No. 17 Kansas Defeats Fordham 95-65 in Men's Basketball Season Opener

The No. 17 Kansas Jayhawks opened their regular season on Monday night with a 95-65 victory over Fordham at Allen Fieldhouse. Despite early stretches of sloppy offense and porous perimeter defense, the Jayhawks ultimately wore down the Rams with their size, athleticism, and depth.

Tre White led all scorers with 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting, which included three baskets from beyond the arc. Top recruit Tyran Stokes added 15 points and seven rebounds in his Kansas debut, while Leroy Blyden Jr. contributed another 15 points after transferring from Toledo.

Fordham kept the game competitive throughout the first half and capitalized on early Kansas mistakes in the second half. A strong 3-point shooting performance by the Rams, who sank 13 shots from long distance, briefly trimmed the deficit to six points with about fourteen minutes remaining in the game.

However, Kansas responded decisively with a 19-3 run that reestablished control and allowed the hosts to cruise through the final minutes of the contest. The victory extended the program's impressive winning streak in home openers to 54 consecutive games.

The matchup featured the official debut of several newcomers, including former Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who came off the bench to score nine points and grab five rebounds. Kaufman-Renn, alongside White and Melvin Council Jr., recently secured an additional year of eligibility following a court injunction against the NCAA.

Reflecting on the victory and his rotation, Kansas coach Bill Self noted that the team is still adjusting to its new personnel. Self remarked postgame that while the newcomers are fitting in nicely, the squad is still working toward total comfort and seamless execution on the floor.

For Fordham, Akira Jacobs led the scoring effort with 20 points, and Lateef Patrick Jr. chipped in 13 points in the losing effort. The Rams will look to bounce back when they begin a three-quarter homestand against Stonehill, while Kansas prepares to host Middle Tennessee.