No. 1 Kansas Edges No. 2 Oklahoma After 3 Thrilling Overtimes

It was a ideal storm for those of us who love college basketball. But it was his 3-pointer when the Jayhawks had established a 32-21 lead late in the first half that once more changed the complexion of the game. With 2.4 seconds left and the game tied at 86, the Jayhawks’ Frank Mason III was on the baseline about to get the ball from an official to inbound.

Kansas: Ellis played 53 minutes…. Woodard fouled out in the final seconds of the third overtime….

OU had eight seconds to hit a three and tie it. Did Self consider fouling the Sooners to avoid a last-second trey try?

When it came down to a free throw, Kansas didn’t miss. Its biggest opportunity came at the end of regulation, when Khadeem Lattin had a chance to take the lead with just over two seconds remaining after Landen Lucas was called for a controversial over-the-back foul.

Perry Ellis had 27 points and 13 rebounds, Devonte Graham hit the go-ahead free throw in the third overtime, and top-ranked Kansas outlasted Buddy Hield and second-ranked Oklahoma 109-106 on Monday night in Lawrence, Kansas.

Fortunately, the players covered over a multitude of sins by the officials.

Kansas was up for the task though as in the three overtime game they put up 109 points in front of a rockin’ crowd at Allen Fieldhouse and did it with multiple guys. And then there was Hield.

Hield was 13-23 from the field and made 8 of 15 from three-point range, adding 8 rebounds and 7 assists.

Carlton Bragg played 3 minutes, had 2 points, a rebound, and a turnover.

Hield’s brilliant performance ended with a pair of turnovers and a missed three-pointer, as Kansas closed the game on a 5-0 run.

The Jayhawks, who travel to Texas Tech Saturday, were fired up after the epic game. “I was happy to be able to shoot free throws at the end”.

A limited number of returned tickets for the WVU game will go on sale at 10 a.m. on game day at SoonerSports.com.

More incredible than his raw stats are his tempo-free numbers.

Now down one with just 12 seconds on the clock, Oklahoma took a timeout… and had the ball stolen on the subsequent inbounds. He’s now shooting better than 45 percent from beyond the arc this season. “No matter how good I do, I believe I could have done better”.

Hield maybe hasn’t gotten as much pub as LSU’s Ben Simmons or Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine.

Bill Self is 198-9 at Allen Fieldhouse as Kansas’s coach.

But it didn’t happen during the four years he coached his alma mater, Kansas State, or during his previous four seasons with the Sooners. “I thought we handled possessions better offensively and kept them from getting out in transition, which got us back in the game there in the first half”. I took a step closer and went all out to deny. Paige led six players in double figures for West Virginia (13-1, 2-0 Big 12). The Jayhawks have won 11 consecutive conference titles. Eligibility-conqueror Perry Ellis led the Jayhawks with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Just how deep are the Jayhawks? Diallo especially should improve as the season wears on, which means Kansas may not even have hit its stride yet.