University of Kansas Athletics

AMES, Iowa – No. 4 Kansas succumbed to a torrid second-half comeback from No. 14 Iowa State to lose in Hilton Coliseum for just the third time in the last 12 seasons on Monday night, 85-72.

Iowa State (16-4, 5-3 Big 12) shot 64 percent in the second half and used an 11-0 run to rally past the Jayhawks’ 43-36 halftime lead.

Kansas (16-4, 5-3 Big 12) was led by senior forward Perry Ellis, who notched his second consecutive 20-point effort with 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting in 36 minutes.

The loss gives KU three-straight Big 12 road losses for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

From the opening tip, Kansas tested Iowa State in the paint. The Jayhawks scored 10 of their first 12 points in the lane on the way to a 24-14 lead at the 10:13 mark of the first half on a 3-pointer from Devonte’ Graham.

KU’s halftime lead was powered by balanced scoring efforts from juniors Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr., who had nine first-half points each, and 57 percent shooting from the field as a team.

Iowa State tied it three times in the second half before taking its first lead of the game, 60-57, on a 3-pointer from Deonte Burton.

Ellis stopped an 11-0 Cyclone run with a layup with 6:55 remaining and proceeded to solely muscle a 7-2 Jayhawk run to come within four of ISU, 68-64, with five minutes remaining. But Iowa State responded with a 3-pointer by Abdel Nader to regain momentum and broke out 13-point lead with 2:01 remaining.

Monte Morris and Georges Niang combined for 27 of ISU’s 49 second-half points. Morris finished with 21 points, nine assists and no turnovers in a full 40 minutes of action.

NEXT UP
ESPN College GameDay returns to Allen Fieldhouse for the seventh time in advance of next week’s Big 12/SEC Challenge between the two winningest programs in college basketball history – Kansas and Kentucky next Saturday night (6 p.m., ESPN).

POSTGAME NOTES

KU STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS)
Jr. G Frank Mason III (20/59)
So. G Devonte’ Graham (19/19)
Jr. G Wayne Selden Jr. (20/91)
Sr. F Perry Ellis (20/91)
Jr. F Landen Lucas (2/16)

SERIES INFO
• The Kansas-Iowa State series is now 177-63 in favor of the Jayhawks, including 24-21 in Hilton Coliseum.
• Kansas won nine of the previous 11 meetings against Iowa State in Ames before Monday night.

ATTENDANCE: 14,384

KANSAS’ LOSS…
• Gives KU three-straight league road losses for the first time since the 2004-05 season… Make the Kansas-Iowa State series 177-63 all-time, including 24-21 in games played in Hilton Coliseum… Make Bill Self 368-82 while at Kansas, 575-187 overall and 22-7 all-time versus Iowa State (21-7 while at Kansas)… Make KU 2,169-835 all-time.

TEAM NOTES
• Kansas outrebounded Iowa State, 35-28. It is KU’s first loss of the season when outrebounding its opponent (14-1).
• Kansas shot 50 percent (29-for-58) from the field. The Jayhawks fall to 8-1 on the season and 196-8 during the Bill Self era (since 2003-04) when shooting 50 percent or better.
• Iowa State shot 52 percent (32-for-62) from the field, becoming just the 21st KU opponent to shoot 50 percent or better from the field during the Bill Self era (since 2003-04).
• Kansas is 5-16 when its opponent shoots 50 percent or better during the Bill Self era.
• 10 of KU’s 16 turnovers came in the second half.
• Kansas outscored Iowa State in the paint, 40-32. It ties a season high for regulation Big 12 games with the Baylor contest (Jan. 2), when KU also outscored the Bears, 40-32, in the paint. The Jayhawks scored 42 points in the paint after three overtime periods against Oklahoma (Jan. 4).

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Senior F Perry Ellis
• Scored 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field with five rebounds in 36 minutes.
• Reached at least 20 points for the seventh time this season and 20th time of his career.
• Has reached 20 points in four of the last eight games against Iowa State.
• Made 10+ field goals for the second time this season (Oklahoma, Jan. 4) and the fifth time in his career.
• Now has 1,480 career points to pass Brandon Rush (2006-08; 1,477) for 22nd on KU’s all-time scoring list.

Junior G Frank Mason III
• Scored 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting with six rebounds in 32 minutes.

Junior F Landen Lucas
• Made his second consecutive start.
• Grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in 21 minutes.
• Has led Kansas in rebounding for three consecutive games.