National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Kansas 85, Texas 73
When: 6:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2011
Where: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Officials: # John Higgings, # Gerry Pollard, # Mark Whitehead
Attendance: 18940

Tyshawn Taylor returned to the starting lineup for the first time in three weeks and scored 20 points as the Jayhawks defeated Texas 85-73 Saturday in the Big 12 tournament final at Kansas City, Mo.

The Jayhawks (32-2) claimed their fifth Big 12 tournament title in six years - and their eighth in the league's 15-year history.

The win avenges one of Kansas' two losses this season - a 74-63 defeat that snapped their 69-game home winning streak Jan. 22 - and should lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

The Jayhawks took control with consecutive 3-pointers by Tyrel Reed, Marcus Morris and Taylor early in the first half and never trailed again. Kansas led 48-33 at halftime and stretched the margin as wide as 18 early in the second half.

The Longhorns (27-7) pulled within 60-52 with 8:54 left, but the Jayhawks again pulled away with their hot outside shooting as Taylor and Reed hit 3-pointers to push the lead back to double digits. Texas got within eight again at 71-63, but Kansas reeled off a 10-4 run to put it away.

Taylor, who hadn't started since Feb. 19 after being suspended for two games and relegated to a reserve role in four games since returning, scored 13 in the first half.

Marcus Morris had 17 points and six rebounds, and Markieff Morris added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Jayhawks, who dominated inside.

Jordan Hamilton scored 21 points and J'Covan Brown added 17 off the bench for Texas. But the Longhorns didn't get much from Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tristan Thompson, who was saddled with foul trouble for most of the game and finished with seven points and two rebounds.

The Longhorns are 0-6 all-time in the Big 12 tournament final.
Top Game Performances
 
Texas   Kansas
Jordan Hamilton 21 Scoring Tyshawn Taylor 20
Jordan Hamilton 2 Assists Brady Morningstar 6
Gary Johnson 9 Rebounds Markieff Morris 9
J'Covan Brown 3 Free Throws Made Marcus Morris 4
Cory Joseph 1 Steals Tyrel Reed 2
Jordan Hamilton 1 Blocks Markieff Morris 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Texas 73 40.9 7-20 12-15 12 30 4 2
Kansas 85 56.9 7-17 12-18 19 38 4 4