In a thrilling matchup on Tuesday night, Zeke Mayo emerged as a standout for the No. 11 Kansas Jayhawks, scoring 24 points and sinking critical free throws with just 3.1 seconds remaining to secure a 91-87 victory over UCF. This win allowed Kansas to avoid experiencing back-to-back defeats at Allen Fieldhouse for the first time in 36 years.
Alongside Mayo, Hunter Dickinson also contributed significantly with another 24 points, while Flory Bidunga provided defense and rebounding with 10 points and 11 boards. The Jayhawks, now holding a record of 15-5 and 6-3 in the Big 12, were motivated after a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Houston, currently ranked sixth in the nation.
The UCF Knights, boasting a record of 13-7 and 4-5 in their conference, put forth a strong performance, led by Keyshawn Hall’s 34 points and Darius Johnson’s 19. UCF initially held a nine-point advantage early in the second half, but Kansas responded with a crucial 12-2 run, taking their first lead since the first half.
Holding a narrow 87-86 lead, KJ Adams, returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for three games, successfully converted two free throws with only 4.6 seconds on the clock. UCF’s Johnson was then fouled and managed to sink one of his two attempts from the charity stripe. Mayo followed this up by sealing the game with his free throws.
Notably, Kansas has not dropped consecutive games in their historic arena since a four-game skid under the coaching of Roy Williams back in 1989.
One crucial observation from the game is UCF’s remarkable improvement, having previously lost to the Jayhawks by a staggering 51 points at home just weeks ago. Their competitive showing at Allen Fieldhouse is a testament to their resilience and development as a team.
Kansas faced a significant challenge with the absence of Dajuan Harris Jr., who is recovering from an ankle injury sustained in practice. His experience was missed, particularly as the Jayhawks’ guards found themselves in foul trouble throughout the match. Harris, who has participated in 159 games and started the last 98, could have provided valuable support.
Although Adams finished with only 12 points, his free throws in the closing moments proved essential for the Jayhawks’ win. Kansas’s bench also made a notable impact, scoring 29 points compared to UCF’s mere two, highlighting the depth of the Jayhawks’ roster.
Looking ahead, UCF will face BYU on Saturday, while Kansas prepares for a challenging matchup against Baylor the same day.
