#3 Kansas’ Second Half Comeback Beats #2 Baylor

The #3 Kansas Jayhawks hosted #3 Baylor February 1st in a matchup of the two top teams in the Big 12, breaking up the midweek, mid winter doldrums in an entertaining game.

The two teams nearly matched each other in back and forth scoring until Baylor pulled into an eight point lead late with 1:45 left in the first half. Kansas scored with ten seconds left before intermission, and the Bears went into locker room with a 34-28 lead. Not bad for Baylor, who had never won in 14 previous trips to Allen Fieldhouse. Conversely, the Jayhawks had won 50 straight in their home arena going into this game.

Perhaps the Jayhawks were reminded at halftime of their near invincibility at home, or the Bears are just snakebit in Lawrence, but after Baylor’s Ishmail Wainwright made the first basket of the half, Kansas went on a 14-0 run to take a 42-36 lead. The lead seesawed back and forth until Kansas took a 66-64 lead with 2:28 to go in the game, and held on to win 73-68.

The victory gave Kansas (8-1 in the Big 12, 20-2 overall) a one game lead over Baylor (7-2, 20-2). The two teams will have a rematch in Waco on February 18th. Baylor will host Kansas State (4-5, 15-7) on February 4th in its next game, while Kansas will host Iowa State (5-4, 13-8) the same day.