University of Kansas Athletics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Shorter shot clock and longer three-point range – but basketball is basketball. Frank Mason III’s 28-point performance served as the perfect reminder that the long wait between seasons is over. Kansas began its dual role as the USA National Team in a 91-83 exhibition victory against Team Canada Tuesday night inside Sprint Center.
In April 2014, Kansas was selected to represent the United States in the 2015 World University Games (WUG). More than a year of planning later, the Jayhawks and a collection of Canada’s best university players met in Kansas City to finally get things underway. Both teams fielded a 12-man roster per WUG regulations, which paired 10 American-born Jayhawks with SMU’s Nic Moore and Florida Gulf Coast’s Julian DeBose to complete the USA roster. Both teams used the exhibition matchup to prepare for the official international competition in Gwangju, Korea, July 3-14.
While Canada brought along a full complement of veterans, the Jayhawks had their own. Mason led the charge. The Jayhawk point guard chalked up 17 points in the final frame alone to finish with 28 on the night, a career-high number had the game been official. His nine field goals (9-for-14) also would have marked a personal best, accompanying his 8-for-8 mark at the free throw line, six rebounds and five assists.
All-Big 12 senior-to-be Perry Ellis led all players at the half with 10 points and trailed Mason with 17 for the game. Fellow senior Jamari Traylor put up a double-double, unofficially the second of his career, with 12 points and 10 rebounds. His four blocks would have also marked a career-best. Wayne Selden, Jr. chimed in with 13 points, all of which were crucially timed in helping Kansas erase a 10-point deficit.
Canada saw four different players reach double digits, led by Chris McLaughlin’s 15. The visitors were dangerously efficient throughout the entire first half, heading to the lockerroom with the lead and a 47 percent shooting efficiency. Where the Jayhawks shot a rocky 1-for-9 from three-point range in the first half, Canada rolled off 5-of-11 from long range.
Armed with a live-game tutorial of the rule changes, head coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks shot 45.5 percent (15-for-33) in the second half and held Canada to 31.4 percent (11-for-35). From behind the arc, Kansas upped its makes to 44 percent and shut Canada down to a meager 2-for-10. On the glass, Kansas outdid the scrappy visitors (49-42) and did the same in the assists column (19-14).
Moore, the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, runs the point at SMU, making his partnership with Mason a dynamic one. Both collected five assists apiece, while Selden led the floor with six dimes.