Kansas Jayhawks vs Baylor Bears Match Player Stats On Jan 18, 2021

Jared Butler scored 30 points, going 7-for-9 from 3-point range while also distributing eight assists Monday night as No. 2 Baylor toppled No. 9 Kansas 77-69 at Waco, Texas.

Butler, a junior who finished one point shy of his career-high, sizzled from deep and off the dribble as the Bears (13-0, 6-0 Big 12), the preseason pick to win the conference, maintained command of first place.

Meanwhile, the Jayhawks (10-4, 4-3) dipped into a precarious spot they're not accustomed to as perennial contenders who have claimed at least a share of all but one Big 12 title over the past 16 seasons.

Baylor's MaCio Teague added 13 points as the Bears shot 53.8 percent in handing Kansas its first back-to-back defeats in Big 12 play since 2012-13. Mark Vital led a 29-23 advantage on the glass with 10 rebounds.

The Jayhawks, who were led by Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji with 17 and 16 points, respectively, enjoyed unanswered sprees of eight and nine points in the second half to slice the deficit to five after trailing by 13 at halftime.

Baylor responded to each run, though, and has won all its games by at least eight points. It also improved to 20-1 at home the last two seasons, avenging a homecourt loss to Kansas last season.

The Bears wasted no time showing off why they are ranked first nationally in scoring margin, racing to an 16-5 lead.

They forged a 41-28 halftime margin after leading by as many as 16 before failing to score over the final 2:35. Butler scored 17 first-half points despite committing two fouls and playing 14 minutes in a half that featured 55.2 percent shooting from the Bears.

Braun made 4 of 4 shots from deep and scored 14 first-half points for the Jayhawks, who had trouble converting at the rim while shooting 38.5 percent from the floor.

Kansas' David McCormack, who averaged 20.3 points in the previous three games, managed just six points for the night while mired in foul trouble.

Baylor announced Monday that its home game against West Virginia, which was postponed on Jan. 12, has been rescheduled for Feb. 18. The teams also are scheduled to meet Feb. 15 at West Virginia.

--Field Level Media