LAWRENCE, Kan. — The No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks (2-1) returned to form Tuesday night, bouncing back from a loss to North Carolina with a decisive 77-46 victory over the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (1-3) at Allen Fieldhouse.
Freshman Kohl Rosario Steps Up
Freshman guard Kohl Rosario delivered a career-high performance to offset the absence of injured fellow freshman Darryn Peterson. Rosario’s 16 points led the team, sparking the offense after a sluggish start. He provided the necessary energy, throwing down a series of alley-oop dunks before finding his rhythm from beyond the arc, which helped Kansas pull away decisively.
Rosario’s impressive night was rounded out with five rebounds, making him the first KU freshman since Johnny Furphy in 2024 to record at least 16 points and five boards in a game.
Dominating Defense and Balanced Scoring
Kansas’s suffocating defense was the defining characteristic of the rout. The Jayhawks held the Islanders to just 32 percent shooting and put on a clinic in the paint, recording a remarkable 12 team blocks. Center Flory Bidunga led the shot-swatting effort with four blocks to go with his 12 points.
Freshmen continued to shine for the Jayhawks, with Bryson Tiller adding 11 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks in another strong showing following his 12-point effort against UNC. Veteran Tre White also chipped in 11 points, ensuring balanced offensive production.
Kansas took a commanding 38-18 lead into halftime and slammed the door shut in the second half with a 14-0 run, securing their 22nd consecutive nonconference home victory.
Islanders Stymied
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi struggled to find offense against the stout Jayhawk defense. Their leading scorer, Sheldon Williams, was held to just eight points after posting a career-best 21 last weekend. Franck Yetna was the lone Islander in double digits, leading his team with 11 points.
The Jayhawks host Princeton on Saturday for their final home game until December. Tip-off is at 1:00 PM, with pregame coverage starting at 12:30 PM on Classic Rock Z-96.3 The Lake, Today’s Country 95.5 KNDY-FM, and Superstar Country 102.5 FM & 1530 AM KQNK.
