It wasn't always pretty but it was a win. Kansas has now won 23 of the last 25 games in Manhattan Kansas but it's hard to argue that the task hasn't become more difficult in recent years. Early on Kansas looked fairly comfortable using a solid defensive effort to give themselves a double digit halftime lead while holding Kansas State to their lowest first half point total of the season.
However at the start of the second half Kansas State finally caught a bit of an offensive surge and made this one a contest. The Wildcats were even able to snag a one point lead midway through the second before Tyshawn Taylor knocked down a pair of threes to kick off a Kansas run that would extend the lead to double digits for the Jayhawks once again.
Kansas took that lead into the final three minutes before things nearly fell apart for Kansas. Just as they did a couple of weeks back against Missouri, Kansas failed to score, couldn't convert free throws and turned the ball over under pressure. Fortunately in this instance, Kansas State wasn't able to put together the run that was needed to get over the hump.
Kansas wins this one by a final score of 59 to 53. It's marks another road win for Kansas and one that had been circled on the calendar as a potential stumbling block. Tyshawn Taylor led the Jayhawks with 20 points and 5 assists. Jeff Withey might have once again been the story for Kansas as the junior center provided 18 points, 11 rebounds and 9 blocks.
Withey's play was absolutely critical for the Jayhawks in a game where Thomas Robinson really struggled to get things going. Much of the success of this team over the last week and a half is owed to Jeff Withey and hopefully that high level of play is something he can keep contributing down the stretch. Kansas now sits at 11-2 in the Big 12. The Jayhawks next game is a home contest against Texas Tech.