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Agbaji scores 18 to lead No. 5 Kansas to 95-50 rout of Omaha
Credit: Kansas Jayhawks (kuathletics.com)

Agbaji scores 18 to lead No. 5 Kansas to 95-50 rout of Omaha

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Ochai Agbaji scored 18 points to lead four players in double figures, helping fifth-ranked Kansas roll to a 95-50 win over Omaha on Friday night in the Jayhawks’ final tune-up before beginning Big 12 play.

Mitch Lightfoot had a career-best 14 points, David McCormack had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Tyon Grant-Foster added 13 points off the bench as the Jayhawks (6-1) cruised to their 12th consecutive win at Allen Fieldhouse.

They largely cruised from the opening minute, unlike their last time out, when coach Bill Self’s crew needed Creighton’s best player to miss a free throw in the final seconds to avoid going to overtime with the No. 8 Bluejays.

Wanjang Tut scored 14 points and Jadin Booth had 11 to lead the Mavericks (2-5). Leading scorer Matt Pile was held to six points on 2-for-7 shooting while dealing with foul trouble for much of the game.

The Jayhawks opened it with 5 spectacular minutes, knocking down 3-pointers and getting easy buckets at the rim while forcing Omaha to miss its first nine shots. By the time they substituted at the under-16 media timeout, the five starters led by Agbaji and Jalen Wilson had given Kansas a 17-0 lead.

Five miserable minutes followed in which the Jayhawks went 1 for 8 from the floor, turned the ball over on three straight possessions and allowed the Mavericks to turn their massive deficit into a 10-point game.

Back came the starters and back came the blowout. The Jayhawks ran off another 10 consecutive points, and this time they didn’t stop when the backups checked back into the game. Lightfoot established a new career high when his 3-pointer in the closing seconds gave Kansas a 45-22 advantage heading into the locker room.

The lead soon stretched 69-34 midway through the second half before the Jayhawks began to substitute liberally.

COVID-19 CANCELLATION

The Jayhawks were supposed to conclude their five-game homestand against Tarleton State on Sunday, but a positive test within the Division I newcomer Friday caused its cancellation.

BIG PICTURE

Omaha fared about as well as it did against Creighton, which routed the Mavericks 94-67 earlier this month. In both games they lacked the size and athleticism to hang around with an opponent that has national title aspirations.

Kansas is still trying to sort out its rotation heading into Big 12 play. The first five were set and Lightfoot has had a few good games in a row, but there’s a vacuum beyond those six. Freshman guard Bryce Thompson has the most upside and Foster-Grant has flashed some much-needed scoring punch.

UP NEXT

The Mavericks visit Wyoming on Wednesday night. The Jayhawks begin Big 12 play Thursday night at No. 17 Texas Tech.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25