STILLWATER, Okla. – Kansas women’s basketball put forth its best offensive effort during Big 12 Conference and erased an 18-point deficit, but Oklahoma State held on to its lead late in the game to come out on the winning end, 74-70, on Wednesday evening inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington sparked KU’s near come-from-behind win with 23 points in the final half. She connected on 6-of-12 attempts from long range, as the Jayhawks (6-14, 0-9 Big 12) stormed back into the game and gave the Cowgirls (13-6, 3-5 Big 12) a scare for the final 20 minutes. After outscoring OSU, 23-16, in the third quarter, KU’s offense came alive and tied the game twice, but the Jayhawks couldn’t manage to take the lead as the game wore on.

For most of the final period, it was a one-possession ballgame and after trailing by as many as 18 in the opening half, cut the deficit to one with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Despite every effort to earn its first league victory of the season, Kansas couldn’t complete the comeback and leave Stillwater with the win.

Washington ended the night with 26 points to lead all scorers for the seventh time in her last nine outings. She shot 50 percent (10-of-20) from the floor for the third time in 2016-17, while also recording a pair of steals and assists. Redshirt sophomore guard McKenzie Calvert added 15, including a 4-of-5 mark from the free throw line. Sophomore guard Kylee Kopatich rounded out the Jayhawks in double figures after netting 10 points, her sixth game this season to reach double digits.

Sophomore guard Karli Wheeler led the Cowgirls with 22 points after connecting on 3-of-5 attempts from long range and converting all seven tries from the free throw line. Junior center Kaylee Jensen registered a double-double after recording 19 points and 13 rebounds. Jensen made 6-of-12 (.500) shots from the floor. Junior forward Mandy Coleman was the final Cowgirl to net double figures after scoring 19 points behind 6-of-10 effort from the field.

After a pair of makes from the 3-point line, Oklahoma State got out in front, 7-4, in the first quarter. After losing Washington, its leading scoring going into the contest, due to foul trouble in the opening minutes, KU was able to keep the game within reach for most of the quarter. It wasn’t until the final minute of the period, that OSU’s advantage reached double-digits. Calvert brought the Jayhawks’ deficit back to single-digit with a jumper from the elbow, but OSU’s Jensen answered with a jumper of her own at the buzzer, sending the Cowgirls into the second period with a 23-12 lead.

Calvert scored first coming out of the break at the end of the quarter, as KU’s defense went on to hold the Cowgirls scoreless for the first four minutes. Kansas forced 11 OSU turnovers in the first 13 minutes of the contest, but was unable to capitalize on Oklahoma State’s miscues and chip away at its deficit. By the end of the game, Kansas has forced a total of 24 turnovers.

Washington reentered the game in the final minutes of the first half and sank her first 3-pointer of the night to end an OSU run and spark five unanswered Kansas points. Despite its slow start to the period, Oklahoma State maintained its double-digit advantage and headed into intermission with a 34-21 lead. Calvert and Kopatich paced KU’s offense in the first 20 minutes of play with six and five points, respectively. The duo combined for three of KU’s five steals.

Junior guard Chayla Cheadle started off the second half with a drive the basket, good for the first points of the half. Cheadle’s layup sparked a 9-0 run coming out of the break, including seven-straight points from Washington, to cut Oklahoma State’s lead, 34-30. After staying within two possessions of the Cowgirls for several minutes, a 6-0 run by Calvert and Washington tied the ballgame, 41-41, with just over two minutes to play in the third period. After tying the game, OSU went on a 9-3 run to end period and headed into the final quarter with a 50-44 lead over KU.

Oklahoma State got on the board first in the final period, but KU quickly stole the momentum with a 9-0 run, including back-to-back 3-pointers from senior guard Timeka O’Neal. Kansas’ nine unanswered points tied the game for the second time of the night, 52-52, with just under eight minutes to play. With each attempt that Kansas made to take the lead, Oklahoma State had an answer and wouldn’t relinquish its advantage. Calvert sank a pair of free throws to make it a two-point contest with 1:30 left on the game clock, but OSU once again found a way to keep the score in its favor as the time ticked off the clock.

