Dec. 22, 2004

Box Score

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Second-ranked Kansas made nine of its final 12 free throw attempts to hold of a gritty effort by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and claim a 73-62 win Wednesday night in the Yellow Book Shootout at Kemper Arena.

The Jayhawks (8-0) needed every one of those free throws, as the Panthers (6-3) held them without a field goal for the final 8:21 of the game and were as close as seven points in the final 76 seconds.

Ed McCants regained his shooting touch in leading UWM with a career-high 26 points, while Adrian Tigert added 13 points and nine rebounds.

Keith Langford led the Jayhawks with 21 points, but Kansas could never shake UWM in a spirited contest played in front of 17,843.

"We played better. I thought our kids battled and played hard," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Kansas was beatable tonight. They're a very good basketball team and they're well-coached. They survived us. It was one we could have gotten."

The Jayhawks used a late first-half run to grab a 42-29 halftime lead and a Langford three on the first possession of the half made it 45-29. But UWM quickly responded, scoring 13 of the next 16 points to pull within 48-42 with 16:05 to play and it was a game the rest of the way.

UWM had opportunities to get even closer than six points down the stretch as the Panthers, who held Kansas to just 36 percent shooting in the second half, consistently stymied the Jayhawk attack. UWM had the ball down seven with five minutes to play but missed three tries at the basket.

McCants, who had struggled from the field in his previous four games, knocked down three-straight three-points shots at one juncture and wound up 6-of-12 for the night, giving the Panthers a much needed offensive spark.

"I didn't get very many open looks," McCants said. "I was more focused tonight. It has been too long since I have been playing up to my potential. Tonight, I tried to take things in stride and step up. I have always had the confidence -- the shots just have not been falling. Hopefully, I can continue where I left off tonight."

UWM returns to action next Thursday, wrapping up a six-game road trip with a contest at Manhattan.