Selden sparks Jayhawks in win over Iowa State

More than 12 minutes remained in Kansas’ 89-76 victory over Iowa State on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse. For No. 8 Kansas, it was 12 minutes to avenge their only conference loss with a second-half knockout.

For Wayne Selden, the Jayhawks’ enigmatic sophomore guard, it was 12 minutes to toss aside a season of doubts, of questions and quiet performances, and bury the Cyclones with a perfectly-timed breakout.

Selden delivered. He matched a career high with five three-pointers, scoring 19 of his 20 points in the second half. The Jayhawks improved to 8-1 in the Big 12 and maintained sole possession of first place in the conference race. For Kansas, a sense of order was restored.

Just 16 days earlier, Kansas found itself inside Hilton Coliseum, dazed and disorganized after an 86-81 road loss at Iowa State. On Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse, the Jayhawks exhibited complete control for the most of the second half.

For Kansas, this victory was about protecting its home turf. And this night was also about Selden, who has averaged just 8.4 points per game in conference play. A few weeks ago, as the Jayhawks took control of the Big 12 race, Kansas coach Bill Self took stock of his team offered up one area for growth. If Selden could find himself, Self said, it could change Kansas’ future.

For one night, Selden did just that. He finished seven of 12 from the floor. He drilled five of seven from beyond the arc. He looked confident in the half-court offense. He bobbed his head in celebration after his fifth three-pointer went down.

Just 16 days ago, on that night in Ames, the Cyclones had been relentless in the open floor. The Jayhawks gave up 21 fast-break points. Self shrugged and called it pitiful. Kansas freshman Devonte’ Graham had captured the night with a cutting, one-word description: “Lazy.” On Monday, the Jayhawks dedicated themselves to getting back on the defense. They allowed just 12 points in transition.

For a brief few days after the loss in Ames, the Jayhawks had fallen a half-game out of first place. Self spoke about playing with more energy. Freshman forward Cliff Alexander emerged with a double-double against Oklahoma. And the Jayhawks would claim four straight victories. They rolled at Texas. They survived a dreadful performance at TCU. They handled K-State.

On Monday night, Kansas welcomed Iowa State into Allen Fieldhouse. In 11 seasons at Kansas, Self had never been swept by a conference opponent in a home-and-home series. Perhaps those inside — a juiced-up crowd of 16,300 — could sense the moment and the stakes.

As the Jayhawks pieced together a 35-28 halftime lead, the building rocked with an intensity reserved for a night where the theme was revenge. For the opening 20 minutes, Iowa State appeared content to pack its defense inside the three-point line and dare Kansas to do its damage from long distance. And it appeared to work. But then sophomore Brannen Greene came off the bench and buried a three-pointer with just more than nine minutes left in the half, and the momentum appeared to shift. The Jayhawks hit five of their next six shots from three-point range, building a seven-point lead before the break.

Junior forward Perry Ellis finished with 17 points, while Mason added 12 points and eight assists. The Jayhawks were a complete unit again. But in the final seconds, it was Selden who was strolling over to the KU bench and embracing Self with a handshake and a hug.

The Jayhawks needed a victory on Monday night. Selden needed this, too.

This story was originally published February 2, 2015 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Selden sparks Jayhawks in win over Iowa State."