With 27 seconds left to play and down by four, Washington made her sixth triple of the night, which brought KU within one of the home team. Following Washington’s trey, the Cowgirls converted 2-of-2 attempts from the charity stripe to extend its lead to three. On the next possession, Washington had two tries to tie the game, but couldn’t get either attempt to fall and Oklahoma State held on to win, 74-70.

UP NEXT
Kansas returns to Allen Fieldhouse to host its first meeting of the year against Texas Tech on Saturday, Jan. 28. The Jayhawks and Lady Raiders tipoff at 11 a.m.

— KU Athletics —

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia’s Esa Ahmad had hoped to improve his defense entering a matchup with No. 2 Kansas. He ended up with a career scoring night.

Ahmad got plenty of open looks at the basket and broke out of a shooting slump with a career-high 27 points to lead No. 18 West Virginia to an 85-69 victory Tuesday, snapping the Jayhawks’ 18-game winning streak.

No. 1 Villanova also lost Tuesday, 74-72 to Marquette.

“I’ve kind of been passive and just passing the ball around,” Ahmad said. “I took it upon myself. My teammates looked for me and kept me positive. I love those guys for that.”

Ahmad led West Virginia in scoring over the first two months of the season but entered Tuesday’s game with four straight games in single digits.

He scored West Virginia’s first eight points against Kansas and finished 10 of 17 from the field. His previous scoring high was 19 points on two other occasions.

“We didn’t guard him and he got off to a great start,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “Of a team that played exceptionally well tonight, I thought he was probably the best player in the game.”

Coach Bob Huggins said Ahmad, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound sophomore, was West Virginia’s “best chance” at beating Kansas.

“Esa had two good days of practice, and he’s our best guy at attacking the rim,” Huggins said. “He’s got size. He’s wider. He’s got those huge hands.”

West Virginia (16-4, 5-3 Big 12) blew a double-digit lead after halftime for the third straight game. Svi Mykhailiuk’s 3-pointer put the Jayhawks ahead 59-58 midway through the second half. But that was their last lead.

Kansas (18-2, 7-1) then went nearly 3 minutes between field goals. Ahmad started and finished a 12-1 run with baskets to put the Mountaineers ahead 70-61 with 4:55 left.

West Virginia limited its turnovers to eight and went 19 of 23 from the line, making nine of their final 10.

“We did both of those things today,” Huggins said. “And when we do, we’re pretty good.”

Nathan Adrian added 11 points and Daxter Miles Jr. and Tarik Phillip each had 10 for West Virginia, which beat Kansas for the fourth straight time in Morgantown.

Josh Jackson matched a season high with 22 points before fouling out for Kansas. Devonte’ Graham added 17 points and Big 12 scoring leader Frank Mason III finished with 15, tying his third-lowest point total of the season.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: This was the start of the Jayhawks’ toughest stretch of the season with games against three straight ranked teams, including two on the road. Kansas came into the game shooting 50 percent from the field but was limited to 42 percent (25 of 59) on Tuesday.

The Jayhawks also went 6 of 15 from the free throw line.

“Just got to get in the gym and get better at that,” Jackson said.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers snapped a two-game losing streak with arguably their most complete performance of the season. When Kansas took the lead midway through the second half, West Virginia didn’t wilt the way it did in losses to Oklahoma and Kansas State.

“It was a must win,” Phillip said. “It’s what we talked about all week. Losing wasn’t on our mind.”

BEATING 1-2

Coupled with an 89-68 victory over then-No. 1 Baylor on Jan. 10, West Virginia accomplished the rare feat of defeating teams ranked first and second in the AP poll in same season. During the 2011-12 regular season, Indiana beat No. 1 Kentucky and No. 2 Ohio State.

HUGGINS BOOST

Huggins moved past Eddie Sutton into ninth place in major college history with his 807th career victory. Huggins also earned $25,000 for another win over the Jayhawks, a stipulation from a 2012 contract extension.

