Kansas basketball vs. Harvard recap: Jayhawks win 68-54 to remain undefeated at home

LAWRENCE — Kansas men’s basketball’s 2022-23 regular season is continuing Thursday with a matchup at home against Harvard.

The No. 4 Jayhawks came in after a win at home against Indiana. The Crimson came in after a win on the road against UC Irvine. Kansas has yet to lose a game at home this season.

Will coach Bill Self’s Jayhawks squad keep its winning streak alive? Will coach Tommy Amaker’s Harvard squad pull off the upset? This’ll be Kansas’ last non-conference game before Big 12 Conference play begins.

RELATED:Kansas men’s basketball will face Harvard. Here’s how to watch Kansas vs. Harvard

Follow along for updates from Allen Fieldhouse:

FINAL: Kansas 68, Harvard 54

Kansas leads 57-46 against Harvard with 4:36 left in 2nd half

The Jayhawks may be making that game-clinching run, as since the last break they are out-scoring Harvard 8-2. Harvard's called a timeout to try to stop Kansas' momentum. Time will tell how much that works.

Kansas leads 49-44 against Harvard with 7:55 left in 2nd half

For Harvard, missed free throws have been a major issue. Harvard is just 4-for-13 from the line so far tonight.

For Kansas, missed 3s have been a major issue. Kansas is just 3-for-17 from behind the arc so far tonight.

Kansas leads 40-36 against Harvard with 12:26 left in 2nd half

The Jayhawks are dealing with another scoring drought. This one's at a bit more than two and a half minutes. And it really doesn't look as if there should be much confidence in it ending soon.

Both Ernest Udeh Jr. and Zach Clemence have seen second half minutes for Kansas, as KJ Adams Jr. is at three fouls. Adams had been one of the more efficient players so far for the Jayhawks offensively. Maybe the shot-making Clemence can provide will get Kansas out of this rut.

Kansas leads 40-31 against Harvard with 14:56 left in 2nd half

Interestingly enough, freshman guard MJ Rice was Kansas' first player off the bench in the second half. Rice entered for veteran Jalen Wilson, who isn't in foul trouble and is tied for the team lead at eight points. And since Rice has come in, apart from a free throw that he wouldn't have had a chance to do anything about, Harvard hasn't scored.

Harvard is, though, not shying away from anything here in the second half. Kansas looked as if it was going to start to be able to build out its lead, before Harvard went on a run. Harvard will need to go on another to make this a game.

The second half is underway

Harvard started the second half with the ball.

HALFTIME: Kansas 32, Harvard 23

The Jayhawks went on a 16-3 run heading into halftime to take control of the game. Gradey Dick capped things off with a 3-pointer heading into the break.

Kansas is tied 20-20 with Harvard with 3:36 left in 1st half

Although the shots were falling for each side early on, they haven't been recently. Harvard has had multiple scoring droughts that have lasted about three minutes. Kansas had one that lasted just more than five.

Jayhawks head coach Bill Self ran a play where he posted up one of his guards, Kevin McCullar Jr. Although McCullar didn't score on his first attempted shot, he was able to get the put-back. Maybe Kansas goes to that more moving forward.

Harvard leads 17-16 against Kansas with 7:44 left in 1st half

The 3-pointers just aren't falling for the Jayhawks, who are now 0-for-6 from behind the arc heading into this break. That'll need to change. Gradey Dick, Kansas' sharpshooter, hasn't even taken one yet.

The Jayhawks have also had to play much of this half without Dajuan Harris Jr. in the game, as he's already picked up a pair of fouls. Neither Bobby Pettiford Jr. nor Joseph Yesufu have been awful by any means, backing up Harris tonight, but they haven't been good enough to have things clicking well. Harris is coming back in after this break, so it'll be interesting to see how conservative he is on both ends.

Kansas is tied 14-14 with Harvard with 11:40 left in 1st half

Harvard has even led for a bit now, as a little less than 12 minutes remain in the first half. It wasn't by much, as Kansas hasn't trailed by more than two points, but this game is probably closer than the Jayhawks anticipated at this point. The most Kansas has led by is four points.

Without Jalen Wilson, the Jayhawks might be in some trouble early. Wilson has eight points to lead Kansas and all scorers, and is shooting 4-for-7 from the field. Overall, the Jayhawks are shooting 7-for-14 from the field.

Kansas leads 10-8 against Harvard with 14:49 left in 1st half

It's been a pretty clean game to start, as the first foul of the game has only just now been called. That's sending a Harvard player to the line for some free throws. Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr. was the culprit there on a long jumper, although he didn't agree with the call.

McCullar and Jalen Wilson lead the Jayhawks and all scorers with four points each. But it's not the offense that's been an issue for Kansas so far. The Jayhawks are allowing too many quality looks, and head coach Bill Self has often looked upset after possessions.

It begins

Harvard won the opening tip-off, and this one is underway.

The starters have been revealed

Kansas should have its full compliment of players

Fans can get in earlier than normal

RELATED:Kansas basketball turned to Zuby Ejiofor against Indiana. He didn’t disappoint

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KU basketball beats Harvard: Score, analysis from Jayhawks' win