No. 9 Kansas snapped a three-game losing streak in one of college basketball’s toughest spots as the Jayhawks punched Kentucky in the lead and held off Durkat the rest of the way with a 77-68 win at Rupp Arena. Jalen Wilson led the Jayhawks with 22 points and Kansas dominated Kentucky on the offensive glass to end the Wildcats’ winning streak at four games and avenge last season’s 80-62 home loss to the Wildcats.
The game was the final SEC/Big 12 Challenge showdown and featured both teams playing well offensively in a battle of the sport’s all-time winningest programs. Kentucky jumped out to an 11-6 lead, but Kansas weathered the storm and never trailed again after the 9:35 mark of the first half. With the win, KU snapped its first four-game losing streak under 20th-year coach Bill Self.
Oscar Tshebwe led Kansas with 18 points and nine rebounds, but the Jayhawks spoiled his impact on the offensive glass by finishing with an 11-0 edge on second-chance points. Kentucky enters the game ranked 14th nationally in scoring offense and 5th, while Kansas ranks 145th in the same category at 10.7 per game.
With the Jayhawks relying on an undersized center in KJ Adams Jr. and the Wildcats boasting one of the game’s top rebounders in Tshiebwe, the Kingdom seemed to have a clear advantage on the glass. Instead, it was Kansas who dominated in this regard, picking up a crucial and all-important victory.
This story will be updated.