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Rush, Kansas cruise past Missouri

Feb 5, 2008 - 5:42 AM LAWRENCE, Kansas (Ticker) -- Kansas used a balanced attack to make sure that Missouri would not pull off a second straight stunner in the Big 12 Conference.

Brandon Rush led five players in double figures with 19 points and Mario Chalmers added 15 as fifth-ranked Kansas remained unbeaten at home with a 90-71 victory over Missouri on Monday.

The Jayhawks (22-1, 7-1 Big 12) improved to 16-0 at the Phog Allen Fieldhouse this season, and outrebounded the Tigers, 48-25, en route to their second straight win since their lone loss to Kansas State last Tuesday.

"We played well considering we were playing in foul trouble," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "We dominated the glass, we had balance, we shared the ball and I thought we played very well offensively."

The Tigers (13-10, 3-5) were coming off a 77-74 victory against Kansas State on Saturday, but never led in this one as the Jayhawks were in control throughout.

"I thought it was a quick turnaround for our basketball team," Missouri coach Mike Anderson said. "You can see the injury level, all those loose balls, especially in the second half, we were having trouble with those but you have to give credit to Kansas. They came out and established tempo and they used their size."

The game was close for the first seven minutes before Kansas started to create some separation midway through the first half, using a 7-0 spurt to take a 25-17 lead with 10:38 left in the half.

Kansas' lead gradually continued to grow - to as many as 14 - before the Jayhawks took a 45-33 advantage into the locker room at the break.

The Tigers cut their deficit to nine early in the second half, but Russell Robinson's 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from Chalmers helped Kansas regain control at 50-36 with 18:16 remaining.

Missouri could get no closer than 11 the rest of the way as Darrell Arthur scored six straight points to give Kansas a 64-47 advantage with 11:14 left. The Jayhawks led by as many as 81-56 with 5:28 to play.

"They were a lot quicker to the ball," Anderson said. "There were some situations where we had position and we just didn't come up with it. At times, their size was to their advantage."

Arthur finished with 13 points in 14 minutes of action, while Sherron Collins and Sasha Kaun each scored 12 off the bench for the Jayhawks, who have won nine straight home meetings against Missouri.

"The shots were definitely falling tonight," Kaun said. "When Darrell went down with foul trouble, it really takes away your depth so you have to try and play a little bit better."

Sophomore Keon Lawrence had a career-high 25 points to pace the Tigers, who have lost five of their last seven games.