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The Kansas Jayhawks got a little more than they bargained for with Southeast Missouri St. but were eventually able to pull away for a 74-55 win in their first game of the season.
The seventh-ranked Jayhawks are sporting a slew of freshmen, including guard Ben McLemore and forward Perry Ellis. McLemore scored nine points and pulled down 12 rebounds, with five assists and three blocks, while Ellis put up 15 points and eight rebounds as the Jayhawks led 32-17 at the half.
The Redhawks pulled within six in the second half, but the Jayhawks never let them get any closer and finished off their 40th straight win in a season-opener.
Senior Jeff Withey led the Jayhawks with 17 points. Nick Niemczyk came off the bench to lead the Redhawks with 14 points.
Next up for the Jayhawks on Nov. 13 are the 14th-ranked Michigan St. Spartans who dropped their opener to the Connecticut Huskies, 66-62, on Friday night in Germany.