OU Loses Tight One At Kansas

All five Kansas starters finished in double figures as the Jayhawks held on for an 83-75 win over Oklahoma on Monday night.

Kansas jumped out to an early lead, but the Sooners came storming back. Cameron Clark hit two free throws with 2:55 to play in the first half to tie the game at 33-33, but the Jayhawks stepped on the gas before the half. 

KU ended the first on a 9-0 run and took all the momentum to the home locker room.

But once again, the Sooners bounced back. OU started the second half on a 10-2 run and in just two minutes, was within one point of No. 5 Kansas.  The game remained close for the rest of the night, but Naadir Tharpe made sure KU held on.  Tharpe scored eight points in the game's final two minutes to held seal the victory. 

Tharpe led KU with 19 points on 6-7 shooting. Tharpe shot 6-6 from the free-throw line and dished out five assists. 

Andrew Wiggins and Wayne Selden added 15 points each, while Joel Embiid grabbed 13 rebounds to go with his 12 points.  Perry Ellis chipped in 11 points and four boards. 

Clark led Oklahoma with 18 points and four rebounds, while Buddy Hield added 16 points.  Jordan Woodard acored 10 points and dished out six assists, while Ryan Spangler snagged nine boards to go with his nine points. 

Both teams shot it well from the floor on Monday.  Kansas shot 44.6 percent from the floor and 43.8 percent from downtown. The Jayhawks really stepped up from the free-throw line, nailing 26 of 30 attempts. 

OU shot 44.3 percent and 42.9 percent from 3-point range.  The Sooners also cashed in from the line, hitting 15 of 20 shots. 

Kansas outrebounded the undersized Sooners 40-29 and recorded five blocks to OU's one. 

Oklahoma (20-8, 9-6) hosts Texas on Saturday.

Kansas (22-6, 13-2) clinched at least a share of the Big 12 title for the 10th straight season.  The Jayhawks travel to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State on Saturday.