National Basketball Association
Kansas 73, Saint Louis 59
When: 9:30 PM ET, Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Where: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Officials:
# Terry Davis, # Kipp Kissinger, # Mike Stuart
Attendance:
10315
By SportsDirect Inc.
No. 11 Kansas 73, Saint Louis 59: Jeff Withey tied his career high with 25 points and blocked six shots to lead the Jayhawks to a win in the championship game of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City.
Travis Releford had 21 of his 23 points in the first half for the Jayhawks (4-1), who led wire-to-wire in winning their third straight game and claiming the tournament title for the first time.
Cody Ellis helped the Billikens (2-2) stay in it by scoring 16 of his 19 points after halftime. Mike McCall Jr. added 13 points and Dwayne Evans hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Jayhawks led by as many as 18 points in the first half, but a 3-pointer by McCall pulled Saint Louis within 11 only seconds into the second half. Releford was held scoreless after the break until his dunk with 4:49 left put Kansas up 65-51.
Ellis made consecutive 3-pointers to pull the Billikens to within nine points with 3:52 to play, but Withey responded with a three-point play and a dunk to spark a decisive 8-0 surge in the closing minutes.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Already without their leading scorer from last season, Kwamain Mitchell (foot), Saint Louis played much of the second half without starting guard Jordair Jett, who had a groin issue. ... Releford was 4-for-6 from long range in the first half. No other Jayhawk even attempted a 3-pointer until the second half. ... Kansas owns a 13-3 series advantage.
Top Game Performances
Saint Louis |
|
Kansas |
Cody Ellis 19 |
Scoring |
Jeff Withey 25 |
Mike McCall Jr. 3 |
Assists |
Elijah Johnson 9 |
Dwayne Evans 11 |
Rebounds |
Kevin Young 8 |
Mike McCall Jr. 5 |
Free Throws Made |
Jeff Withey 11 |
Jordair Jett 1 |
Steals |
Jamari Traylor 2 |
Cory Remekun 2 |
Blocks |
Jeff Withey 7 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Saint Louis
|
59 |
34.6 |
10-26 |
13-17 |
9 |
29 |
2 |
1 |
12 |
Kansas
|
73 |
45.3 |
7-13 |
18-22 |
17 |
33 |
9 |
8 |
9 |