Kansas City, Kan. — In a decisive match on Tuesday evening, No. 17 Kansas emerged victorious against Colorado with a score of 71-59, marking the Buffaloes’ 13th consecutive defeat of the season. Hunter Dickinson was a standout, contributing 19 points to the Jayhawks’ efforts.
In addition to Dickinson’s performance, the Kansas squad also saw contributions from three other players who scored in double digits. Zeke Mayo added 13 points, while both Dajuan Harris and KJ Adams chipped in with 10 points apiece. This win placed Kansas with a record of 16-7 overall and 7-5 within the Big 12 Conference.
Despite the final margin of victory, the contest proved to be challenging for Kansas. The Jayhawks displayed a pattern of alternating wins and losses over their last seven games. Colorado, eager to break their losing streak, staged an impressive run early in the second half, narrowing a 14-point halftime gap down to just six. Yet, Kansas managed to maintain the upper hand, with Adams sealing a short jumper just before the shot clock expired, pushing the score to 69-56 with only 1:31 remaining.
On the Colorado side, Sebastian Rancik was the top scorer for the team, achieving a season-high of 19 points. Other notable performances included Bangot Dak with 11 points and Elijah Malone reaching double digits with 10 points.
Key takeaways from the game highlighted Colorado’s fight. After Kansas expanded their lead to 40-26 by halftime, the Buffaloes responded swiftly, outscoring Kansas 10-2 at the start of the second half. For Kansas, Hunter Dickinson’s impactful performance was crucial, particularly given that backup center Flory Bidunga managed only four points during the match.
A significant moment in the game came when Kansas executed a strong defensive effort, holding Colorado scoreless for nearly seven minutes in the first half, allowing the Jayhawks to create their largest lead. The Buffaloes struggled with their shooting, managing only 17.4% from 3-point range, and went 1-of-11 in the first half.
Next, Colorado will return to their home court to take on UCF on Saturday, while Kansas will head to Salt Lake City for a face-off against Utah.
