No. 3 Kansas ends No. 1 Baylor’s 23-game run
Udoka Azubuike and No. 3 Kansas returned the favor in a Big 12 showdown that lived up to the hype.
The Jayhawks share the Big 12 lead again, and could return to the No. 1 spot in the AP poll, as well.
Azubuike had 23 points and a careerhigh 19 rebounds in a 64-61 win Saturday at Baylor, ending the Bears’ 23-game winning streak and likely ending the Bears’ fiveweek run as the nation’s No. 1 team.
“You could just feel the buzz. It was an exciting time and a huge win,” Jayhawks guard Devon Dotson said. “We’re a solid team that can make a run in late, late March. We’re going to enjoy this win, but build off it for sure.”
Kansas (24-3, 13-1 Big 12) has won 12 in a row since its first-ever home loss to Baylor on Jan. 11. The Jayhawks had a 10-point lead with 6 1⁄ minutes left in the rematch
2 before holding off Baylor’s late charge.
Baylor (24-2, 13-1) has never won a Big 12 title. There are four games left in the regular season.
Toppin driving force: Obi Toppin had 28 points as No. 5 Dayton won its 16th game in a row, beating visiting Duquesne 80-70.
Jalen Crutcher added 17 points and five assists for the Flyers (25-2, 14-0 Atlantic 10).
Toppin, a redshirt sophomore and potential first-round NBA draft choice, was 11-for-16 from the field, including 3-for-5 from beyond the 3-point arc. He topped 1,000 points for his career with an emphatic dunk in the second half.
Fan ejected in Tigers’ win: Samir Doughty scored 22 points and Auburn (23-4, 10-4 SEC) rallied from a 17-point deficit in the second half to beat Tennessee in a game marred by an ugly incident involving a fan.
A student was ejected from the game after directing a derogatory comment toward Tennessee’s Santiago Vescovi and will face a disciplinary hearing, an Auburn official said. The fan was overheard on TV calling out, “Go back to Uruguay! This is America!”
Also: Immanuel Quickley scored a careerhigh 26 points as 10th-ranked Kentucky (22-5, 12-2 SEC), pushed past Florida 65-59 for its sixth consecutive win. ... Saddiq Bey scored 22 points and No. 12 Villanova (21-6, 10-4 Big East) extended its late-February surge, beating Xavier 64-55 for its fourth straight win. ... Kevin Samuel scored six of his 19 points in overtime and TCU (15-12, 6-8 Big 12) extended No. 17 West Virginia’s Big 12 road woes with a 67-60 victory. The Mountaineers (19-8, 7-7) lost their fifth straight on the road. ... Tyger Campbell had 15 points and 11 assists as visiting UCLA (17-11, 10-5 Pac-12) rallied from nine points down to beat No. 18 Colorado 70-63 and tie the Buffaloes atop the Pac-12.