Nebraska Nebraska/Kansas Kansas Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

They swamped Nebraska 84-62 Wednesday night with so solid a defensive effort that about 13 minutes into the game the Cornhuskers had 11 turnovers and only nine points.

"I think in the first half that was about as good as we've played defense all year," said Kenny Gregory, who had 20 points and nine rebounds to help the Jayhawks (14-1, 3-0) take over first place in the Big 12.

"We wanted to send a statement. Everybody knows we're a great offensive team but we want people to know that our defense can also win games. Coach wants perfection. If he sees anything wrong, he lets us know."

Playing at home for the first time in 31 days, the Jayhawks were especially dominant in the first half, holding Nebraska to 30 percent shooting while forcing 14 turnovers. The Huskers wound up with 23 turnovers and shot 41 percent.

"Kansas got in position to force turnovers because their defense forces you to make choices," Nebraska coach Barry Collier said. "Most of our turnovers were forced. I think it is a great learning opportunity for us."

The Jayhawks triggered a deafening roar from their adoring sellout crowd by closing out the first half with a 12-2 run for a 38-20 lead.

Nebraska's Cary Cochran hit three straight 3-pointers midway through the second half, but the Cornhuskers (8-8, 1-2) could get no closer than 18 points as Kansas coach Roy Williams improved to 12-1 against Nebraska in Allen Fieldhouse.

"Cochran is a really good shooter," Williams said. "He was 9-for-17 from the 3-point line against us last year. In the second half, we didn't play nearly as well defensively. He had some wide-open looks."

When Kimani Ffriend made it 64-46 with two free throws at the 10:11 mark, the 6-foot-5 Gregory took charge. He completed a three-point play and then drove in for a dunk and got fouled again.

He rebounded his own miss on the free throw and got a basket on a finger roll, then Jeff Boschee drilled a 3-pointer to put the Jayhawks up by 25 points.

Not counting games on neutral floors, the Huskers have lost 17 straight road games.

"They really played well and I credit them," said Cochran, who wound up 5-for-8 from behind the 3-point arc and had a team-high 17 points. "They made their runs and got up big on us."

Drew Gooden had 17 points and Nick Collison added 16 for the Jayhawks, the only Big 12 team with an unbeaten conference record.

Ffriend had 14 for the Huskers and Steffon Bradford added 13.

Gooden got seven points in the 12-2 run at the end of the half, including a dunk that made it 34-18 and was followed by a soft-handed tip-in of Eric Chenowith's miss.

Late in the first half, Nebraska's Rodney Fields was called for throwing an elbow at Boschee, who then drew a technical for saying something to the official.

ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

Nebraska Clubhouse

Kansas Clubhouse

AUDIO/VIDEO
video
Kenny Gregory misses the runner, but Nick Collison is there with the follow-up slam.
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Eric Chenowith handles the inside pass and gets the hoop to go.
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Mario Kinsey steals the ball and goes the other way for the lay-in.
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Nebraska turns the ball over and Kenny Gregory finishes with a little showtime on the break.
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Kimani Ffriend slams home the alley-oop off the Nebraska inbound.
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