KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Kansas' basketball players capped final exam week by passing a stern test provided by mid-major Davidson on Saturday night at the Sprint Center.
The Jayhawks (10-1), who had their practice time reduced the past several days because of classroom responsibilities, survived the Wildcats, 89-71, in front of an announced crowd of 17,820. Davidson fell to 5-4 on the season.
The Wildcats, who defeated KU 80-74 on Dec 19, 2011, at the Sprint Center, again came ready to play after a narrow 83-74 loss to North Carolina in Davidson's last game on Dec. 7.
However, KU had several outstanding performances to finally subdue the Wildcats, who led by one point at halftime and five points early in the second half.
Frank Mason and Josh Jackson both scored 18 points for KU, while Svi Mykhailiuk had 13 and Devonte Graham added 10. Jackson, Landen Lucas and Carlton Bragg, who returned from a one-game suspension, all had eight rebounds. Mason had seven assists and six boards.
Davidson hit 7 of 16 3s in the first half to KU's none in eight tries and led 43-42 at the break. The Wildcats cashed two quick 3s in the final half and had converted nine to KU's none in leading 49-44 with 18:26 left.
KU finally got a pair of 3s from Jackson and Mason after missing its first 11 and used an 8-0 run to regain a 52-49 lead with 15:39 left. The Jayhawks had led by as many as 12 points (29-17) in the initial half.
The Jayhawks used a 10-2 run to bust a 58-58 tie and open a 68-60 lead at 8:02. The run continued to 18-4, and KU led 78-62 at the 5:18 mark.
Bragg hit three of four free throws in the run, while Mykhailiuk hit a 3, Lucas converted a lob pass and Mason hit two free throws.
Forward Peyton Aldridge (22 points) hit three treys in the first half and scored 11 points, while forward Nathan Ekwu had eight, including a shot to beat the halftime buzzer and give Davidson the slim lead. Standout guard Jack Gibbs (12 points) hit two threes in the first half and had seven points.
KU, which made 48.7 percent of its shots the first half despite its three-point woes, was led by Jackson and Graham, who had eight points apiece.
The Jayhawks used a 9-0 run to turn a 9-8 deficit into a 17-9 lead with 13:28 left in the first half. Mason scored three points, Graham had two, Udoka Azubuike added two off a nice feed from Graham and Mitch Lightfoot scored two off a nice pass from Mason in the run.
KU used a 12-3 run to turn a 17-14 lead into a comfy 12-point advantage at 29-17with 9:31 left in the half. Mykhailiuk, who started in place of Lagerald Vick, had four points, as did Jackson and Landen Lucas.
Kansas' 29-17 lead turned into a 38-37 deficit following a 21-8 Davidson run.
Kansas will next take on UNLV Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The game completes a home-and-home contract with the Runnin' Rebels. KU defeated UNLV 76-61 on Jan. 4, 2015, at Allen Fieldhouse.
