Lawrence, Cannes. (AP) — Ochai Agaji scored a career-high 37 points to help No. 5 Kansas avenge their only conference loss of the season with a 94-91 double overtime win over No. 13 Texas Tech on Monday night Of.
Aghazi overtook Bryson Williams, who scored 33 points for the take. Agbaji, who was the leading 12 player of the week, had seven 3-pointers out of Kansas' eight. He had 24 points and two overtime in the second half.
Aghazi hit a protected 3-pointer at the end of the first overtime to send the game into the second period.
"It was like our game Saturday (when KU crossed a 17-point second-half deficit to beat Kansas State) and the Chiefs game," Agazi said. "When we went overtime, I thought (the chiefs) won at all costs. We have to do the same thing. Had a lot of fun."
Bill Self, a weary Kansas coach, had nothing but praise for his star.
After the match, he said, 'It was a great win. “We played a great team that played a great game. We didn't play well, but we played well. We had a boy.
"I think we can play better, but I don't know if someone can play better or not. I told them I can never remember we have a player playing better than this."
Kansas led in the second overtime when Williams banked in a 3-pointer. KJ Adams missed the game with 1:39 to tie the game at 91. Jalen Wilson gave the Jayhawks (17-2, 6-1 Big 12) the second-place lead after 21 seconds of two free throws.
After both teams went scoreless in the next 50 seconds, Christian Brawn scored two free throws with 10.1 seconds remaining to make it 94–91. Terrence Shannon missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it up a few seconds later.
Brawn added 15 points for Kansas, who also got 13 points from David McCormack.
Texas Tech (15-3, 5-3) took 17 points from Kevin Obnor and 15 points for Davian Warren.
Aghazi and Williams led their teams at the start of the second half. Williams had 11 second-half points by the second media timeout. After Texas Tech reduced the deficit to 3 points, Kansas scored 8–0 to take their first double-digit lead of the game.
"They gave us problems last year (with UTEP), they gave us problems when we played them in Tech, and they gave us problems tonight," Agazi said. "He's a great player. He's a dangerous, thorough player."
After Kansas took their biggest lead of the game at 70–58, Texas Tech scored the next six points and began a 17–5 run to close out regulation. Trailing 75-73, Terence Shannon made two free throws to level the game with 12.8 seconds remaining. Agaji's 3-pointer carrom on the regulation buzzer.
In the first overtime, Williams topped the take 80-77 in the first overtime before Agazi hit a 1-of-2 free throw. Obanor then pulled out a 3-pointer. Braun cut it to 83-80 with a running layup, but Warren extended it to 85-80. Agaji replied with a lay-up with 1:09 remaining.
Kansas closed the OT with a 6-1 run, which Aghaji fought with a 3-pointer with 7 seconds left to tie the score at 86.
Asked if it was the best game of his career, Aghazi simply said, "Yes, it had to happen."
Takeaway
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders learned Kansas is really hard to sweep. The Teck beat Kansas 75–67 at Lubbock on Jan 8.
Kansas: The Jayhawks maintained their slim lead in the conference. They lead Baylor by one game, pending the Bears' game against Kansas State on Tuesday.
Next
The Big 12/SEC Challenge takes both teams away from conference play in their next game this Saturday. Texas Tech hosts the state of Mississippi while Kansas hosts the number 12 Kentucky.