpe Udoh, who has developed into one of the nation's top frontcourt players with 14.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and more than four blocks a game. Guards LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter are also having career years for the Bears.

Baylor's 84-63 win over Iowa State last week was their first as a Top 25 team in February since 1969. Although the Bears slipped to 24th after Saturday's loss, they could be a dangerous opponent in the Big 12 tournament and beyond.

"You look at our record and you say '4-4, that's an average record.' But in the Big 12 this year, that's not a bad record," Drew said.

For all the talk about the surge of the Big 12's Texas teams, though, the two top-ranked teams in the league call the Sunflower State home.

Kansas State moved up one spot in the Top 25 after impressive road wins at Nebraska and Iowa State. Coach Frank Martin isn't too excited about that — after all, rival Kansas is No. 1 and could run away with yet another league title.

"To me, it doesn't mean anything. I mean, I'm proud of our guys, I'm proud of the fact that we were able to get through a week 2-0 in the Big 12," Martin said. "For the state of Kansas, for K-Staters, it's important."

-- Luke Meredith

Two OU baskeball players cited for shoplifting

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma freshmen basketball players Andrew Fitzgerald and Steven Pledger were cited for shoplifting at a department store in Norman, just hours after the Sooners upset Texas on Saturday.