LAWRENCE, Kan. _ The battle for undisputed possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference went to Kansas on Wednesday, the Jayhawks claiming a pulsating, 73-68 come-from-behind victory over Baylor at Allen Fieldhouse.
Third-ranked KU (20-2, 8-1 Big 12) stormed back from an eight-point first-half deficit to overcome the No. 2 Bears (20-2, 7-2) in a game that kept the Jayhawks atop the league standings as they continue their quest for a 13th straight league title.
Josh Jackson scored a career-high 23 points, including a baseline drive and dunk that gave KU a 66-64 lead _ as it turned out, the lead for good _ with 2:27 left.
However, it did get scary for the Jayhawks at the end. KU led 71-68 following one of two free throws by Svi Mykhailiuk with 18 seconds left. Baylor had one final possession to tie, but hounded by KU's defense, couldn't get a shot off and instead turned it over with 1.3 seconds remaining.
KU's Frank Mason, who had followed the Jackson bucket with two free throws with 1:55 left, was fouled before the final inbounds pass and iced the game by hitting two free throws for the 73-68 margin.
Mason finished with 19 points on 3-of-12 shooting. He hit 12 free throws in 12 tries on a night Jackson made just 5 of 9. Devonte Graham had 13 points and Mykhailiuk 11 for KU, which hit 41.5 percent of its shots, 9 of 20 3s and 20 of 27 free throws. BU hit 41.8 percent of its shots, including 8 of 22 from 3-pointer, and 4 of 6 from the line.
Baylor was led by Johnathan Motley and Manu Lecomte, who each scored 16 points, and Terry Maston, who had 14. Motley scored just two points the final half.
KU's win over the Bears stretched its home-court winning streak to 51 games. The Jayhawks have won 37 consecutive conference contests at home
The Jayhawks used a timely 14-0 run to turn a 36-28 deficit at 19:47 into a 42-36 lead at 16:31. Mason had six points, including a floater, and Mykhailiuk a pair of 3s in the run. Baylor immediately responded to take a 43-42 advantage with 14:47 left, courtesy of a 7-0 spurt.
KU used an 8-2 run to turn a 45-45 tie into a 53-47 advantage with 10:17 on the clock. Jackson and Graham had 3s in the run. However, in no time it was back to 53-52 KU at the 7:52 mark.
Motley scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed six rebounds while playing 18 minutes in the first half as Baylor led 34-28 at intermission. Baylor's next leading scorer was Maston, who hit for six points late in the half.
KU's Jackson scored 13 points in the first half and Graham had eight. Mason had just four points in the half on 1-of-6 shooting as KU struggled to 37 percent shooting _ 4 of 11 from 3.
Baylor, which trailed 7-2 early, kept it close until finally gaining separation. Down 19-18 with 8:22 left, the Bears used a 7-0 surge to grab a 25-19 advantage at 4:58. The Bears' run continued to 10-2 and ultimately 16-8 and Baylor led 34-26 in the last minute, with KU scoring the final points of the half.
