By Chuck Woodling, Sunday, January 26, 1975
Box score: Kansas 71, Oklahoma State 61
When Kansas' basketball team does what it CAN do best, it's going to take a great team to defeat them.
That was never more evident than it was Saturday night when the Jayhawks stopped Oklahoma State, 71-60, before an estimated crowd of 14,150 in Allen Fieldhouse.
What this KU team is best at is rebounding, defense and blocking shots. Offensively the Jayhawks aren't awesome, but they're tough when they get balanced scoring.
All of those facts were evident against the Cowboys.
Kansas outrebounded the 'Pokes 40-29, blocked several shots and had eight players score between eight and 12 points.
In other words, if you're looking for a typical Kansas basketball game, you won't have to go much further than Saturday night's.
Still another typical element was the "scare." After building a 39-26 halftime lead, Kansas came very close to blowing it in the second half. Three times in the late going, Oklahoma State came within three points.
"I don't think we were trying to sit on the lead," coach Ted Owens said after the game. "We just weren't penetrating their defense. That wasn't by design either. Oklahoma State was doing a good job."
Turning point came with about 2 1/2 minutes to go. Kansas led, 63-58, and missed three shots, two of them tips. But Tommie Smith came out of the pack with the ball, dribbled over to one wing and canned a jumper at 2:23 which brought pandemonium to the big arena.
That finished the Cowboys.
"That one play really turned it around," Owens conceded. "We kept the ball alive on the board and then Tommie put it in. That didn't give us a comfortable margin, but it was better than three points."
OSU coach Guy Strong was, of course, disappointed. His team was off to a 2-0 start in the league and is now tied with Kansas at 2-1. A victory Saturday could have skyrocketed the 'Pokes to the loop title on momentum alone.
"This is the kind of game you have to win to make a run at the title," Strong said. "When you get a good chance on the road, you have to capitalize and we didn't do it."
"We had momentum, but we made too many costly mistakes and we let them beat us inside. You have to be mentally tough, and we weren't tonight when it counted."
Probably the most impressive Kansas player Saturday night was 6-9 soph Donnie Von Moore who got his first start in several weeks.
Von Moore led the Jayhawks with 12 points and 11 rebounds, not to mention blocking at least three shots.
"His play in the first half," noted Owens of the Chicago product, "was very good. I think it helps to rest him in the second half, which we weren't able to do because of foul problems."
Von Moore conceded he became a little weary in the second half.
"I wasn't as tired as I thought I would be," he said. "but I was standing around, and I know coach Owens saw i wasn't jumping on the boards."
"I told myself before the game I was ready to go the whole game, but I was tired."
With Von Moore starting, Tommie Smith went back to the bench where he spent all last season. In Saturday's game, Smith came in to hit four of six shots which may or may not prove he performs better in a sub role.
"Naw, there's no magic to coming off the bench," Smith remarked afterward, "but hitting that first shot really helps. It gives you a little boost."
Anyway Smith says he could care less whether he starts or comes off the bench.
"All I want to do is play," he emphasized. "It doesn't make any difference as long as we win."
On Wednesday night the Jayhawks host struggling Colorado in Allen Fieldhouse. After that, it's off to Manhattan for a Saturday night battle with Kansas State.