Jayhawks Survive Scare, Beat Aggies 66-58
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It wasn’t pretty, but the Kansas Jayhawks (23-5, 13-2 Big 12) outlasted a late run by the Texas A&M Aggies (13-14, 4-11 Big 12) and escaped College Station with a win on Wednesday night.
The Jayhawks’ 66-58 win over Texas A&M gave Kansas sole possession of 1st place in the Big 12. Junior guard Elijah Johnson had a breakout game for KU. Johnson had 18 points in the 1st half and KU led 31-21 at halftime. He finished the game with 21 points.
After taking a commanding 21 point lead in the 2nd half, Kansas suffered a huge scoring drought. The Aggies went on a 16-2 run and cut the Jayhawk lead to 4 with two minutes remaining. Junior forward Khris Middleton led the Aggie charge with 23 points.
With :40 seconds left, junior forward and national player of the year candidate Thomas Robinson fouled out on a technical foul. Robinson would finish the game with his 19th double double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds. A&M again cut the lead to 4, but the 4th ranked Jayhawks held on, and notched a huge conference win. Saturday’s matchup in Lawrence is against the 3rd ranked Missouri Tigers (25-3, 12-3 Big 12).
Wednesday’s game was the last regular season conference matchup between KU and Texas A&M before the Aggies leave the Big 12 for the SEC next season. Saturday’s top 5 showdown between KU and Mizzou will be the arch rivals’ final regular season conference matchup before the Tigers also leave for the SEC. The Jayhawks would at least clinch a share of an 8th straight Big 12 conference title with a win over Missouri on Saturday.
