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LAHAINA >> Kansas basketball fans cheered at the top of their lungs during timeouts, after big baskets and generally every chance they got.
There was a lot to be thankful for Wednesday.
The day started with the news that the NCAA cleared touted Kansas recruit Cheick Diallo for eligibility starting Dec. 1. It ended with the fifth-ranked Jayhawks hoisting the Wayne Duke Trophy after a 70-63 defeat of No. 19 Vanderbilt in the title game of the 2015 Maui Jim Maui Invitational.
Wayne Selden Jr. scored a career-high-tying 25 points on 8-for-11 shooting to lead the Jayhawks (4-1) of the Big 12 Conference, who trailed by four at halftime to the Commodores (5-1) of the SEC.
Kansas struggled in the first half against the Commodores’ combination of size — two 7-footers patrolled the paint — and ability to shoot the ball from the outside. The Jayhawks battled back with some timely ball-hawking and pressure on the perimeter.
Selden, a 6-foot-5 guard, shot 4-for-6 on 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds. He was named co-MVP along with point guard Frank Mason III (10 points, five rebounds, three assists).
"Coming out at first we were kind of rattled … they pressured us and packed it in and we didn’t really move the ball," Selden said. "Second half we were able to penetrate and get the ball moving and a lot of things opened up for us."
Selden punctuated the comeback from 10 points down with a 17-foot step-back jumper to go up seven with 13 minutes remaining.
Kansas, which has won 11 straight conference regular-season titles, is used to playing in big moments in front of packed houses. The packed Lahaina Civic Center crowd of 2,400, like the game, went the way of "Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk."
The Jayhawks even brought Diallo, of Mali, to talk on the postgame victory podium.
"It was a game in which there was no rhythm, and I think those are fun games to win because late in the season, in conference play, that’s how the games are," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "So, always a good preparation game for us moving forward."
The Maui title is the second for Kansas, which won it in 1996 behind Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce. Vanderbilt is a one-time Maui champion (1986).
Kansas built its lead to 13 points with five minutes left, but Vanderbilt attempted to rally. Selden missed two free throws with 28 seconds left and Commodores forward Damian Jones (17 points, 10 rebounds) scored on the other end to cut the lead to 68-63 with 16 seconds left.
Mason made one of two free throws and the Commodores were off on a 3, sealing the outcome.
"Shots that we are pretty accustomed to making, we didn’t make today," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. "One of the things that stands out about Kansas is their speed and quickness and their closing speed to get to shots."
After Vanderbilt’s hot start the Jayhawks managed to largely contain big men Luke Kornet and Jones and the Commodores’ shooters struggled to 6-for-27 shooting (22.2 percent) beyond the arc.
The last time these teams met, Kansas won it 89-82 in the 1997 Rainbow Classic.
UNLV 72, No. 13 Indiana 69
Patrick McCaw scored 20 points and the Runnin’ Rebels (5-1) hung on through the frantic final seconds for a victory over the Hoosiers (4-2) in the fifth-place game.
UNLV bounced back from its opening loss to UCLA with wins over Chaminade and Indiana, which leaves Hawaii with just one win.
Indiana trailed by 15 points in the first half and turned on some solid defense to get back in the game.
Wake Forest 80, UCLA 77
Devin Thomas had 21 points and nine rebounds, and the Demon Deacons (4-2), despite not making a field goal over the final 5:40, beat the Bruins (3-3) for third place.
The Demon Deacons (4-2) had a huge advantage at the free-throw line, going 30 of 42 compared to UCLA’s eight of 14.
Associated Press contributed to this report
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AP