11/02/2026 09:20:00
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11/02 21:19 CST White scores 22, top recruit Stokes has 15 as No. 17 Kansas
pulls away for 95-65 win over Fordham
White scores 22, top recruit Stokes has 15 as No. 17 Kansas pulls away for
95-65 win over Fordham
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Basketball Writer
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) --- Tre White scored 22 points, top recruit Tyran Stokes
added 15 in his Kansas debut, and the No. 17 Jayhawks overcame early stretches
of sloppy offense and porous perimeter defense to beat Fordham 95-65 in their
season opener Monday night.
Leroy Blyden Jr. also had 15 points after transferring from Toledo, Melvin
Council Jr. scored 10 in his return to the Jayhawks, and recent Purdue transfer
Trey Kaufman-Renn came off the bench to score nine points and pull down five
boards.
White, Council and Kaufman-Renn are among the dozens of players across the
country who have won injunctions in court against the NCAA for another year of
eligibility. The trio combined for 41 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in the
opener.
Akira Jacobs had 20 points and Lateef Patrick Jr. scored 13 for the Rams, whose
3-point barrage kept them within 54-48 early in the second half before the
Jayhawks embarked on a 19-3 run that finally gave them complete control.
Kaufman-Renn didn't play for Kansas during its exhibition slate, which included
losses to second-ranked Duke and No. 11 Louisville in Allen Fieldhouse, as his
eligibility situation was revolved and the former All-Big Ten forward got up to
speed with his new team.
He checked in at 16:18 of the first half to chants of "T-K-R" from the student
section and scored 13 seconds later.
The Jayhawks tried to put away the game with a 16-1 first-half run. But after
missing 10 straight shots, the Rams started to hit from the perimeter --- they
made 13 3-pointers in all --- and Kansas coach Bill Self burned a timeout early
in the second half.
Eventually, the Jayhawks wore down Fordham with their size and athleticism.
Their big second-half charge broke open a six-point game, allowing Kansas to
cruise through the final 10 minutes and run its winning streak in home openers
to 54 in a row.
Up next
Fordham begins a three-game homestand against Stonehill on Thursday night.
Kansas plays Middle Tennessee on Friday night in its final home game until Nov.
23.
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