Here's a quick look back at some of the more notable facts and stats from No. 1 Kansas' 99-56 win over North Carolina Central in Monday's regular season opener at Allen Fieldhouse.
KU Starters: Dajuan Harris Jr., Elmarko Jackson, Kevin McCullar Jr. KJ Adams & Hunter Dickinson
Series History: Kansas and North Carolina Central met for the first time at Allen Fieldhouse on Nov. 6, honoring KU alum and legendary coach John McLendon.
The KU win...
• Made Kansas 1-0 for the 18th time in head coach Bill Self’s 21 seasons at KU.
• Gave Kansas its 51st-consecutive home opening victory, a streak that started in 1973-74 under then-head coach Ted Owens.
• Made the Kansas-North Carolina Central series 1-0 in favor of the Jayhawks .
• Made KU 9-0 all-time versus current MEAC members.
• Made Kansas 1-0 in Allen Fieldhouse this season and 841-117 all-time in the venue, including 300-17 under Bill Self.
• Made Self 566-132 all-time at Kansas and 773-237 overall. • Made Kansas 2,371-885 all-time.
More from Monday night's win...
• Photo Gallery: KU 99, NC Central 56
• What was it, how did it happen, what does it mean?
Team Notes
• Kansas shot 69.6 percent (39-of-56) from the field for the game. That is the highest shooting percentage by KU in a game since Jan. 9, 1997 vs. Niagara (72.1 percent). The 78.6 percent shooting percentage in the first half was the highest since Jan. 9, 1997 vs. Niagara in the second half (79.2 percent).
• Kansas dished out 34 assists, which marked the most in a game since Nov. 26, 1999 vs. Xavier (program-record-tying 36 assists). It was the most assists in Allen Fieldhouse since Dec. 9, 1989 vs. Kentucky (36). Kansas had 21 assists in the first half to tie a program record for a half (Jan. 14, 1993 vs. Oral Roberts and Dec. 9, 1989 vs. Kentucky).
• Kansas’ 59 points in the first half were the most in a half since Nov. 15, 2019 vs. Monmouth (1st half, 59 points).
• Kansas shot 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from three-point range in the first half. That is the best since shooting 81.8 percent (9- of-11) from deep in the first half against Toldeo on Nov. 28, 2017 (min. 10 attempts).
• Kansas’ 13 three-pointers are the most in a season-opener since Nov. 13, 2015 vs. Northern Colorado (15). • Kansas held a 37-23 advantage on rebounds.
• Kansas had five players score in double figures (McCullar – 22, Dickinson – 21, Timberlake – 13, Adams – 12, Braun – 10).
• Kansas held North Carolina Central to 18 points in the first half, the fewest points in a half since holding Miami to 15 points in the second half on March 27, 2022.
Individual Notes
• Graduate-senior Kevin McCullar Jr. had a Kansas career-high 22 points on 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) shooting, six rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes. The game was his fourth career 20-point effort.
• Senior Hunter Dickinson finished with 21 points on 8-of-9 (88.9 percent) shooting, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 24 minutes. His 21 points mark the 35th time in his career he has scored at least 20 points.
• Graduate-senior Nicolas Timberlake contributed 13 points on 4-of-5 (80.0 percent) shooting, including three triples in 20 minutes off the bench.
• Redshirt-senior Dajuan Harris Jr. tallied a game-high 10 assists in 25 minutes. He has four double-digit assists games in his career.
• Junior KJ Adams Jr. recorded 12 points on 6-of-8 (75.0 percent) shooting, five rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes.
• Graduate-senior Parker Braun added 10 points on 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) shooting, five rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes off the bench. Braun recorded his 100th career block in the second half.
• Graduate-senior Michael Jankovich matched his career high with five points (Nov. 15, 2019 vs. Monmouth).
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