In a critical game for the Big 12 title race, the Kansas
Jayhawks won a double overtime thriller against the Oklahoma State Cowboys,
68-67. The win moves Kansas back into first place, and KU now has its sights
set on a ninth consecutive league title after winning the hardest game left on
its schedule.
Oklahoma State and Kansas are both top defensive teams,
which was on full display last night as both failed to get anything going
offensively. Kansas’ Ben McLemore struggled from the floor, but the Jayhawks
once again got a strong game from point guard Elijah Johnson, who attacked the
rim and took good care of the ball. For the most part, Kansas was carried by
Travis Releford (18 points) and Jeff Withey (17 points).
Kansas led for almost the entire second half, and seemed on
the verge of putting the game out of reach when Releford made an acrobatic
layup to give Kansas a four point lead late in the game. However, Oklahoma
State rallied back to force overtime, and forced a second OT when Kansas again
let a lead slip away. Both teams stalled on offense, as Johnson fouled out for
Kansas and star freshman Marcus Smart fouled out for Oklahoma State. At the end
of the game, KU’s Naadir Tharpe got into the lane and hit a short jumper, which
gave KU a one point lead. In the final seconds, Oklahoma State’s Markel Brown
took a tough jumper that missed, and Releford made an acrobatic save along the
sideline to prevent a dead ball and allow the clock to run out. It was a
deservingly thrilling finish to the biggest game of the Big 12 season.
Kansas has a favorable home schedule remaining, as it hosts
TCU, West Virginia and Texas Tech – the three worst teams in the league. Kansas
will face another tough test on Monday when they travel to Ames to take on a
good Iowa State team. If the Jayhawks can win that one, it may be nearly
impossible for KU to lose out on a ninth consecutive Big 12 title.
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