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Selby's late heroics keep Kansas streaking at home

Dec 18, 2010 - 10:17 PM Lawrence, KS (Sports Network) - Josh Selby made a memorable Kansas debut, draining a go-ahead three-pointer late in regulation to lift the No. 3 Jayhawks past the pesky USC Trojans, 70-68.

Selby, a highly-touted recruit who was suspended for the first nine games as a result of accepting impermissible benefits, ended with 21 points, none bigger than his three coming off Marcus Morris's cross-court pass that gave Kansas a 69-68 lead with 24.2 seconds showing.

Following the basket, Tyshawn Taylor blocked Maurice Jones' driving scoop out of bounds. Jio Fontan, also playing in his first game for USC, stepped out of bounds receiving the inbounds pass with 5.5 seconds to go.

Tyrel Reed was fouled with 4.2 ticks left and made the first free throw before missing the second, leading to a Jones heave from behind midcourt that caromed off the backboard, effectively sealing Kansas' school-record 65th consecutive win at Allen Fieldhouse.

"It was wonderful, just to be out there playing along with my teammates, playing for the fans and the coaches. It was a great environment," Selby said. "[USC] fought hard and never gave up, but we came out with the victory."

Markieff and Marcus Morris each scored 11 points to go with eight and seven rebounds, respectively, for the undefeated Jayhawks (10-0).

Donte Smith tallied 20 points for the Trojans (6-5), while Alex Stepheson chipped in 18 points and eight boards in defeat.

"We had our chances. We were a couple of offensive rebounds away from winning the game," USC head coach Kevin O'Neill said. "I wish we could have broken [Kansas' home winning] streak, but somebody will someday."

USC, looking for its first three-game winning streak of the season, took a 64-62 lead following Smith's fastbreak layup with 3:24 left.

Selby took the lead back with a make from behind the arc, only to have Smith answer with a three-pointer of his own with 2:19 on the clock.

The teams traded 1-for-2 efforts from the foul line and a pair of unsuccessful trips prior to the last-minute fireworks.

Kansas never trailed in the first half, using a 9-0 run just past the midway point to build a double-digit lead. Thomas Robinson's bucket with just over six minutes left resulted in a 27-13 cushion, and it was a 31-20 margin at the break.

Stepheson netted seven points during a back-and-forth opening five minutes of the second half, and his jumper cut USC's deficit to 41-34.

Several minutes later, the Trojans scored 11 consecutive points on just four possessions to take their first lead, 53-52. Fontan drained one from long range before converting a three-point play to start the flurry, which Smith capped with two free throws with 8:30 remaining.

It was a one-possession game from there.

Game Notes

Fontan, who transferred to USC from Fordham last year and was eligible for the first time on Saturday, scored 15 points but had five of USC's 16 turnovers...Nikola Vucevic contributed 13 points and eight rebounds for the Trojans...Robinson added 10 points and seven caroms for KU, which last lost in Allen Fieldhouse on February 3, 2007, against Texas A&M...Kansas leads the all-time series, 10-5, including wins in the last six meetings...USC continues on the road against nationally-ranked Tennessee on Tuesday...Kansas next visits the California Golden Bears on Wednesday.