Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji scores a career-high 37 points as Kansas builds lead in Big 12 race
Just two days after Kansas recorded a school-record comeback in a paper-bag-close victory at Kansas State, the Jayhawks tested their fans' hearts once again in the Instant Classic, which ran No. 5 Kansas. . No. 13 Texas Tech 94-91 in double overtime. Kansas rallied five points down in the final 1:30 in the first overtime to tie the game on 86 with seven seconds on an Ochai Agbaji 3-pointer, then took out his freebies late in the second overtime to take out the win. Thrown.
For most of the game, Kansas didn't look like the team that would have to make a daring comeback. 1 seed in Jerry Palm's latest bracketology, the Jayhawks led 70-58 with only six minutes remaining. But Texas Tech, buoyed by an impressive performance from Bryson Williams, ended regulation at 17-5 when Aghaji's final attempt missed, the first 40 minutes ending in a stalemate at 75.
In the second overtime, Kansas took a one-point lead at 92–91 on a free throw from Jalen Wilson, then extended it to three points on two more by Christian Brown with 10.1 seconds. Texas Tech's final effort, an off-balance 3-pointer from Terence Shannon bounced off Kansas guard Dajuan Harris, who dribbled the clock.
Aghazi scored a career-high number of points (37) and made 3-pointers (seven), including a game-tying 3-pointer late in the first overtime.
OCHAI AGBAJI = VERY GOOD AT 🏀 pic.twitter.com/nMjIIGFbmK
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) January 25, 2022
Kansas needed all those points to stop Jayhawk-killer Williams, who scored 33 for the Red Raiders. In three matches against the Jayhawks over the past two years, Williams averaged 26 points per competition.
The win earned the Kansas (17–2, 6–1 Big 12) a season split with the Red Raiders (15–4, 5–3), while also providing extra game distance on one of the league's contenders. Baylor are now second in league play alone, 5-2. Both teams will take to court next Saturday's SEC/Big 12 Challenge, with Kansas hosting Kentucky and Texas Tech and Mississippi State invited to Lubbock, Texas.