No. 9 Kansas snapped its three-game losing streak in one of college basketball’s toughest venues as the Jayhawks took an early punch from Kentucky and kept the Wildcats at bay for the rest of the way in a 77-68 win Saturday at Rupp Arena. Jalen Wilson led the Jayhawks with 22 points and Kansas dominated Kentucky on the offensive glass to end the Wildcats’ winning streak at four games and avenge last season’s 80-62 home loss to the Wildcats.
The game was the marquee showdown of the final SEC/Big 12 Challenge, and it delivered with both teams playing well offensively in a battle of the sport’s all-time winningest programs. Kentucky jumped out to an early 11-6 lead, but Kansas weathered the storm and never trailed again after the 9:35 mark of the first half. With the win, KU avoided its first-ever four-game losing streak under 20th-year coach Bill Self.
Oscar Tshiebwe led Kansas with 18 points and nine rebounds, but the Jayhawks negated his impact on the offensive glass by finishing with an 11-0 edge in second-chance points. Kentucky entered the game ranked No. 5 nationally in offensive rebounds per game at 14 while Kansas ranked No. 145 in the same category at 10.7 per game.
With the Jayhawks relying on an undersized center in KJ Adams Jr. and the Wildcats boasting one of the game’s top rebounder in Tshiebwe, it seemed UK would have an obvious advantage on the glass. Instead, it was Kansas that dominated in that regard while picking up a critical and much-needed victory.
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