LAWRENCE, Kan. _ Kansas, which led by as many as 18 points in the first half and 12 at halftime, looked as if it might roll to a blowout victory over East Tennessee State of the Southern Conference on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Not so fast.
The Jayhawks, who were up by 13 points with 14:03 to go, saw the lead dip to five late before steadying the ship in a 75-63 victory over the Buccaneers.
Udoka Azubuike scored 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting (1 of 4 from the free throw line) _ 11 the final half _ and Devon Dotson added 19 points and six assists as the No. 4-ranked Jayhawks survived a cold-shooting night from 3-point range (1 of 14 to the Bucs' 9 of 30) to knock off the team to picked to win the SoCon.
Marcus Garrett added 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three of KU's 14 steals as KU won its second game against a Southern Conference team in 11 days. KU beat UNC Greensboro by 12 points, also in Allen. Greensboro was tabbed second in the conference preseason poll.
This game was billed as a mainland game in the 2019 Maui Invitational.
Chances are KU will have a much easier time with first-round foe Chaminade next Monday than the Buccaneers on Tuesday night.
KU led by five, 61-56, at 5:46.
But Garrett hit two free throws at 5:28, Silvio De Sousa dunked and Dotson followed with two free throws with under four minutes left and the Jayhawks managed to hike their lead to a comfy double figures, 67-56.
KU was not threatened in the final two minutes.
Tristan Enaruna had four points, four rebounds, four steals and four assists for KU.
Dotson scored 13 points and dished five assists against three turnovers while playing 18 minutes as KU led, 43-31, at halftime. The Jayhawks had led by as many as 18 points (31-13) in the opening session.
Also, Azubuike had 10 points and six boards and Enaruna three of KU's eight first-half steals.
ETSU was led by guard Bo Hodges, who had 22 points.
Hodges had 13 point, five rebounds and two steals while also playing 18 minutes in the half for the Buccaneers (3-1), who are the No. 2-ranked team in the country in the collegeinsider.com mid-major poll.
KU missed 8 of 9 3s the first half and ETSU clanged 8 of 11.
KU, which led, 9-8, at 15:31, went on an 18-2 run that opened a 27-10 lead at 9:11. The run extended to 22-5 and KU led, 31-13, at 7:40.
Dotson had six of KU's first 10 points and eight overall in the 22-5 run. Enaruna and Agbaji had four points apiece.
Down 31-13, ETSU surged, 11-4, to cut the gap to 11 points at 35-24 at 4:39. Lucas N'Guessan had a bucket and Tray Boyd a 3 to open the run. Hodges then scored ETSU's next six points as the gap began to close.
Azubuike scored four points and Garrett two as KU led, 41-26, at 1:40. But by half, thanks in part to a layup that beat the buzzer by Hodges, the Jayhawks led by just 12 at halftime.
It was down to nine points, 45-36, with 16:27 left. Isaiah Moss hit two free throws and Azubuike, after bricking two free throws, dunked and it was 49-36 KU at 14:03.
Dotson committed his third foul with KU up by 11 (47-36) at 15:09. He returned at 12:10 with KU up by 10 (49-39).
It was down to 51-44 at 9:40. And it was 53-47 at 8:51. And it was 56-50 at 7:41. Azubuike dunked at 7:24 to make it 58-50 KU. He hit a free throw to make it 59-50.
