No. 3 Kansas Squeaks by Michigan in OT, 67-60

Marcus Morris scored 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks survived in overtime against Michigan on Sunday at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Kansas improves to 15-0 on the season as Michigan drops to 11-5.

Markieff Morris also added 14 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, and Tyshawn Taylor added 13 points.  Tyrel Reed had 10 points and four steals.

Neither team could find a rhythm from beyond the arc as Kansas shot 4-for-24 (16.7 percent) and Michigan shot 4-for-28 (14.3 percent) from three-point land.

The Wolverines were led by freshman guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. who had 19 points on 5-of-19 shooting.  Darius Morgan (16) and Zach Novak (10) were also in double figures.

The explosive reserves for Kansas were held quiet as Michigan held KU's bench players to a combined six points.

Kansas opened the contest with a 7-0 run while Michigan went 0-for-7 from the field.  Michigan was held scoreless until the 15:48 mark in the first half held without a field goal until the 13:09 mark.  The Kansas defense forced Michigan to take long and contested 3-pointers, many of which were shot trying to beat the shot clock.

The Jayhawks went into the locker room with a 25-18 lead at the end of the first half.  Kansas’ 25 first half points were its fewest in a half since scoring 21 versus Nebraska on Jan. 19, 2005.

Michigan capitalized on KU's 16 turnovers and was able to slowly climb back into the game in the second half despite shooting poorly from the field (33.3 percent).  The Wolverines rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit and scored the last six points of regulation.

U-M's Darius Morris hit a jumper with 35 seconds remaining to tie the game up at 51.  Kansas had the ball for a last shot but a missed Marcus Morris three-point attempt and Michigan rebound sent the game into overtime.

Zach Novak hit a three-pointer at the start of overtime and take a 54-51 lead.  The advantage would be short lived as KU would take the lead on a pair of Marcus Morris free throws and a Markieff Morris three-pointer.

Kansas was able to force sloppy shots and make free throws down the stretch to close out a tight game, 67-60.

“I said, ‘We just played a bad 40 (minutes). Let’s play a good five,” Bill Self said of his message to the team. “That’s exactly what we did I thought we competed and played pretty well in overtime.”

KU freshman Josh Selby was held relatively quiet as he shot just 1-for-10 from the field and ended up with five points.  Travis Releford left the game with an ankle injury early in the first half.

Despite the victory, Kansas set season lows in points scored (67), points in a half (25), total field goals (20), three-point field goals made (4), field goal percentage (35.7 percent), three-point field goal percentage (16.7 percent) and blocks (0).

Kansas Positives

—KU, although not a great free-throw shooting team, was able to make clutch free throws in overtime and seal the deal.  Kansas shot 23-for-31 from the line (74.2 percent) in the game including 8-of-9 in overtime.

—Kansas played great defense in the first half.  Michigan was held scoreless for over four minutes into the game and couldn't find an open shot.  KU dominated in the paint and the Wolverines were forced to take multiple NBA-range three-pointers.  

Kansas Negatives

—Kansas should have never been taken to overtime against a young team like Michigan, but the Jayhawks just couldn't find a rhythm on offense.  Everyone was off, even sharp shooters Tyrel Reed and Josh Selby.  KU shot 4-of-24 from downtown, its worst three-point shooting contest of the season.

—Kansas committed 16 turnovers while the Wolverines committed only 14.  In the end, turnovers were what kept Michigan in the game, especially towards the end of regulation.  Tyshawn Taylor seemed a little rushed at times as he committed four turnovers.  Markieff Morris committed four turnovers as well.

—KU was rushed when it had a full shot clock to attempt a game winner at the end of regulation.  Bill Self would have liked to have had one of his timeouts left to set up a play but because of an error, Kansas had called a timeout on a loose ball a few minutes prior.  

Overall, KU was able to pull out a victory in a close and competitive game, but for Kansas fans it was a little too close for comfort against such a young team.

The Jayhawks will start Big 12 play this week when they travel to Iowa State on Wednesday.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.