KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Kansas sophomore David McCormack, who had scored 16 points total in the Jayhawks' last three games, certainly found Sprint Center's rims to his liking on Saturday.
The 6-foot-10, 265-pound forward from Norfolk, Va., exploded for 16 points the first half _ a career-high 28 points for the game on 11-of-14 shooting _ as the No. 2-ranked Jayhawks slugged UMKC, 98-57, and positioned themselves for a possible No. 1 ranking in Monday's AP poll.
Devon Dotson tallied 18 points and Marcus Garrett 13 for the Jayhawks, who will soon learn if they snare the top spot in the poll for the first time since week six of last season. No. 1 Louisville lost to Texas Tech on Tuesday in New York. No. 3 Ohio State (9-0) plays at Minnesota on Sunday.
UMKC, which committed 22 turnovers, was led by Marvin Nesbitt and Javan White who each had 12 points. KU's Udoka Azubuike (nine points) was 4 for 4 from the field and now has made 15 straight shots over three games, one off KU's record of 16 straight makes by Greg Dreiling over multiple games in 1986. Silvio De Sousa also had nine points for KU on Saturday.
KU has won nine straight games since a season-opening loss to Duke.
On Saturday, McCormack, who played just 17 total minutes, erupted for 14 of KU's final 20 points of the first half as KU led 43-24 at the break over the Kangaroos (5-7) of the Western Athletic Conference.
McCormack scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed five rebounds in 11 minutes as KU opened up a half-high lead of 21 points with 30 seconds left in the frame. He then opened the second half with 10 of KU's first 20 points. His previous career high was 18 points vs. Oklahoma on March 5, 2019.
Dotson had 10 points the first half on 4-of-9 shooting. Garrett had eight points and three assists in the half and Azubuike five points, three blocks and three rebounds.
UMKC's Nesbitt swished three 3-pointers and scored nine points in the half for the 'Roos, who committed 15 turnovers. Brandon McKissick had five points but four turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
KU opened the game with some full-court pressure and led 6-0 at 18:31 and 10-4 at 15:47. Azubuike and Garrett had three points and McCormack and Dotson two points in the early going.
UMKC used a 9-0 run to grab a 13-10 lead at 11:55. Zion Williams had four points, Nesbitt three and Jordan Giles two.
At that point, it was time for a 13-0 KU run to make it 23-13 KU at 6:50.
Enaruna scored an inside shot followed by an Azubuike slam off a lob from Garrett. Garrett then hit a 3, Dotson a two, Garrett two free throws and Dotson two charities.
KU extended the run to 17-3 and 25-9 and led 35-22 at 3:23. At that point of the game, UMKC's Nesbitt had three 3-pointers and nine of the Roos' points.
KU, which enters final exam week, will meet Villanova at 11 a.m., Central time, Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia. UMKC will play host to Toledo at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Swinney Center.
