No. 3 Kansas gets fifth win in a row, 63-58 over No. 24 TCU

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Big 12 scoring leaderJalen Wilson was struggling with his shot for third-ranked Kansas,and standout freshman Gradey Dick didn’t score again after reaching19 points only two minutes into the second half.

The Jayhawks, in pursuit of their 21st Big 12 regular-seasontitle, still never trailed after halftime and extended the league’slongest active winning streak to five in a row, beating 24th-rankedTCU 63-58 on Monday night.

“I’ve said all along, we’ve got five guys that can all go outthere and play and take over the game. And that’s the beauty of ourteam,” said Wilson, who had 13 rebounds while making only 3-of-11shots for seven points, more than 13 below his season average.“We’re all going to have some type of effort to win. ... That’spart of a championship team.”

Damion Baugh missed a potential tying 3-pointer with fiveseconds left for TCU (18-10, 7-8 Big 12). Shahada Wells missed afollow-up layup before Kevin McCullar, who finished with 15 points,was fouled and made two free throws to seal it for the Jayhawks(23-5, 11-4).

Kansas began the night tied with idle eighth-ranked Texas forthe conference lead. Coach Bill Self’s reigning national championshave won seven of eight games since a three-game losing streak thatincluded a 23-point home loss to the Horned Frogs.

“We haven’t accomplished jack, but we’ve put ourselves in afavorable position to maybe do something,” Self said. “Everybodytalked about our sky’s falling when we lost three in a row. In thisleague, that can happen easily. But we’ve recovered pretty goodsince then.”

Not even an appearance from Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggancould get the Frogs over the hump. They were within 56-53 with 6:07left when the four-year starting quarterback, still in his tuxedoafter receiving the Davey O’Brien Award in a ceremony about fourmiles from campus, waved the crowd into a frenzy while going to acourtside seat.

“He looked good tonight with the tux on,” Self said. “I’m justglad he didn’t get here any earlier.”

Neither team made a field goal in the final 4:19. TCU missed itslast six shots over that span, while the Jayhawks were 0-for-4 inthe final 4:45.

The Frogs tied the game at 48 with 10:13 left when Jakobe Colesmade a tough leaner while being fouled, but missed the free throwthat would have put them in the lead.

Mike Miles Jr. had 13 points for TCU, which has lost five of itslast six games. The first four of those losses came when the guardwas out with a hyperextended right knee. Coles added 12 points andBaugh had 11.

It was only the second game Miles and big man Eddie Lampkinplayed together for the Frogs since their 83-60 win at AllenFieldhouse on Jan. 21. That was the second-worst home loss forKansas in Self’s 20 seasons.

With both of them starting again, TCU beat Oklahoma State 100-75at home Saturday to end a four-game losing streak while hitting thecentury mark in a Big 12 game for the first time. Lampkin, whomissed four of six games after a high left ankle sprain in thefirst meeting against the Jayhawks, had two points and eightrebounds in the rematch.

“It’s disappointing how we played and how we executed and how wehandled the situation,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. “Obviouslyplayed good in our last game, excited about having our guys back.But we just didn’t carry it over.”

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: The Jayhawks reached 11 conference wins for the 29thconsecutive season, a streak that began in 1994-95 and is thelongest active in Division I. They have three regular-season gamesleft, two at home before the finale at Texas.

TCU: After shooting a season-high 68.6% against Oklahoma Statetwo days earlier, the Frogs were a season-low 30.3% (20 of 66) fromthe field against Kansas. They missed their first eight shots inthe first 5 1/2 minutes of the game, then missed their last sixshots before the break. TCU missed nine of it last 10.

UP NEXT

Kansas is home Saturday to play West Virginia.

TCU travels to Texas Tech on Saturday.