UP NEXT

Kansas plays at No. 4 Kentucky in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday, then hosts No. 5 Baylor on Feb. 1.

West Virginia hosts Texas A&M on Saturday ine the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

— Associated Press —

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Shaquille Cleare turned the ball over on Texas’ first two possessions. Not even 40 seconds had expired before Kansas’ Devonte’ Graham drained a 3-pointer in transition.

Thirty seconds later, Frank Mason III pulled up for a shot outside the arc to put Kansas up 6-0.

“I think that’s the best we started a game in the past few games that we’ve played in,” Mason said. “We have to do that every game moving forward.”

Graham scored 18 points, Mason added 17 and No. 2 Kansas beat Texas 79-67 on Saturday.

Freshman Josh Jackson chipped in 15 points for the Jayhawks while Svi Mykhailiuk added 12 points and Landen Lucas had 12 rebounds.

Kansas (18-1, 7-0 Big 12) hovered between a six- and eight-point lead for most of the second half. The Jayhawks only pulled away with 60 seconds remaining, as Graham and Mykhailiuk hit corner 3-pointers in front of the Kansas bench.

“We were so good early, you’re not going to keep playing that way,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “Texas, we kind of staggered them early and then the law of averages prevailed. They fought back. I don’t think you should apologize for playing somebody even.”

Texas (7-12, 1-6) opened the game with five turnovers in the first 4 minutes, letting the Jayhawks run out to a quick 10-point lead. Texas managed to cut the deficit to three points with 6 1/2 minutes remaining in the first half, but that was as close as the Longhorns would get.

Freshman Jarrett Allen posted season-highs with 22 points and 19 rebounds for Texas. Eric Davis Jr. added 12 points and Cleare scored 11.

BIG PICTURE

The next three games for Kansas are going to be the biggest test the Jayhawks have had all season. In a span of nine days, the Jayhawks will play three top seven teams. Two of those games take place in hostile road environments.

Kansas goes to No. 7 West Virginia on Tuesday and remains on the road to play at No. 5 Kentucky on the following Saturday. Kansas returns home that following Wednesday to host No. 6 Baylor.

The big win over the Longhorns should give the Jayhawks confidence heading into their tough test, but the big question is: Will Kansas have enough energy to get through it?

“This is a stretch that is probably as tough as we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Self said.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Villanova leapfrogged Kansas for the No. 1 spot on Monday. With the Wildcats’ definitive 30- and 10-point wins over Seton Hall and Providence this week, expect the top two spots to remain the same.

QUOTABLE

“It’s kind of like the `Twilight Zone’ because it feels like there’s nothing else going on here besides the game,” Texas coach Shaka Smart said of Lawrence and the University of Kansas. “Everybody’s locked in on the game. That’s a testament to the program and Coach Self and what they’ve built over the years.”

GOIN’ STREAKING

The win over Texas gave Kansas its 50th straight win in Allen Fieldhouse and its 36th straight at home in conference play.

UP NEXT

Texas returns home to host Oklahoma on Monday.

Kansas hits the road to start its gauntlet, playing at West Virginia on Tuesday.

— Associated Press —

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Tynice Martin scored 21 points and No. 24 West Virginia beat Kansas 62-51 on Wednesday night.

Martin was only 5-of-20 shooting, though made 9 of 12 free throws. Lanay Montgomery added 15 points and 13 rebounds for her eighth double-double this season and Teana Muldrow had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, her fourth double-double.

The Mountaineers (15-4, 3-4 Big 12) snapped a two-game losing streak despite scoring 16 points below their average and committing 25 turnovers.

Jessica Washington scored 24 points on 7-of-22 shooting for the Jayhawks (6-12, 0-7). McKenzie Calvert added 12 points.

Kansas had the lead briefly in the third quarter before a Martin 3-pointer put West Virginia up 39-37 at the end of the period.

Calvert got Kansas within four with 2 1/2 minutes left with a 3-pointer but Muldrow made a layup before the Mountaineers sank 10 free throws in the final 45 seconds.

