Kansas survives in three overtimes

Let me explain. The box score read No. 1 Kansas 109, No. 1 Oklahoma 106 in triple overtime, a pretty straightforward description that the Jayhawks had defeated the previously unbeaten Sooners and, as such, were the true king of the college basketball world, erasing any controversy that might exist among the national polls. Ratings are down, fan attendance is down, but games like this keep you strapped to your seat, with beer and chips all over the floor.

When people shuffle into work Tuesday morning they’re going to ask each other – did you see that Oklahoma-Kansas game last night?

Khadeem Lattin went to the line at the other end with 2 seconds left, but the 52 percent foul shooter clanked the front end of a 1-and-1 off the iron to force overtime.

“I could play two more overtimes right now”, Mason (15 points, 5-20 shooting) said with a smile. Kansas was in both.

Wichita’s Perry Ellis led the Jayhawks with 27 points, while Sunrise Christian product, Buddy Hield was beyond stellar for the Sooners with 46 points off of 23 shots. Woodard fouled out in the final seconds of the third overtime….

Kansas forward Perry Ellis (34) gets fouled by Oklahoma forward Ryan Spangler (00) on his way to the bucket during the second half, Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 at Allen Fieldhouse. Graham matched his season high of 15 points in the rout but has been doing a bit of everything for the Jayhawks lately, tallying 21 assists, 11 steals and only three turnovers over his last six games.

The Jayhawks led by 11 once again with 3:02 in the first half, but the Sooners finished the half on an 18-3 tear to take the lead. Now in his 13 season at the helm for the Jayhawks, he has two more Big 12 titles than home losses.

Hield had the game of his life Monday, putting up a career-high 46 points on multiple Jayhawk defenders.

The setting: Allen Fieldhouse, the holiest of college basketball arenas.

Both teams had a chance to end the game in regulation.

QUOTABLE: “We beat a team that could win a national championship”. Kansas will make the trip to Norman on February 13. Self said he thought it trumped the six-overtime game between Syracuse and CT in the 2009 Big East tournament because of the shot-making involved, and compared it to the Jayhawks’ angst-filled overtime defeat of Missouri four years ago in the final edition of the “Border War”. Wayne Selden squandered the first chance, a wide-open right-wing 3-pointer that clanged hard off the rim but would not fall. “One day, Danny Manning and I combined for 45”. 1 and 2 and it’s the second time for Oklahoma and Kansas. The Sooners trailed 32-21 in the first half.

The matchup was the first since 1990 involving a No. 1 and No. 2 team when both were from the Big Eight/Big 12. But in the end, Kansas (13-1) prevailed as a couple of late turnovers doomed Oklahoma down the stretch.

Up next for KU, a Saturday trip to Texas Tech. Jaysean Paige scored seven of his 20 points in the late game-clinching run for foul-plagued No. 17 West Virginia, which won its sixth consecutive game with a 95-87 victory over TCU in Fort Worth. Tied at 94-94 with two minutes left, Oklahoma missed their next shot and Kansas picked up the board, but missed the jumper on their next possession as well.