Jayhawks Avoid Collapse at TCU

The Kansas Jayhawks needed a road win in Fort Worth to maintain any hope of continuing their conference title streak. They got the result, but tonight's game followed an all-too-familiar pattern that caused a lot of hand wringing amongst fans.

This was a competitive game throughout, with the two teams battling to a 37-37 tie at halftime, thanks to big early performances by Devon Dotson and Ochai Agbaji.

In the second half, it actually looked like KU could run away with it at times. Kansas built up a ten point lead and at the under-eight timeout, appeared poised to cruise to a much needed road victory. However, as we've seen so many times this year, a slew of turnovers, fouls, and disorganized half court offense let TCU back in, with the Horned Frogs eventually taking the lead with just under two minutes to go. The Jayhawks were able to lock down and tie it back up, and TCU couldn't get a shot off as regulation time ended, sending the teams to overtime, deadlocked at 69 apiece.

Overtime saw a slow start, but an Agbaji three followed by a Lawson bucket gave Kansas a five point lead with just over three minutes remaining. However, the short handed Jayhawks were already down Mitch Lightfoot due to fouls, and Dedric Lawson and Quentin Grimes quickly followed suit as Kansas simply could not stop fouling each TCU shot attempt.

However, the defense continued to hold when they weren't sending the Frogs to the line. TCU scored 8 points in overtime, but were just 1-7 shooting from the floor, unable to get any good looks. Dotson hit a series of clutch free throws, and KU escaped with an 82-77 victory to improve to 8-4 in conference play, and earn just their second road win of the season.

Dotson was the hero tonight, scoring 25 with 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals, but Agbaji once again turned in a great performance, with 20 points and 11 boards. The two freshmen saved a game in which Dedric Lawson was just 6-16 from the floor, and in which Grimes and Charlie Moore were a combined 2-14 for five points.

Kansas gets a few much needed days of rest, then has what is likely the easiest game left in their schedule as they host a depleted West Virginia squad on Saturday.