LAWRENCE, Kan. _ It's been exceedingly difficult for visitors to defeat Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks had won 250 games and lost just 13 during the 17-year Bill Self era heading into Friday's encounter against UNC Greensboro.
Near impossible is the task of a KU opponent on opening night in the tradition-rich building ... as the Spartans of the Southern Conference discovered Friday.
The Jayhawks, behind the 22-point outing of Devon Dotson and 10-point, 10-rebound effort from Udoka Azubuike, stretched their home-opener win streak to 47 games by downing UNC Greensboro, 74-62, before the usual sellout of 16,300.
Senior guard Isaiah Moss, who had been slowed all season because of a hamstring injury, started the second half _ one in which he scored eight points _ as KU turned to a four-guard lineup in the final 20 minutes and bounced back from Tuesday's season-opening loss to Duke in New York.
Dotson also had eight rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes. Ochai Agbaji scored 13 points and Marcus Garrett 10 for the Jayhawks, whose victory appeared to be quite costly.
KU freshman wing Jalen Wilson injured his left leg in the first half and was helped to the locker room by trainers. He returned to the bench area with the use of crutches with 15 minutes, 13 seconds to play. His lower left leg was wrapped in a brace.
KU hit 45.8% of its shots and was 10 of 26 from 3-point range and 10 of 19 from the line. KU had 10 turnovers after committing 28 in the loss to Duke.
Dotson scored 14 points in the first half. He was 6 of 6 in the half from the free-throw line but his teammates were just 1 of 10 at intermission. Garrett added eight as the cold-shooting Jayhawks led by just four points at the break, 36-32.
Southern Conference preseason player of the year Isaiah Miller had 17 points in 14 minutes at halftime and finished with 19 points.
KU, which opened with two bigs and three guards, went to a four-guard lineup to start the final half and it paid off right away. Moss, who did not score in the first half, had eight points in a 20-6 run that stretched the lead to 56-38.
Dotson had four points, Tristan Enaruna and Agbaji three and Azubuike two during the Jayhawks' run.
KU junior guard Garrett was KU's only offense early. He hit two 3s and scored eight points as KU led 10-9 at the 12:36 mark. Greensboro trailed by just one point despite missing 10 of 14 shots and going 1 of 9 early from 3-point range.
KU led 13-9 at 11:24 only to see the Spartans gain the lead, 16-15, at the 10:31 mark. KU used a 6-0 run to grab a 29-24 lead at 2:41. Agbaji had three points and Enaruna three in the mini-run.
UNC Greensboro answered with a 6-2 run and KU led 31-30 with 1:44 remaining in the half. Miller and Kyrin Galloway had a three apiece. Dotson hit two free throws and a 3 to make it 36-30 with 55 seconds left; Miller scored one more basket to account for the halftime score.
Dotson hit 3 of 7 shots (2 of 4 3s) in the first half while Miller was 7 of 12 (2 of 4 beyond the arc). KU hit 41.4% from the floor in the first half, making just 5 of 14 3s and 7 of 16 free throws. Defense-minded UNC Greensboro hit 36.1% in the half. The Spartans were 5 of 19 from 3-point range and 1 of 5 from the line.
KU will meet Monmouth at 7 p.m. Friday at Allen.
