Final in OT: Jayhawks chalk up quite a comeback

Kansas players celebrate winning the Big 12 outright by beating WVU 76-69 in overtime.

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. — No Big 12 team had swept a home-and-home from Kansas during the Bill Self Era, and 20th-ranked West Virginia’s prospects for doing so became more problematic once Juwan Staten and Gary Browne were ruled out 90 minutes before tipoff.

But it’s never hopeless, right? And West Virginia built and squandered an 18-point lead before falling in overtime 76-69. The 227th consecutive sellout had Allen Fieldhouse rockin’ and chalkin’ yet again.

No. 9 Kansas (24-6, 13-4) improved to 16-0 at home and West Virginia (22-8, 10-7) narrowly missed a chance to throw the league race into bedlam.

Here’s a recap of the updates from throughout the night:

Kansas wins 76-69 (final in OT)
Iowa State’s rally was superb on Monday and Kansas answered with its own Tuesday night. Down 18 in the first half, and trailing by eight late in regulation, the Jayhawks pulled it out to stay unbeaten at home this season. … After Devin Williams and Nathan Adrian fouled out in the extra period, and Kansas led by six in the final minute, Miles made a 24-footer. But Kansas made 4-of-4 foul shots, doing what WVU couldn’t do earlier.

Kansas wins 76-69 (final in OT)
Daxter Miles scored a career-high 23 and Tarik Phillip added 13, though he also committed a costly foul that helped KU force overtime. Holton added 12 points and 10 boards, helping WVU to a 46-34 rebounding edge. … Frank Mason III finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three assists to pace the Jayhawks, who also received a man-sized game from Jamari Traylor (14 points, nine rebounds).

Game tied 59-all (end regulation)
WVU failed to hold an eight-point lead in the final three minutes and Devonte Graham’s free throws tied it with 14 seconds left. (Free throws gifted him by Tarik Philli’s gift foul). The Mountaineers had the final possession, wherein Carter missed a 3 and Adrian had a point-blank putback stuffed from behind by Landen Lucas. Overtime awaits.

West Virginia leads 57-51 (1:55 second half)
Miles hit a big 3 to make it 53-44, stopping KU’s comeback momentum, and Phillip sank a crucial 18-footer. Meanwhile, Kansas remains 0-of-14 from 3.

West Virginia leads 50-44 (9:02 second half)
While Kansas—the league’s most accurate 3-point team—is 0-of-11 from deep, Holton just sank back-to-back 3s, including one from straight-on. He never shoots from there. But Kansas is rallying, as you suspected.

West Virginia leads 42-33 (15:49 second half)
The Phog has started to come alive thanks to a 7-0 run that brought the Jayhawks to within single digits. However, Kansas may have to finish this one without Perry Ellis, who has yet to emerge from the locker room with an apparent knee injury.

Daxter Miles led West Virginia during a hot-shooting first half.

West Virginia leads 40-26 (halftime)
Behind 13 points from Miles and a 26-11 rebounding margin, West Virginia controlled the opening half. (Who would’ve thought this could happen with Carter being held scoreless?) Phillip contributed nine points and two assists off the bench and Holton had six points and six rebounds. … If you had Hunter Mickelson in the first-half betting pool for Kansas, congratulations. His six points led the Jayhawks.

West Virginia leads 32-22 (3:39 first half)
A Miles 3 stretched the lead to 28-13 before Oubre sliced through the lane and posterized Macon on a slam. Then came a technical foul on Brandon Watkins, especially ill-timed because WVU had secured a defensive rebound a nano-second earlier. You could smell a Kansas run brewing, but Tarik Phillip sank a 3 to stem the tide. In the midst of all this, Jaysean Paige picked up his third foul trying to stay on Graham’s hip. … That rebounding gap remains wide: 23-9 in WVU’s favor, with Paige grabbing five so far.

West Virginia leads 25-12 (7:49 first half)
They’re stunned in Lawrence and feeling hopeful in Ames and Norman as the Jayhawks have started sluggish as the Greek economy. West Virginia owns a 19-6 rebounding edge, has forced 10 turnovers and held KU to three field goals in 12-plus minutes.

West Virginia leads 17-6 (11:56 first half)
SURPRISE! SURPRISE! (Read that in your best Slim Pickens voice.) While the Jayhawks haven’t scored in more than 5 minutes, WVU has fashioned a 13-0 run. Holton, Macon and Miles have four points each as West Virginia opens 8-of-14 shooting and leads 11-4 on the boards.

West Virginia leads 8-6 (15:40 first half)
After making a couple tough shots in the lane, WVU is 4-of-5 from the floor and looking good early. Kansas, which has three turnovers, is shooting 2-of-6. … Most awkward early cheer was for senior walk-on Christian Garrett picking up a foul (see his bio below).

 

“Rock Chalk, Jayhawk” in body paint welcomes the Mountaineers to Lawrence.

PREGAME NOTES

— Bill Self, reliving the Jayhawks’ difficult loss in Morgantown, said: “They beat us on two buzzer beaters. We didn’t make either play and they made two plays.”

— Kansas is a nine-point favorite and has won 30 consecutive “Senior Day” games. Against those long odds, a West Virginia victory tonight would set the stage for an intriguing weekend finale, whereby four teams could tie for the Big 12. (Iowa State and Oklahoma remain in the hunt, after Baylor was eliminated by Monday’s overtime loss in Austin.)

Self used this as evidence how good the Big 12 is, a refrain we’ve heard a lot recently (and one we hear every year from the coaches i every league).

“I thought it would be good at the start of the season, but I didn’t think there was five teams who could win it. I thought there were three teams maybe, but not five.”

—The Jayhawks’ lone senior, walk-on Christian Garrett, will have the entire spotlight during pregame ceremonies. “He hasn’t gotten much recognition, but he shows us what he’s about every day in practice. It’s important for walk-ons to find a way to impact the team, and Christian has found his niche.” … Garrett has appeared in six games and scored his lone basket against Texas Tech on Jan. 10. And get this: he’s cousins with Heisman winner Mike Garrett and Braves/Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss.

— West Virginia’s previous two trips to Lawrence weren’t close: The Mountaineers trailed by 29 two years ago during the Ben McLemore Show, losing 91-65, and they fell 83-69 last season. The Jayhawks shot a combined 55 percent i those wins with 46 assists on 62 baskets.

— My pregame prediction in today’s preview story was 80-66.







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