— Associated Press —

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Frank Mason III had 16 points, Landen Lucas scored 14 and No. 2 Kansas held off Iowa State 76-72 on Monday night for its 17th straight win.

Svi Mykhailiuk added 13 for the Jayhawks (17-1, 6-0 Big 12), who snapped a two-game skid in Ames and opened 6-0 in the Big 12 for the 10th time.

Though it was never comfortable for Kansas, the Jayhawks led the entire second half. Iowa State star Monte Morris drilled a long 3 and two free throws to make it 75-72 with 14.6 seconds left. But then Devonte Graham’s free throw made it a two-possession game and Morris missed a 3 that would’ve made for an interesting finish.

Morris scored 23 points with seven rebounds and seven assists for the Cyclones (11-6, 3-3), who saw their recent string of success against the Jayhawks come to an end.

Iowa State had won four of its last six against the 12-time defending league champions.

Deonte Burton had 21 points on 21 shots for the Cyclones, losers of two straight for the first time in six weeks.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: This was a win Kansas can be proud of. Hilton Coliseum is one of the most intimidating atmospheres in America — especially when the Jayhawks come to town — and more than 14,000 fans braved an ice storm to scream at them. Victories like this are the reason Kansas keeps winning the Big 12, and a win in Ames could be the difference yet again come March.

Iowa State: The Cyclones let a huge opportunity slip by. Iowa State is very talented and remains a threat in the postseason because of its strong backcourt. But the Cyclones have lost tight games to Gonzaga, Baylor and Kansas, and their program has long since passed the day when moral victories mattered.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

In a slight surprise, voters picked Villanova over Kansas for the top spot on Monday. It’ll be hard for the Jayhawks to pass the Wildcats after Villanova routed Seton Hall by 30 points on Monday. The defending national champions host Providence on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Kansas hosts Texas on Saturday.

Iowa State plays at Oklahoma on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas women’s basketball dropped its second game of the 2017 campaign to No. 2 Baylor, as the Lady Bears swept the 2017 series with a 92-43 victory on Sunday afternoon inside Allen Fieldhouse.

Nationally-ranked Baylor (16-1, 6-0 Big 12) continued to prove that it’s not only the top team in the Big 12, but one of the best teams in the nation, as the Lady Bears controlled the game both offensively and defensively throughout all four quarters. With the loss, Kansas (6-11, 0-6 Big 12) dropped its third-straight game to BU at home.

In five of the last six outings, redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington has led Kansas’ offense after netting a team-high 15 points. Washington has now recorded 10 double-digit scoring efforts of the season, the most of all the Jayhawks. Sophomore guard Kylee Kopatich also recorded a double-figure scoring performance with 11 points, her seventh time this season to reach double digits.

The Lady Bears had six players in double figures in the second meeting of the season. Sophomore post Kalani Brown led Baylor’s offense with 16 points. Senior forward Nina Davis ended the afternoon with 15 points, while redshirt senior guard Alexis Prince added 12 points. Senior post Khadijiah Cave and junior guard Kristy Wallace rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Jayhawks fought to win the tipoff, but the first basket of the game went to the Lady Bears. Four minutes in, the Jayhawks remained scoreless, while Baylor opened with a 10-point run. Junior guard Chayla Cheadle sunk a free throw to put Kansas on the board and end BU’s run.

After five minutes of play, redshirt sophomore guard McKenzie Calvert made the Jayhawks first basket of the game from the floor. Washington added her first 3-pointer of the game with just two minutes remaining in the first quarter, as Kansas battled a slow start and cold-shooting effort form the floor. The following possession Cheadle took a charge, which sparked KU at the other end. Immediately after the defensive play, Kopatich added a 3-pointer, bringing the Jayhawks within 11 points of the Lady Bears. The Jayhawks’ defense held Baylor scoreless in the final three minutes of the quarter, but the Lady Bears had a 25-9 advantage.

