LAWRENCE, Kan. — No. 6 Kansas is one Senior Day victory away from claiming at least a share of the 2021-22 regular-season Big 12 men’s basketball title.
Ochai Agbaji scored 22 points on 8-of-19 shooting and Christian Braun added 12 points as the Jayhawks edged TCU, 72-68, Thursday at Allen Fieldhouse in a rematch of Tuesday night’s game won by the Horned Frogs, 74-64, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Thursday’s victory, which didn’t come easy — KU led by 12 the first half and trailed by as many as six in the second — pushed KU’s record in Big 12 play to 13-4 heading into Saturday’s 3 p.m. home game against Texas.
Baylor also is 13-4 entering its regular-season finale Saturday against Iowa State at 5 p.m. in Waco, Texas.
Dajuan Harris had 11 points and David McCormack contributed 10 points and four rebounds for Kansas (24-6), which will enter Saturday’s game having won 38 consecutive Senior Day contests. Jalen Wilson added 10 boards and nine points.
KU on Thursday snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 10-0 all-time versus the Horned Frogs (19-10, 8-9) in Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks also improved to 108-16 following a loss in the 19-year Bill Self era, which started in 2003-04, including 4-1 this season.
Emanuel Miller scored 18 points and Damion Baugh 14 for TCU.
Agbaji scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting the first half as the teams played to a 35-35 tie. Miller led the Horned Frogs with 10 points. KU led by as many as 12 points (20-8) in the half.
Mitch Lightfoot picked up a technical foul in the first half, ostensibly for saying something to TCU’s Eddie Lampkin after finishing a lob slam dunk to give KU a 26-17 advantage with 5:33 left.
TCU hit the two technical foul free throws and went on a 16-7 run to tie the score at 33 at 1:15.
The Horned Frogs opened the second half on a 9-4 run and grabbed a 44-39 advantage at 15:58. Baugh had four points, Chuck O’Bannon hit a three and Mike Miles had a basket in the run.
It was 49-43 TCU at 14:38. Back-to-back 3s by Harris and Joseph Yesufu cut the gap to 53-51 at 12:51. Undaunted, TCU kept its poise and it was 55-51 Horned Frogs at the 10:45 TV timeout.
KU came back from the six-point deficit when Braun hit a 3 at 9:01 to give KU a 56-55 lead. TCU immediately regained a one-point lead on a bucket by Miller.
It was 60-59 KU after two free throws by Agbaji with 7:04 left. Agbaji then stepped in front of a TCU pass, stole the ball, raced in and slammed and KU led, 62-59, at 6:24. McCormack hit a pair of free throws at 4:25 and the three-point lead stayed at 64-61.
Braun hit a huge 3 at 3:26 as KU grabbed a six-point lead, 67-61. Harris hit a driving layup to give KU a 69-61 lead at 2:39.
It was 69-65 with 57 seconds left after two quick hoops by TCU. Wilson hit two free throws to make it 71-65. KJ Adams fouled O’Bannon on a three-point try at 39.4 seconds. He hit all three free throws to make it a three-point game. Yesufu missed a shot at with 10 seconds to go, with Harris rebounding. The shot was ruled to not hit the rim and it was TCU ball at 8.7 seconds.
On its final possession, Miles had a driving layup rejected by Harris at 4.0 seconds. Wilson, who rebounded, was fouled at 2.8 seconds left and hit a free throw and missed the second and KU won, 72-68.
The Jayhawks on Saturday will be trying to claim at least a share of their 16th league title in the last 18 seasons.
