Kansas basketball fans held their breath as the Jayhawks nearly suffered another early Big 12 Tournament exit. However, Bill Self’s team found a way to survive this time.
In an exhilarating, back-and-forth overtime thriller that featured seven ties and four lead changes, Kansas somehow came out on top against a high-octane UCF offense. A year after injuries to Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar doomed them in the opening round, the Jayhawks overcame a second-half meltdown to escape with a 98-94 overtime win against UCF.
Kansas defeats UCF in Big 12 Tournament
The matchup was a complete 180 from KU's 51-point road win over the Knights earlier in the season. This time around, UCF matched them shot for shot in a high-scoring thriller. Thankfully, KU’s poise in overtime proved to be the difference.
Kansas led by as many as 13 in the second half, but UCF stormed back with a 17-4 run. Costly mistakes nearly sent the Jayhawks packing, particularly when KJ Adams stepped out of bounds in the closing seconds of regulation. UCF had a chance to win at the buzzer but could not connect on a 3-pointer.
Perhaps the most surprising performance of the night came from AJ Storr, who has struggled all season but picked the perfect time for a breakout. The Wisconsin transfer dropped a season-high 19 points in 27 minutes off the bench before fouling out. Dickinson and Zeke Mayo also came up big, combining for 47 points and eight 3-pointers.
It was not the prettiest win, but the Jayhawks showed resilience in a way they have not most of the season. Instead of folding under pressure, they fought back and secured a hard-fought win. That mentality will be crucial moving forward.
On Thursday, KU faces Arizona in the quarterfinals, the same squad it beat in a nail-biter on Senior Day. A season sweep of the Wildcats would not only send KU to the semifinals but also boost their NCAA Tournament seeding hopes.