With the win, Kansas improved to 28-5 overall, while dropping Iowa State to 22-11 and pushing them once again to on the bubble status for the NCAA tournament.

Freshman forward Perry Ellis provided his best game of the season with 23 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes for the Jayhawks. Elijah Johnson and Jeff Withey both added 14 points, while Ben McLemore scored 10. Reserve guard Naadir Tharpe provided eight points and eight assists. The Cyclones were keyed by Georges Niang and Melvin Ejim who combined for 36 points.

Kansas broke open a close game with a 20-8 run to start the second half. After Tharpe connected on a lay-up, Kansas held a 55-39 lead. Iowa State managed to cut the lead under 10 points two times the rest of the way, though couldn’t get any closer then nine points. Iowa State was held to 40 % shooting and 27 % from behind the three-point line.

Kansas now awaits the winner of tonight’s nightcap between Oklahoma State and Kansas State for an opponent in tomorrow’s conference championship game.

Don’t forget to like us on facebook @ through the phog

Mar 15, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Perry Ellis (34) dunks the ball in the second half of the game against the Iowa State Cyclones during the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament at the Sprint Center. Kansas won 88-73. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa State came back from a 14-point deficit on Thursday to knock off Oklahoma. Kansas was in control throughout the way vs Texas Tech. These two teams have met twice this season, with both contests needing extra time. The Jayhawks managed to pull away in both overtimes, winning 97-89 on Jan. 6th, and 108-96 on Feb. 25th. One thing for certain, these two teams score lots of points, when they face-off.

Forward Melvin Ejim had a great game on Thursday, scoring 23 points for Iowa State. Head coach Fred Hoiberg, will be looking for more from the junior forward on Friday. Will Clyburn is the team’s leading scorer, averaging over 15 points per game. Korie Luscious is the team’s top assists man, averaging about six per contest.

Mar 14, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Melvin Ejim (3) and the team faces Kansas once again on Friday.  Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Guard Elijah Johnson, was on fire the last time these two teams faced off, scoring 39 points. The senior guard helped head coach Bill Self earn his 500th, career win. Now the Jayhawks want more, as they battle Iowa State once again.

Don’t forget to like us on facebook @ through the phog

Feb 25, 2013; Ames IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Korie Lucious (13) is defended by Kansas Jayhawks player Kevin Young (40) in the first half at Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

On Monday night in Ames, Iowa, the Kansas Jayhawks won a tightly contested game, 108-96 in overtime. Senior guard Elijah Johnson led the way with one of his best games at Kansas, scoring 39 points.

Johnson hit six three-pointers, in connecting on 13-22 field goals to go along with seven assists and five rebounds. Jeff Withey added 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Travis Releford scored 19 points. Kevin Young scored 13 points to go with nine boards.  The win improved Kansas to 24-4 overall and 12-3 in Big 12 conference action, Iowa State falls to 19-9 and 9-6 in conference.

Kansas stole control in overtime, cruising to an 100-92 lead after Johnson hit a three-pointer. Iowa State managed to cut the lead in half to four points at 100-96, only to have Kansas fight it off in scoring the last eight points, including a thunderous dunk by Johnson to cap the game’s scoring.

Iowa State stole an early lead after Georges Niang drained a three-pointer putting the home-team ahead 14-7. Kansas fought back right away, tying the game on Young’s tip-in at 14. From that point, the rest of the first half went back and forth, with neither team holding much of an lead. Kansas held a 41-40 lead at halftime thanks to Naadir Tharpe’s lay-up before time a few seconds before time expired.

The second half saw Kansas steal control right away, going ahead 48-42 after a made field goal by Young. Iowa State battled back, taking the lead once again at 56-55 after Chris Babb hit a three-pointer.

Things went back and forth once again, until the Cyclones thanks to a thre-pointer from Korie Luscious went ahead 79-72 at the 5:17 mark. Kansas cut the lead down to two points with just over three minutes left, but Iowa State went back into control after Niang drained another three-pointer with 47 seconds left, putting Iowa State ahead by five, 87-82. Kansas guard Johnson, not to be out-done calmly hit a three-pointer cutting to two at 87-85 with 32 seconds left. Luscious hit two free throws only for Johnson once again to hit a triple, making it 89-88 with 11 seconds left. Luscious got fouled and hit one free throw, leaving the door wide open for Kansas and Johnson, who after missing a shot, drained two free throws, pushing the game to overtime at a 90-90 tie.

Luscious led Iowa State with 23 points, while Tyrus McGee added 22 points off the bench. Niang scored 15 points and Will Clyburn scored 16.

Next up for Kansas is West Virginia on Saturday in Lawrence.

Don’t forget to like us on facebook @ through the phog