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Rush, Chalmers lead Kansas past Colorado

Jan 27, 2007 - 11:16 PM LAWRENCE, Kansas (Ticker) -- Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers helped Kansas continue its home dominance this season.

Rush and Chalmers each scored 21 points to lead the eighth-ranked Jayhawks to a 97-74 victory over Colorado in Big 12 play.

It was the 12th win in 13 games for Kansas (18-3, 5-1 Big 12) at Allen Fieldhouse this season, with its only loss coming against Oral Roberts on November 15.

The Jayhawks led by five midway through the first half before going on a 16-6 run capped by Russell Robinson's 3-pointer that extended the lead to 31-16 with 8:38 to play. They went to the break with a 47-34 advantage.

"Our defense was getting to them and we were causing them (Colorado) to force stuff," Chalmers said. "I think anytime a team gets out of their comfort zone they are going to make a lot of turnovers and I think we did a good job of getting them out of their comfort zone."

Robinson scored 12 points and Sherron Collins added 11 for Kansas, which shot 55 percent (35-of-63), including 11-of-17 from 3-point range.

Kansas continued its onslaught over the final 20 minutes, using a 10-1 spurt that gave the Jayhawks a 73-55 bulge with 9:38 to play.

"At times we looked good offensively, but I don't think defensively we ever guarded well," Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. "I thought our four perimeter players played well. That's about as well as they've played collectively all year long. I thought Chalmers and Rush got us off to a good start. Russell (Robinson) attacked and made shots. Sherron (Collins) has to play more than 19 minutes, because he's playing as well as anybody.

"We did some good things, but it still wasn't a great performance. Our defense was nonexistent for periods and certainly our big guys didn't rebound."

Richard Roby netted 30 points for the Buffaloes (5-12, 1-6), who shot 44 percent (24-of-54) from the field.

"I knew that my game was going to come," Roby said. "I've been working hard every day and trying to stay positive. It has been tough mentally, but it is making me a much stronger person and basketball player. We would go on spurts in the game and then they would go on bigger spurts.

"When you are down, you cannot let other teams go on runs. You have to shut them down and get stops."