TEXAS A&M AT No. 5 KANSAS Robinson, Withey lead Jayhawks to victory Robinson, Withey lead Kansas to victory

LAWRENCE — The Texas A&M team that Big 12 coaches identified as a co-favorite showed up Monday and gave Kansas all it wanted.

The fifth-ranked Jayhawks prevailed 64-54, surviving a challenge from an Aggies team that had slipped to near the bottom of the league standings.

But A&M didn’t play like a team looking up in the standings ... and fifth-ranked Kansas looked nothing like a team that’s leading the Big 12 at 7-0 and 17-3 overall.

“Soft, selfish and dumb,” is how coach Bill Self described a first half in which the Jayhawks, who scored the game’s first 11 points, found themselves trailing by two at the break.

In this grinder where nothing came easily Kansas won the game from the only spot where its shots weren’t challenged, at the free-throw line.

Kansas, a 65.5 percent free-throw shooting team on the season, went 20 of 23 from the line. Thomas Robinson made all 10 of his on his way to an 18-point game. It was the best free-throw shooting night for a Kansas player since Wayne Simien made all 11 in a game during his Big 12 player-of-the-year 2005 season.

Same stroke as always, said Robinson, who entered the game a 63.6 percent free-throw shooter on the year.

“Nothing new,” he said.

But all were needed. Robinson had three free ones in the game’s most important juncture.

The Jayhawks led 44-42 with about 7 minutes remaining. Only once had Kansas had more than a one-possession lead in the second half at that point.

Robinson scored inside and completed a three-point play, and he added two more freebies on the next trip that gave the Jayhawks some breathing room.

The game’s tempo favored A&M.

“I knew this wasn’t going to be an 80-point game,” Self said.

No way. Texas A&M, which fell to 2-5 in the league and 11-8 overall, had to ugly it up. On offense the Aggies were effective in bleeding the shot clock, and for a long stretch got many positive outcomes — an Elston Turner basket, or a foul. Turner finished with 24 points.

On defense, the ideas were to close lanes that have become scoring avenues for the suddenly offensive-minded Taylor and throw bodies at Robinson.

“We wanted to try and push him off the block, and just keep him off the boards” A&M forward David Loubeau said.

When Robinson kicked it out, or anytime the Jayhawks got the ball to its primary deep shooters, Elijah Johnson and Conner Teahan, the result wasn’t good. The duo combined to make one of 11 from behind the arc.

And A&M had something of a scouting advantage. First-year Aggies assistant coach Kyle Keller had been a member of the Kansas staff the previous three seasons.

“Every time I called a play or Coach called a play they called it out right after us,” Taylor said. “They pretty knew what we were doing.”

But some things the Aggies couldn’t overcome, like Jeff Withey’s defense. The 7-foot Withey blocked eight shots, including two on one sequence late against Loubeau.

The Jayhawks needed all of it. Not only was A&M without Khris Middleton, its second leading scorer who aggravated a knee injury in Saturday’s victory over Oklahoma, the second half unfolded with point guard Dash Harris limping.

Harris injured his foot late in a first half in which he had scored the final bucket on a drive, and had four assists and six rebounds by intermission.

“Dash is a warrior,” Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said. “For him to do what he did … we’ll give him a couple of days off and hope it doesn’t get any worse.”

Self thought Kansas looked tired. The Jayhawks had two big victories last week, Monday against Baylor and Saturday at Texas. The quick turnaround seemed to show.

Kansas struggled to score and allowed the Aggies to control the pace but the Jayhawks’ defense played well in the second half. At one point, Kansas forced turnovers on four of five A&M possessions, including a shot-clock violation.

“It was ugly,” Taylor said. “But it’s in the conference and all conference wins are good.”

KU's Thomas Robinson recaps Texas A & M game

Tyshawn Taylor on playing good basketball

Jeff Withey: Coach expects a lot from us

Bill Self analyzes games with Texas A & M

Texas A & M coach Bill Kennedy on Kansas game

Percentages: FG .417, FT .636. 3-Point Goals: 7-12, .583 (E. Turner 4-8, Alexander 2-2, Hibbert 1-1, Harris 0-1). Team Rebounds: 4. Blocked Shots: 0. Turnovers: 16 (Loubeau 3, E. Turner 3, Hibbert 3, Harris 2, Alexander 2, Davis, Green, Kinsley). Steals: 6 (Harris 2, Green, Davis, E. Turner, Hibbert). Technical Fouls: None.

Percentages: FG .426, FT .870. 3-Point Goals: 4-20, .200 (Taylor 3-6, Teahan 1-5, Releford 0-3, Johnson 0-6). Team Rebounds: 4. Blocked Shots: 12 (Withey 8, Robinson 4). Turnovers: 12 (Robinson 5, Taylor 2, Johnson 2, Teahan, Tharpe, Withey). Steals: 8 (Taylor 3, Robinson 2, Wesley, Johnson, Releford). Technical Fouls: None.

Att.–16,300. Officials–John Higgins, David Hall, Tom Eades.