Kansas showed exactly why the Jayhawks are heading towards a 9th straight Big 12 title this season. They win on the road. Sometimes it isn’t pretty, like during Wednesday nights 68-67 double OT win at Oklahoma State, but a win is a win is a win.
Kansas appeared to have the game in control through much of the second half only to string a few empty possessions together to assist as much as possible in keeping Oklahoma State in the game. Kansas’ sloppy play led to OSU having a chance to win the game at the end of both regulation and the first overtime. Offensively the Jayhawks were the opposite of good in the half-court. Kansas scored only 1 field goal in either overtime, but the one couldn’t have come at a better time. PG Naadir Tharpe came up big as he hit a floating shot in the lane to give Kansas the 1 point lead and ultimately the win.
The game saw 16 ties and 23 lead changes before the Jayhawks forced OSU’s Markel Brown into a tough shot attempt that bounced off the rim and into the Cowboys Phil Forte’s hands. However, Forte fumbled the offensive rebound before attempting to throw it off Travis Releford. Releford’s nifty footwork avoided Forte’s attempt and his quick hands saved the ball from going out of bounds to give Kansas the win.
Kansas was led by Travis Releford’s 18 points and 6 rebounds. Jeff Withey came up big with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks. Box Score
Kansas is now 22-4 on the season and 10-3 in Big 12 play. The Jayhawks now head back to Lawrence where they will face TCU on Saturday.
KU OSU
FG Percentage 41.0 32.8 3-Point FG % 9.1 19.0 FT Percentage 63.0 67.7 O - rebounds 14 13 D - rebounds 36 28 Total Rebounds 50 41 Turnovers 16 10 Points / Paint 44 20 Points off T/O 6 10 2ND Chance 14 12 Fast Break 12 5 Bench Points 8 13
