EditorsNote: re-sending to change home team designation; Edit 2: Tweaks throughout
Sophomore forward David McCormack established his career scoring high early in the second half and went on to record 28 points Saturday as No. 2 Kansas scorched Kansas City 98-57 in Kansas City, Mo.
Although McCormack has started all but one game as part of a high-low look in the post, the Jayhawks (9-1) have often found more rhythm with a four-guard system.
Against Kansas City, however, McCormack dominated underneath and from mid-range, going 11 of 14 from the field, while adding seven rebounds.
With the win, Kansas is poised to jump to No. 1 after top-ranked Louisville suffered an upset loss earlier in the week against Texas Tech.
The Big 12's leading scorer, sophomore point guard Devon Dotson, added 18 points for the Jayhawks, who made their first nine shots in the second half after leading by 19 at halftime. Kansas shot 57.6 percent.
Kansas City (5-7) played in its hometown's largest arena, Sprint Center, for the first time since the building opened in 2007.
That may have inspired a crisp start for the Kangaroos, who used nine straight points to post a 13-10 edge at the 11:52 mark of the first half.
Kansas, however, denied that challenge, boosting its homecourt win streak to 27. The matchup counted as a home contest for the Jayhawks, even though they have lost more games this decade at Sprint Center (eight) than they have in their campus home, Allen Fieldhouse (seven).
The Jayhawks responded to the Roos' early lead with a 13-0 spurt and scored 12 unanswered points late in the first half to claim a 43-24 advantage at the break.
Senior guard Marvin Nesbitt Jr. paced Kansas City with 12 points, but the Roos committed a whopping 22 turnovers -- with just 22 made field goals -- while attempting to solve the man-to-man pressure applied by the taller Jayhawks.
Senior forward Javan White, a Clemson transfer, came in as the Roos' leading scorer and rebounder but missed his first seven shots before also finishing with 12 points. Kansas City played without one starter, senior guard Jahshire Hardnett (foot).
--Field Level Media
