LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- Sasha Kaun had 25 points and 16 rebounds --

both numbers dwarfing his meager numbers as a freshman -- and Kansas

routed Idaho State 90-66 Friday night in its first season opener as

an unranked team since 1990.

Kaun, a 6-11 sophomore who averaged only 2.6 points and 2.3

rebounds last year while struggling for playing time on a

senior-laden team, got a huge ovation from the sellout crowd when

he went to the bench with about 1:30 left.

Freshman point guard Mario Chalmers had 15 points for the

youthful Jayhawks and Brandon Rush, another freshman, had 12. The

Jayhawks will defend their co-Big 12 championship this year with

five freshmen, six sophomores, no juniors and only three seniors.

But they were never challenged by the Bengals, who lost their

first road game of the season for the 16th straight year.

The Jayhawks got off to a quick start and led 24-10 when Kaun's

bucket capped a 12-0 run. At that point, the Bengals had 13

turnovers to go with their 10 points. They ended with 24 turnovers

against the bigger, quicker Jayhawks.

Tim Henry had 23 points for the Bengals, including 5 of 8 from

beyond the arc.

Slim Millien, who led Idaho State last year with 11.8 points per

game and set a school record by hitting 63 percent of his shots,

was 8-for-14 for 22 points. David Schroeder had 15 points for the

Bengals, who return two starters from last year's 9-18 squad.

Nicholas Rhodes, the Bengals' 6-9 junior, came down on his right

foot in an awkward fashion in the first half and spent the rest of

the game on the bench, with his shoe off and his foot elevated and

heavily taped.

One point of concern for Kansas, which was scheduled to leave a

few hours later for Hawaii and the Maui Classic, will be 3-point

shooting. The Jayhawks were only 2-for-13. The Bengals were

9-for-26.