Jan 23, 2022

Jayhawks rally late to defeat the Wildcats

Posted Jan 23, 2022 5:41 AM

MANHATTAN, Kan. – No. 7/7 Kansas scored the last 9 points to complete its rally from a 17-point deficit, as the Jayhawks earned a 78-75 victory over Kansas State in the 296th edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Saturday afternoon before a season-best crowd of 9,737 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.

Senior Ochai Agbaji scored the game’s last 6 points for Kansas, including the game-winner on a driving layup with 8 seconds left, as sophomore Nijel Pack’s 3-pointer was off the mark and Agbaji grabbed the rebound before being fouled for the final 2 points from the free throw line. Agbaji led the Jayhawks with 29 points.

K-State (10-8, 2-5 Big 12), which dropped to 1-4 in games decided by 3 points or less this season, led for nearly 37 minutes, including by as many as 17 early in the second half, before Kansas used a dominate second-half performance in the paint to secure its sixth straight win in the series.

Kansas (16-2, 5-1 Big 12) scored 26 of their 44 second-half points in the paint, including 10 second-chance points on 10 offensive rebounds. For the game, the Jayhawks posted a 45-23 rebounding advantage, which included 18 offensive rebounds that were converted into 19 second-chance points. The 45 total rebounds, 18 offensive rebounds and 19 second-chance points were all opponent highs.

Jayhawk senior David McCormack (15) and redshirt sophomore Jalen Wilson (10) combined for more rebounds than the entire K-State team, which managed a season-low 23 rebounds.