Kopatich kicked off the second quarter with her second 3-point bucket of the day, Baylor responded with a 3-pointer from Prince. Washington hustled down the court to add a layup in the second minute, hoping to spark a much needed offensive charge for the Jayhawks. Despite the Jayhawks’ effort, Baylor’s offense controlled the quarter, extending the lead, 31-14.

Late in the first half, O’Neal sank her first 3-point basket of the day. Soon after that possession Kansas endured a four-minute scoring drought, while Baylor went on an 11-point run. Washington ended the drought with a basket from beyond the arc, but the Lady Bears managed to build up a 47-24 lead heading into the intermission.

The Lady Bears opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run, but Cheadle ended that run with a free throw. Washington extended KU’s run after finding Kopatich outside the 3-point arc. Kopatich netted five-straight points for Kansas and became the first Jayhawk to reach double figures. Baylor halted KU’s offensive momentum with a 3-pointer. Following Baylor’s shot from long range, KU endured another scoring drought, lasting nearly 4 minutes. While KU’s offense was held scoreless, the Lady Bears went on a 14-0 run. Once again, Washington put an end to the Jayhawks’ scoring drought with a free throw, joining Kopatich as the second scorer in double digits. Despite Washington and Kopatich’s efforts, the Jayhawks trailed Baylor, 73-35, after three periods.

Washington kicked off the final quarter with her third 3-pointer of the day. In the next four minutes, the Lady Bears scored 10 unanswered points extending their lead. Sophomore guard Jayde Christopher ended the run with her first basket of the afternoon, but it wasn’t long before another BU run was sparked. Baylor’s lead was too great for the Jayhawks to mount a fourth-quarter comeback, as the Lady Bears swept the 2017 series with a 92-43 victory.

UP NEXT
Kansas continues its two-game home stretch with No. 18 West Virginia on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Tipoff against the Mountaineers is slated for 7 p.m.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — No. 2 Kansas had the perfect remedy for its slow start: senior guard Frank Mason III.

Mason had 22 points, five rebounds and four assists, and the Jayhawks held off Oklahoma State 87-80 on Saturday.

Kansas (16-1, 5-0 Big 12) rallied for its 16th straight win and could move into the top spot when the AP poll comes out on Monday. No. 1 Baylor lost 89-68 to West Virginia on Tuesday.

When the Jayhawks fell behind early on against the Cowboys, Mason took over. He scored in transition. He connected from long range. He dished the ball around to open Jayhawks on the floor.

“(Mason’s) bulldog mentality, he’s getting that thing to the rim, he’s going to make the stop, he’s gonna sit down and guard,” Oklahoma State coach Brad Underwood said. “He’s gonna do whatever it takes for that team to win. There’s not many people that have that.”

Devonte’ Graham scored 21 points for Kansas, and freshman Josh Jackson added 20 points and 11 rebounds. Svi Mykhailiuk scored 14 points, and Landen Lucas grabbed 12 rebounds.

The Jayhawks grabbed their first lead when Graham burst down the lane for a layup with 14:10 left. Graham also had a key 3-pointer and Mason got loose in transition to help Kansas to the tight victory.

Kansas went 5 for 20 from 3-point range.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well at all today,” coach Bill Self said. “Devonte’ made three and everybody else was pretty cold.”

Jeffrey Carroll scored 23 for Oklahoma State (10-7, 0-5), and Mitchell Solomon had 16 points. Jawun Evans finished with 15 on 6-for-22 shooting.

The Cowboys got off to a nice start, holding the Jayhawks to 10 points in the first 12 minutes. Oklahoma State ran out to an 11-point lead over that same span, aided by early buckets from Evans and Carroll.

QUOTABLE

“Not one second in my 30 years have I ever thought any game wasn’t winnable,” Underwood said. “You’re damn straight. I don’t care who we play. I think we got a chance every single night to fight and to win. I expected to win tonight. If for one second I don’t ever do that, Oklahoma State should quit paying me.”

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Kansas looks set to ascend to No. 1, but Self doesn’t care very much about the rankings right now.

“I don’t know what’ll happen, if we’ll be 1, if Villanova’ll jump us or whatever,” Self said. “It’s really not a big deal. I’d much rather be 5-0 in the league than be No. 1. At least we have that.”

