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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- Kenny Gregory can happily head home for
the holidays.
|  | | Kenny Gregory got the best his hometown team with 17 points. |
The native of Columbus, Ohio, who took plenty of grief for
turning his back on Ohio State, scored 17 points and got a standing
ovation from the huge crowd in Allen Fieldhouse on Thursday night
after leading Kansas (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 8 AP) to a fast-paced 80-67 victory over the
Buckeyes (No. 13 ESPN/USA Today, No. 12 AP).
"This takes care of me as far as bragging rights, discussing
who won and who played well," said the 6-foot-5 junior, who was
one of the most highly recruited prep stars in the nation.
In the game within the game, Michael Redd, Gregory's buddy from
their high school days who did stay home to attend college, had 20
points and 10 rebounds in the first road game of the year for the
Buckeyes (4-2).
"Kansas is a tough team," Redd said. "You've got to give them
credit. It's no secret Kenny Gregory's a great player. But he's
been playing well all year."
Eric Chenowith had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Kansas (8-1),
which avenged a 66-54 loss last week to then-No. 4 Michigan State,
one of four Big 10 teams the Jayhawks will play this season.
Kansas coach Roy Williams made sure Gregory's teammates
understood how important the game would be for him.
"Living there and making the decision to leave home and come to
Kansas, Kenny took a lot of junk last year when they went to the
Final Four and he was sitting home watching," Williams said. "I
don't think there's any doubt this game meant a lot to Kenny."
While Ohio State missed its first three shots of the second
half, the Jayhawks were going 3-for-3 and building a 43-30 lead.
The huge crowd, sensing a blowout, roared.
But then Redd canned a 3-pointer and ignited a 12-2 run that
melted the lead to 45-42, the closest the Buckeyes had been since
Scoonie Penn's 3-pointer made it 22-20.
Back came the Jayhawks. With three freshmen on the floor, they
unleashed a 10-3 spree capped by two straight buckets from Nick
Collison, and Kansas was up 55-45.
Five points from Redd, including a long, uncontested 3-pointer,
brought the Buckeyes back within five.
But Gregory answered with a quick bucket and a few minutes later
the Jayhawks got the lead back to 63-52 and were never threatened.
Gregory said the win gave him only "partial redemption."
"If we got to the Final Four it would be complete redemption,"
Gregory said. "I might even have the upper hand on them because I
won tonight."
The Jayhawks led by as many as nine points in a fast-paced first
half but the Buckeyes trimmed it to 35-29 at halftime on two
baskets by George Reese. Gregory brought a roar from the crowd with
3:13 left in the half with a behind-the-back dunk for a 31-22 lead.
Gregory, often matched up against Redd, had 10 points in the first
half.
Kansas guard Jeff Boschee had 15 points in the matchup between
Big 10 and Big 12 powers who have combined for 19 Final Four
appearances.
Penn had 19 points for Ohio State.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Ohio State Clubhouse
Kansas Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kenny Gregory throws down a reverse jam.
avi: 753 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ken Johnson taps in a Scoonie Penn miss.
avi: 632 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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