Kansas handles New Mexico St. 75-56 to advance to third round

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10 years ago

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) drives to the basket against New Mexico State Aggies guard Ian Baker (4) during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; New Mexico State Aggies guard Ian Baker (4) controls the ball against Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte Graham (4) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) shoots against New Mexico State Aggies center Tshilidzi Nephawe (15) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Kansas Jayhawks players including Landen Lucas (33) , Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) and Wayne Selden Jr. (1) celebrate from the bench against the New Mexico State Aggies during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) dunks against the New Mexico State Aggies during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) controls the ball against the New Mexico State Aggies during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; New Mexico State Aggies forward Remi Barry (3) is defended by Kansas Jayhawks guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (right) during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; New Mexico State Aggies players Pascal Siakam (43) , D.K. Eldridge (1) and Remi Barry (3) react during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at CenturyLink Center. (Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) battles for the ball with New Mexico State Aggies center Tshilidzi Nephawe (15) during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; New Mexico State Aggies guard Daniel Mullings (23) dives for a loose ball against Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte Graham during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) is defended by New Mexico State Aggies guard Daniel Mullings (23) and guard D.K. Eldridge (right) during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; New Mexico State Aggies guard Ian Baker (4) drives to the basket against Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte Graham (4) during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

OMAHA, Neb. — Sophomore guard Frank Mason III scored 17 points, and No. 2 seed Kansas used balanced scoring and lethal 3-point shooting to defeat No. 15 seed New Mexico State 75-56 in Friday’s second round of the NCAA Midwest Regional at Century Link Center Omaha.

Kansas (27-8) had no problems with New Mexico State’s zone defense, shooting 9-of-13 on 3-pointers, with five different Jayhawks making at least one.

Ten Jayhawks scored, with seven scoring between six and nine points, and Kansas shot 54 percent from the field.

The Jayhawks led by as many as 23 points, with 5:48 remaining, after New Mexico State had pulled within 12 points midway through the second half.

Senior guard DK Eldridge scored 11 points, and senior center Tshilidzi Nephawe and senior forward Remi Barry scored 10 points apiece for New Mexico State (23-11). The Aggies, making their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, had their 13-game winning streak snapped.

Kansas took an early 11-4 lead and stretched the margin to 18 points with 3:11 remaining before halftime, thanks to a 10-0 run over a period of 2:19.

Freshman guard Devonte’ Graham, who entered the game with 12 3-pointers on the season, had two 3-pointers in the first half, as Kansas shot 5-of-8 on 3-pointers before halftime and 53.6 percent from the field overall.

NOTES: Kansas didn’t place its first and only player in double-figure scoring until 9:30 remained in the game, when Mason scored on a floater in the lane to push his total to 11. … Of the 13 players on the New Mexico State roster, nine aren’t from the United States. Five players are from Toronto, Canada, two are from France, one is from Cameroon and another from South Africa. … Kansas earned its ninth straight NCAA Tournament first-game victory and improved to 30-2 in first games at the NCAA Tournament since 1981.