No. 9 Kansas blows lead, then holds off No. 5 Texas, 88-80

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Dajuan Harris Jr. waswilling to acknowledge that Kansas was facing something rare whenfifth-ranked and Big 12-leading Texas arrived at Allen Fieldhouseon Monday night: a must-win game.

The defending national champs played like it.

Gradey Dick scored 21 points, Harris had 17 points, six reboundsand five assists, and the ninth-ranked Jayhawks held on afterblowing a 14-point first-half lead to beat the Longhorns 88-80 andtighten the league race.

Kevin McCullar Jr. added 16 points, Joseph Yesufu scored 14 offthe bench and KJ Adams finished with 10, helping the Jayhawks(19-5, 7-4) overcome an off night from Jalen Wilson. The league’sleading scorer at 21.5 points per game battled foul trouble and washeld to just two, ending his streak of 25 straight double-figuregames.

“We knew we had to come in here and get a win,” said Dick, whohad the Jayhawks’ only two 3-pointers. “The big thing, just inpreparation for the week, was coming out with energy. When we dothat, we’re a scary team.”

The Jayhawks needed everyone’s help holding off the Longhorns’Marcus Carr.

The Minnesota transfer, who had a game-high 29 points, keptanswering Kansas baskets down the stretch. His 3-pointer got theLonghorns within 77-68 with 2:25 left, three free throws made it78-71 with 1:31 to go, and his three-point play got the Longhorns(19-5, 8-3) within 86-80 with 23.5 seconds remaining.

Texas quickly fouled Dick at the other end, and his free throwwith 18 seconds left helped to put the game away.

“It was as close to a must-win as you could have this early inthe season to win the league,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “You godown three games with seven left, you’d have to win out and get alot of help from others. Now, we still have as hard a schedule aseverybody, but we can kind of control our own destiny where if weplay well, we have a shot.”

Timmy Allen finished with 18 points for the Longhorns.Sir’Jabari Rice had 12 before fouling out.

“It was their night tonight in terms of what they got done,”Texas interim coach Rodney Terry said.

The Longhorns have made a habit of overcoming double-digitdeficits: 18 down to beat TCU, 12 down to beat Texas Tech and 14down to beat No. 12 Kansas State last Saturday in a game playedjust down the road.

So it wasn’t that surprising when Texas dug another 14-pointhole Monday night.

Just like the Longhorns did in Manhattan, though, they began torally. Texas shook off 10 first-half turnovers to get within 42-35by the break, then kept coming in the second half. Hunter hit a3-pointer, Carr added a couple of buckets and it was 43-all whenSelf called a timeout to slow Texas’ momentum.

Unlike the Horned Frogs, Red Raiders and Wildcats, the Jayhawksrose to the challenge.

McCullar’s three-point play while they were clinging to a 49-48lead gave them a boost, and Dick added a couple of free throws. Butit was back-to-back buckets by Harris, who is known more as adistributor than as a scorer, that pushed the lead to 58-50 withabout 12 minutes to go.

Texas closed within 66-60 but, after the Jayhawks pulled downtwo offensive boards, Dick hit another 3-pointer. And when Yesufubookended a couple of free throws by Harris, the lead had stretchedto 75-62 with 3 minutes to go.

The Jayhawks were able to fend off Carr and the Longhorns fromthere.

“Give those guys credit. They came in and played at a very highlevel,” Terry said, “and we knew that would be the case.”

BANGED-UP BIRDS

The Jayhawks were missing several backups. Zack Clemence has ahurt knee, Bobby Pettiford Jr. is dealing with a hamstring injuryand Zuby Ejiofor a foot injury. Kyle Cuffe Jr. (knee) and CamMartin (shoulder) also were out.

“I thought the bench was great. As good as they’ve been allyear,” Self said. “We had nine guys we could put in the game.”

BIG PICTURE

Texas has struggled to get off to good starts this season, andit seemed the energy the Longhorns expended climbing back intoMonday night’s game was missing by the end. Carr tried to carrythem but he needed more help.

Kansas got the production it needed from the bench. Yesufuprovided the scoring pop but big man Ernest Udeh Jr. and guard MJRice, both seldom-used freshmen, also provided important minutesfor the Jayhawks.

UP NEXT

Texas heads home after its Sunflower State swing to play WestVirginia on Saturday.

Kansas has a two-game trip next with Oklahoma on Saturday andOklahoma State on Tuesday.