Photo: Missy Minear/KANSAN

 

LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Jayhawks defeated the Terrapins 79-63 in KFC Yum! Center Thursday night. Kansas’ leading rebounder was Junior Landen Lucas. He also added 14 points on the 29 minute outing.

“He’s really the glue,” said fellow junior Wayne Selden, who ended the night with 19 points. “When we had that meeting with coach we thought it would be Landen that would really bring us together, he did that. He’s really excelling at it and doing way better than anybody thought.”

Lucas also did his part on the defensive side of the court. He held Maryland big Diamond Stone to five points and four rebounds.

“At practice yesterday we were practicing doubling the post to prepare for [Stone],” said freshman Carlton Bragg. “But then after practice he came up to coach and said ‘I want to guard him one-on-one, I want the challenge,’ and he stepped up today.”

Lucas says that he is just happy if the team is winning and will do “a little bit of everything, whatever the team needs at that point in time.”

Kansas’ next opponent is Villanova in the Regional Final (Elite Eight). The Jayhawks and Wildcats are expected to tip off around 8:40 ET.