2:14 2nd Half - KANSAS 70, UNLV 54
*Wink Adams is 13 of 15 from the free throw line after a couple more makes. He had 23 in all. Robinson (13) and Chalmers (12) are the only Jayhawks in double figures. 11 and 12 come on a pair of free throws here... 63-49. Collins breaks free for any easy lay-up. 65-49.
*Robinson tagged with his fourth foul. Someone other than Wink goes to the line for UNLV. Matt Shaw hits them both 65-51. Arthur answers. Lead is 16. Rush finds an opening and cans a three from straight-away. Up to 19. Rebs finally snap their cold spell with a Terry trey (first points of the second half).
*Two minutes away from Detroit.
5:09 2nd Half - KANSAS 61, UNLV 47
*Chalmers takes it strong - nearly threw down a dunk over Rougeau (a guy he's giving up about five inches on). Tired UNLV legs are having a much harder time staying in front of their men. KU's guards are having a lot of success slashing here in the latter part of the second half.
*UNLV misses another three. They're actually shooting worse here in the second than they did in the first. Overall percentage is down to 28%. And falling after another miss (4/20 from three). This would be a much different game if they were hitting. Remember Chris Terry? He led the Rebs with nine in the first half. He's yet to attempt a shot in the second.
7:33 2nd Half - KANSAS 60, UNLV 46
*Collins uses a nifty screen from Shady to create some space on a 15-footer. 50-41 KU... Kaun picks up his fourth personal sending Wink back the line... again. Gets one of two this time. Chalmers wants a three. Chalmers doesn't get one. Arthur gets bumped and loses the ball out of bounds. No call.
*Moving pick against Darger on the other side. His 4th. That's a much bigger deal for UNLV than Sasha's was for KU. Depth is the difference. Robinson finally gets a trey to go down for the Hawks. 53-42.
*KU off an running (haven't seen nearly enough of that). Darger bumps Russell (understatement) to draw his fifth. In the words of legendary White Sox broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson: "He gone!" Russell gets one of two to give KU its biggest lead of the night 54-42. A big part of the reason why the Jayhawks haven't had much luck running is the fact that the Rebs are making it a point to stay out in front of the break. Watch when their shots go up on offense. Instead of crashing the boards for a putback, they're conceding the rebound and hustling back on defense.
*Collins drives for a lay-up. Lead is 13. This is the run UNLV was afraid of. Robinson accelerates to the bucket. The Omaha paper had a nice feature on Russell this morning, talking about how he made a conscious decision in the aftermath of that first round loss to Bradley two years ago - to stop looking for his own offense and start setting up teammates. The result: a 65-8 (about to be 66-8) record over the past two seasons.
*One of those teammates, Collins, busts loose for another lay-up, leaving his defender flat-footed. His knee looks just fine to me. Still 7:40 left, but this one is about over.
11:58 2nd Half - KANSAS 46, UNLV 41
*Slashing Sherron Collins beats the shot clock. Lead is at nine. Adams posting on Chalmers draws a foul. Good. Good. 46-39 KU. Arthur posting in between about four red jerseys. Misses the turnaround. UNLV is determined to make the Hawks beat them from outside. So far they haven't (4 of 17 from three).
*UNLV draws back within five on more Wink Adams free throw magic. He has 17 (7 of 8 from the line). Kansas has been in control for the most part, but the more you let the little guy hang around the easier it becomes for one or two big shots to make a difference.
14:33 2nd Half - KANSAS 44, UNLV 35
