Field Level Media
Feb 24, 2020
Udoka Azubuike continued his surging stretch run Monday, recording 19 points and 16 rebounds for his 13th double-double of the season as No. 1 Kansas trampled Oklahoma State 83-58 at Lawrence, Kan.
The Jayhawks, who won their 13th straight, climbed to the top of the polls on Monday, overtaking Baylor after beating the Bears on Saturday and forging a first-place tie in the Big 12 Conference.
Kansas (25-3, 14-1 Big 12) was previously ranked No. 1 for one week in mid-December.
Azubuike, who erupted for 23 points and 19 boards in the Baylor showdown, became the 62nd player at Kansas, and the 17th coached by Bill Self, to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
The Jayhawks improved to 72-12 in games played by the oft-injured senior center, who remains on pace to set the Division I career record for shooting percentage. His career field-goal percentage is .744 after he made 6 of 7 attempts Monday.
A 20-2 flurry in the first eight minutes of the second half featured a string of nine consecutive makes and gave Kansas a 60-32 bulge.
Devon Dotson, the Big 12's leading scorer, started 1-for-10 but still contributed 11 points. Ochai Agbaji added 15. Marcus Garrett distributed seven assists against one turnover.
Oklahoma State (14-14, 4-11) became the sixth opponent in the past seven games to shoot worse than 40 percent against Kansas and the 16th foe this season to net 60 or fewer points.
Cameron McGriff scored 16 points to lead the Cowboys, who shot just 38.5 percent from the field after winning four of their previous six following an 0-8 start in Big 12 play. Lindy Waters and Isaac Likekele added 11 points each.
Attempting to overcome fatigue stemming from the emotional win two days earlier at Baylor, the Jayhawks shot just 34.4 percent in the first half but countered by holding the Cowboys to 32.3 percent. Kansas thawed out in the second half and finished shooting 43.8 percent.
Azubuike posted eight points and 11 rebounds in the first half, going 4-for-4 from the foul line, where he typically struggles.
Waters netted seven first-half points to lead the Cowboys, who trailed 35-25 at halftime.
--Field Level Media