ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Cole Aldrich had 18 points, 11 rebounds and blocked five shots, helping top-ranked Kansas overcome a sloppy night to hold off Memphis 57-55 in a rematch of the 2008 national championship game Tuesday.
Kansas (2-0) led most of the night despite 21 turnovers, but could never shake the scrappy and supposedly overmatched Tigers.
Memphis (1-1) closed within three on Doneal Mack's 3-pointer with a minute left, then cut the lead to 56-55 on Elliot Williams' long 3 with 16.7 seconds left.
Sherron Collins hit 1 of 2 free throws at the other end to give Memphis a final chance, but Williams' contested 3-pointer clanged off the back iron.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
