Kansas Jayhawks edge past Georgetown Hoyas 67-63: NCAA Basketball Recap
Georgetown Hoyas started their NCAA Basketball 2011 quest in style by collecting two massive victories over Savannah State Tigers and UNC Greensboro Spartans.
However they failed to extend their undefeated record and make it three out of three by losing against Kansas Jayhawks 67-63 in a nail-biter played at the Lahaina Civic Centre. Both teams were neck to neck with less than a minute
remaining in the game. Two free throws by Travis Releford in the dying seconds though took the game away from Hoyas and sealed it for Kansas.
Jayhawks Thomas Robinson, without a doubt, was the best player from the night and finished with game high 20 points including 6 for 10 from the free throw line and 7 for 14 from the paint. He was rock solid on the defence too and
pulled down 12 rebounds. Tyshan Taylor added 16 while Releford, who scored the most crucial points of the game also accumulated 10 points on a perfect shooting including 4 for 4 from the paint and 2 for 2 from the free throw line.
From Hoyas, Jason Clark scored 15 points and forced 5 rebounds. Hollis Thompson chipped in with his 14 whereas Otto Porter, who came off the bench late, added 12 on 5 for 9 from the floor.
Kansas started well and reeled off a 6-0 spurt to acquire an early lead however it was countered with a 7-2 run by Hoyas that not only helped them to cut the lead but got them ahead 12-9. Both teams displayed solid offense in the
next few minutes as scores were tied on two instances at 12 all and then later at 19 all. Elijah Johnson’s three in the 16th minute pushed Kansas ahead 29-26 but Hoyas did not led it swell further and finished the half with a three pointer by Greg
Whittington to enter the next half trailing behind by 32-29.
The second half was intense and neither team allowed their opponent to take complete control of the game; however Kansas always managed to stay slightly ahead. They maintained a significant lead throughout the half and that is
what helped them in the end. Although Jason Clark’s three pointers in the dying seconds again brought the scores close at 65-63, but thanks to Releford’s two free throws in the end that won Kansas a well deserved game.
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