'Hawks Escape Waco With 56-55 Win

If you think Coach Self doesn't look very happy in that pic, then you are correct.  KU played what I'll call a slow, "boring" game in Waco and managed to escape at the buzzer.  But, a win is a win, right?  Right.

Kansas scored the first basket of the game, but Baylor controlled most of the first half.  The Bears took a 22-18 lead into halftime.  That's not a typo.

After Baylor stretched that lead a tad to 28-23 after halftime, KU finally began to play like they cared about the final outcome.  KU took a 34-33 lead at the 13:08 mark, their first lead since 2-0 at the beginning of the game.  It would go back and forth for a bit, and would come down to the wire.

After two Brannen Greene free throws with seven seconds left, Kansas found themselves up three at 56-53.  The 'Hawks fouled on the inbounds, and Kenny Chery sank two free throws of his own with six seconds left.  The Jayhawks got the ball in to Frank Mason, who got down a dribble or two before being sent to the line with four seconds left with a 1-and-1 and a one-point lead.  Mason misses the free throw, Baylor rebounds, tries to get it down the court, and makes the extra pass as time expires, leaving them no time to attempt a game-winning shot.

Jayhawks win.

Whew.

Jamari Traylor led KU with 13 points on 6/7 shooting.  Traylor added five assists, two blocks, two assists, and a steal.  However, he fouled out of the game with 5:18 to go in the game.  Brannen Greene added 12 points and Frank Mason had 11.

Baylor dominated the 'Hawks on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 36-28.  Kelly Oubre and Jamari Traylor led the way for KU with five boards each.

KU shot 5/17 from 3-pt while Baylor went 8/15.  KU was 3/6 from the free throw line while Baylor went 11/14.

Up next for the Jayhawks, KU will Texas Tech in Lawrence on Saturday, January 10, at 2:00 PM Kansas time.  I hope Tubby Smith found those meat necklaces from the Pat Knight era.