COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : No. 1 Kansas Rises, Avoids Big Fall, 98-93

After 33 years of waiting, Kansas’ stay as the No. 1 team in the nation nearly ended in a matter of hours.

The top-ranked Jayhawks got a wake-up call early in the second half and rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat Nebraska, 98-93, in a Big Eight Conference opener Monday night at Lincoln, Neb.

Nebraska (6-6) took a 61-48 lead with 16 minutes left on Kelly Lively’s jump shot. But Kansas (16-0) responded with 12 consecutive points and took the lead for good, 82-81, on a pair of free throws by Jeff Gueldner with five minutes remaining.

The Cornhuskers didn’t fold when Kansas got back into the game, forcing ties, at 83-83 and 85-85, but went cold down the stretch, missing the front end of three free throw situations. Kansas stayed ahead by making 11 of 12 foul shots in the final three minutes.

Earlier in the day, the Jayhawks moved into the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press poll for the first time since Wilt Chamberlain’s sophomore season, 1956-57.

Kevin Pritchard scored 22 points, 18 in the second half, and Rick Calloway added 21, including 15 in the final 20 minutes for Kansas.

Gueldner finished with 15 for Kansas; Pekka Markkanen added 14 and Freeman West 13.

The Jayhawks won at Nebraska for the first time since 1985. The Cornhuskers won the last three times they played against top-ranked teams, defeating Missouri in 1982, Michigan in 1964 and Kansas State in 1958.

Carl Hayes had 13 points in the first half for Nebraska as the Cornhuskers opened a five-point lead midway through the opening period and led, 52-42, at halftime.

Ray Richardson had 18 points for Nebraska.

No. 13 Indiana 69, No. 3 Michigan 67--The Hoosiers held the Wolverines scoreless for seven minutes, overcame a 20-point deficit and pulled off a Big Ten Conference victory at Bloomington, Ind.

Lyndon Jones scored 14 points in the second half to lead the comeback.

Indiana (11-1, 1-1) scored 17 consecutive points as Michigan missed 11 consecutive shots and its only free throw. The Wolverines (10-2, 0-1) had won 10 consecutive games.

Mike Griffin’s basket gave Michigan a 64-52 lead with 7:58 remaining before the Hoosiers began their run.

A three-point shot by Jones, who scored 20 points, brought Indiana within 64-61 with 6:36 left, and the Hoosiers finished the run with eight consecutive free throws. Indiana, which trailed, 33-13, took the lead for the first time, 65-64, on two free throws by Calbert Cheaney with 2:21 left.

Two free throws by Greg Graham gave Indiana a 67-64 edge with 1:01 left and Jones made it 69-64 with 40 seconds left.

No. 2 Georgetown 87, Pittsburgh 71--Mark Tillmon scored 29 points at Pittsburgh to lead the Hoyas to their 12th consecutive victory.

Tillmon, who scored 39 points in Georgetown’s 93-91 victory over Providence on Saturday, had 20 in the first half for the Hoyas (12-0, 3-0).

The Panthers (5-8, 0-3), who lost their fourth consecutive game, had 22 points from Bobby Martin.

No. 14 Louisiana State 111, Tennessee 94--Chris Jackson scored 33 points and led a 14-2 run midway through the second half that powered the Tigers in a Southeastern Conference game at Baton Rouge, La.

Tennessee (8-5, 3-1), which trailed twice by 10 points in the first half, scored nine consecutive points to close the half and took the lead on a three-point basket by Ron Taylor to open the second half.

LSU (9-2, 2-1) had a 71-69 lead when Jackson scored five points as the Tigers pulled away.

No. 25 Xavier 89, Chicago Loyola 73--Michael Davenport scored 26 points at Cincinnati to lead the Musketeers to their 10th consecutive victory in a Midwestern Conference game.

Xavier trailed by a point at halftime but went on a 24-12 run to start the second half.

Florida State 104, Jacksonville 99--Irv Thomas scored five of his 27 points in the second overtime and and finished with 17 rebounds to lead the Seminoles at Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State (11-4) never led during regulation play and forced the first overtime on Ron Miller’s layup with 42 seconds left, tying the game, 85-85.

Florida State played both overtimes without scoring leader Tharon Mayes, who fouled out with four seconds left in regulation.