Late free throws propel Kansas
NO. 3 KANSAS 67, NO. 4 BAYLOR 65
WACO, Texas — Landen Lucas made two free throws with 11 seconds left and No. 3 Kansas grabbed a stranglehold on the Big 12 race with a 67-65 victory at No. 4 Baylor on Saturday.
The Jayhawks (24-3, 12-2) have a three-game lead in the Big 12 standings over Baylor with four games to play. With one more victory, Kansas will match the UCLA teams of the 1960s and ’70s by winning its 13th consecutive conference championship.
Baylor (22-5, 9-5) had one more chance, but Manu Lecomte missed on a shot he took surrounded by defenders. As the ball ricocheted off the front of rim and toward the end line as time ran out, Jayhawks guard Devonte Graham threw his arms up in celebration.
Frank Mason III had 23 points for the Jayhawks, including some significant points in a spurt midway through the second half for their first lead. Josh Jackson had 16 points with some highlight dunks.
Johnathan Motley had 19 points for Baylor, which has lost four of its last six games. Lecomte had 16 points and Jo Lual-Acuil 11.
In other games involving Big 12 men’s teams Saturday, Jevon Carter scored a season-high 24 points to lead No. 9 West Virginia to an 83-74 victory in double overtime over Texas Tech. West Virginia (21-6, 9-5) let a late lead slip away and was forced to play overtime for the second consecutive game. Keenan Evans tied a career high with 28 points for Texas Tech (17-10, 5-9). … D.J. Johnson tipped in a miss by Kamau Stokes with 1.6 seconds left, then made a free throw to send Kansas
State to a 64-61 victory over Texas that snapped the Wildcats’ three-game losing streak. Wesley Iwundu scored 16 points and Barry Brown scored 15 for Kansas State (17-10, 6-8). Kendal Yancy scored 13 for Texas (10-17, 4-10). … Naz Mitrou-Long had 15 of his 25 points in the first half and Iowa
State beat TCU 84-71 to move into a three-way tie for second in the Big 12. Monte Morris added 18 points with 11 assists for the Cyclones (17-9, 9-5). Alex Robinson had 16 with eight assists for TCU (17-9, 6-8). … Jawun Evans scored 16 of his 27 points in the final seven minutes to help Oklahoma
State rally and beat Oklahoma 96-92. Jeffrey Carroll scored 23 points for the Cowboys (18-9, 7-7). Rashard Odomes had career highs of 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Sooners (9-17, 3-11).