Field Level Media
Jan 10, 2023
KJ Adams Jr. scored a career-high 22 points to lead No. 2 Kansas to a 79-75 come-from-behind victory over Oklahoma on Tuesday in Lawrence, Kan.
The Jayhawks have not lost to the Sooners in Allen Fieldhouse since 1993.
The Sooners looked primed to break the decades-long losing streak, jumping ahead by 10 with just over five minutes remaining.
But the Jayhawks closed strong, finishing with an 18-4 run to keep the streak alive.
Jalen Wilson, Kansas' leading scorer at 20.2 points per game entering the contest, had just two points in the first half. Wilson scored 15 after halftime, though, including 10 at the free-throw line.
The Jayhawks (15-1, 4-0 Big 12) were 31 of 39 from the line, their most free-throw attempts since the 2016-17 season.
Adams' dunk to draw Kansas within 71-63 with 5:06 to play was the Jayhawks' first field goal since just under the 18-minute mark.
Kansas missed 12 consecutive shots in that time, but stayed within striking distance by converting at the free-throw line. Between field goals, the Jayhawks scored 18 consecutive points on free throws.
Just before Adams' dunk, the Sooners had started separating themselves a bit, with a 10-3 run to lead 71-61.
After struggling over the last two games, scoring just 15 combined points on 5-of-24 shooting, Oklahoma senior Grant Sherfield broke out with a season-high-tying 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting.
He went just 0-for-2 from the floor over the final 9:55, though, as the Sooners missed their last five shots.
Freshman Milos Uzan scored 11 points with just one turnover in 35 minutes for the Sooners before fouling out in the final minute.
Junior Sam Godwin equaled his season high with 12 points for the Sooners (10-6, 1-3). Godwin scored 10 of his points in a five-minute span in the first half.
The Sooners' defense focused on taking away Kansas freshman Gradey Dick, who came in as the Jayhawks' second-leading scorer at 14.3 point per game.
Dick finished with eight points, going 1 of 8 from the floor.
Kansas outscored the Sooners 17-7 off turnovers, including 11-3 in the first half.
--Field Level Media