LAWRENCE, Kan. — Harvard on Sunday was forced to cancel Wednesday’s regularly scheduled nonconference men’s basketball game at No. 6 Kansas because of COVID-19 issues within the Ivy League program.
No huge deal … the Jayhawks arranged a replacement game with mid-major Nevada on Monday. Then, on Wednesday night, thanks in part to 22 points by Christian Braun, 16 by Ochai Agbaji and a career-high 14 points (with five assists) from Dajuan Harris, KU upended the Mountain West’s Wolf Pack, 88-61, at Allen Fieldhouse.
“We’re just rolling with it. Whatever game is scheduled, we are focused on that,” senior guard Agbaji said before taking the court. “We’re focusing on stuff we can control.”
Agbaji had a remarkable windmill dunk near the end of the first half of the Jayhawks’ first game in 11 days. David McCormack contributed 14 points and six rebounds and Jalen Wilson had seven points and 10 rebounds for KU (10-1), which returned to Lawrence from its four-day Christmas break on Sunday.
The squad had endured a wasted trip to Colorado before Christmas vacation: The Buffs canceled last Tuesday’s game in Boulder two hours before its scheduled tipoff because of COVID-19 concerns.
Nevada (6-5) was led by Desmond Cambridge and former Wichita State Shocker Grant Sherfield, with 16 points apiece.
KU forced 16 turnovers during the first half in claiming a 39-27 lead after 20 minutes. The Jayhawks led by as many as 14 before halftime. The Wolf Pack finished with 21 turnovers.
Braun, who had 11 of KU’s first 19 points, scored 14 on 6-of-9 shooting in the initial half. Agbaji had nine points on 4-of-6 shooting with seven rebounds and three steals. David McCormack had six points and Remy Martin four in the first half.
Cambridge scored 13 points and Sherfield nine in the first half for Nevada, which hit five 3-pointers in 12 attempts to KU’s four in seven tries before intermission.
KU came out strong, forcing four turnovers in the first 3 1/2 minutes and grabbing a 12-3 lead. Braun had six quick points for the Jayhawks.
Coach Bill Self had said before the game that Wednesday night’s matchup marked Nevada coach and former Indiana Hoosiers standout Steve Alford’s first visit to Allen Fieldhouse. Alford was whistled for a technical foul with 15:49 left and KU up 49-36.
He thought Sherfield was fouled on a bucket inside. Braun hit both technical foul free throws awarded from the infraction.
KU will meet George Mason at 4 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. George Mason replaces the Jayhawks’ initial Saturday opponent, TCU, which pulled out of the game becaue of COVID-19 issues.
