No. 1 Duke falls to Kansas
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 16, 2016
- Kansas forward Carlton Bragg Jr. (15) and guard Devonte' Graham (4) react after guard Frank Mason III hit a shot to give Kansas the lead in the final seconds of an NCAA college basketball game against Duke, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, in New York. Kansas won 77-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
By Jim O’Connell
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Frank Mason III hit a short jumper with 1.3 seconds to play to give No. 7 Kansas a 77-75 victory over No. 1 Duke on Tuesday night in the State Farm Champions Classic.
The Jayhawks (1-1) beat a top-ranked team for the eighth time and this one looked a lot easier with 8 minutes to play and Kansas leading 62-50.
But the Blue Devils (2-1), despite a terrible shooting game by Grayson Allen, the leading vote-getter on The Associated Press’ preseason All-America team, managed to suddenly start hitting shots and they tied the game at 75 with 15 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Frank Jackson.
Kansas called a timeout with 8.2 seconds left and set up the game-winner.
Mason led Kansas with 21 points and freshman Josh Jackson added 15 and Devonte’ Graham had 13.
Luke Kennard led five Duke players in double figures with 22. Allen finished with 12 points on 4-for-15 shooting.
Kansas finished 2 for 17 from 3-point range but the Jayhawks shot 50.8 percent overall (33 for 65) including making 60.6 percent of the their shots in the second half (20 of 33).
Duke shot 48.9 percent for the game (23 of 47) including 8 of 19 on 3s.
BIG PICTURE:
Duke: In its first two games the Blue Devils held opponents to 55.0 points on 32.3 percent shooting, including 16.2 percent from 3-point range while forcing an average of 17 turnovers. … This was the 950th consecutive game the Blue Devils made at least one 3-pointer. That’s the fourth-longest stretch in Division I history. … Duke played again without freshmen Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum who coach Mike Krzyzewski has said will brought along slowly as they rehab from injuries.
Kansas: The Jayhawks were facing an AP No 1 team for the 24th time and the first time since the 2014 Champions Classic when they lost to Kentucky 72-40. They are 8-16 all-time against No. 1s. … The Jayhawks’ opening game was a 103-99 overtime loss to then-No. 11 Indiana in Honolulu.
UP NEXT:
Duke: The Blue Devils stay in the Northeast heading to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off at Uncasville, Connecticut on Friday and Saturday. They open with Penn State.
Kansas: The Jayhawks finally get to play in Allen Fieldhouse when they play Siena on Friday.