BIG PICTURE

Kansas remains the lone undefeated team in Big 12 play, but a difficult stretch is looming at the end of the month. The Jayhawks visit West Virginia and Kentucky and host Baylor over a span of nine days. If the Jayhawks want to keep their hopes alive for their 13th straight Big 12 title, they’ll have to find a way to give their starters adequate rest.

UP NEXT

Kansas travels to Ames, Iowa to take on the Iowa State on Monday.

Still in search of its first Big 12 win, Oklahoma State hosts No. 25 Kansas State on Wednesday.

— Associated Press —

LOS ANGELES – Kansas senior Frank Mason III and freshman Josh Jackson have been named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Wednesday evening.

Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the John R. Wooden Award, based on their performances during the first half of the 2016-17 season. Kansas is one of five school with two players chosen. Mason and Jackson are two of four student-athletes from the Big 12 Conference on the list.

Mason leads the Big 12 in scoring at 20.4 points per game and 3-point field goal percentage at 54.9 percent. The 5-foot-11, Petersburg, Virginia, guard has nine games of 20 or more points this season, including two 30-point efforts for the No. 2/2 Jayhawks (15-1, 4-0). A two-time Big 12 Player of the Week, Mason is second in the league in assists at 5.6 per game and also ranks among the conference leaders in 3-point field goals made (third at 2.4), field goal percentage (seventh at 53.2 percent), free throw percentage (seventh at 74.7 percent) and assist-to-turnover ratio (eighth at 2.3).

Jackson is fourth in the Big 12 with a 15.4 scoring average and tied for 10th in rebounding at 5.4 boards per game. The 6-foot-8, Detroit guard has three double-doubles on the season and leads Kansas with 22 blocked shots. A three-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and one-time Big 12 Player of the Week, Jackson has eclipsed the 20-point mark three times. The 2016 CBE Hall of Fame Classic Most Valuable Player, Jackson is second on the KU team with 24 steals and also ranks among the Big 12 leaders in field goal percentage (10th at 51.3), steals (10th at 1.5), blocked shots (ninth at 1.4).

The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2017 John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s. The leading candidates will be further pared to 20 top players in early February. Fifteen top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA will be submitted to voters on the Final Ballot prior to the NCAA Tournament. Voters are permitted to take into consideration the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament when casting the ballot. The 10-man Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament.

The 41st annual presentation of the John R. Wooden Award to the men’s and women’s most outstanding basketball player will be the anchor presentation of the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy’s on ESPN2 on Friday, April 7, 2017.

John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25
Dwayne Bacon, Florida State
Lonzo Ball, UCLA
Joel Berry II, North Carolina
Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson
Dillon Brooks, Oregon
De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky
Markelle Fultz, Washington
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
Josh Hart, Villanova
Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin
JOSH JACKSON, KANSAS
Justin Jackson, North Carolina
Luke Kennard, Duke
TJ Leaf, UCLA
Lauri Markkanen, Arizona
Kelan Martin, Butler
FRANK MASON III, KANSAS
Malik Monk, Kentucky
Monte Morris, Iowa State
Johnathan Motley, Baylor
Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Caleb Swanigan, Purdue
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Maurice Watson Jr., Creighton
Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga

— KU Athletics —

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Frank Mason scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half, and No. 2 Kansas rallied to beat Oklahoma 81-70 on Tuesday.

With No. 1 Baylor losing at West Virginia earlier in the night, the Jayhawks will be in position to claim the No. 1 ranking for the first time this season if they beat Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Josh Jackson scored 16 points and Devonte’ Graham added 13 for the Jayhawks (15-1, 4-0 Big 12), who have won 15 straight.

Rashard Odomes and Kameron McGusty each scored 13 points for the Sooners (6-9, 0-4), who lost their seventh in a row.

The Jayhawks opened the second half on a 13-0 run. A 3-pointer by Mason put Kansas up 56-47, and the Jayhawks maintained control from there.

— Associated Press —