BOULDER, Colo. — In a thrilling matchup, Hunter Dickinson delivered a standout performance, notching 32 points and pulling down 13 rebounds to propel Kansas to a 71-64 victory over Colorado on Monday night.
Dickinson was highly efficient, converting 13 out of 18 shots and hitting 6 of his 10 free throw attempts for the Jayhawks (19-9, 10-7 Big 12 Conference). This victory marked a vital turnaround as Kansas had recently dropped out of the AP Top 25 following a challenging stretch where they lost three of five games before traveling to Boulder. Dickinson’s double-double on the night was his 12th of the season.
KJ Adams bolstered the Kansas offense with 15 points, while Rylan Griffen added 10 to the scoreboard. On the opposing side, Bangot Dak led Colorado (11-17, 2-15) with 16 points on a sharp 7-for-10 shooting performance. Julian Hammond III contributed 11 points for Colorado, which had snapped a 13-game losing streak and claimed victory in two of their last three games before facing Kansas.
Despite a resilient effort, Colorado led the game for just 20 seconds. Dickinson scored 15 points in the first half, helping Kansas to a 37-32 advantage by halftime. Colorado seized a brief lead when Hammond scored in the paint, making it 39-38 with 15:39 remaining. However, Dickinson responded swiftly with a jumper and a successful three-point play, ensuring Kansas regained control. While Colorado managed to tie the score twice and cut the deficit to 62-60 after Hammond hit a 3-pointer with 4:12 left on the clock, they couldn’t get any closer.
With this win, the Jayhawks moved just half a game behind the 25th-ranked BYU for fifth place in the conference standings, with three games remaining in the regular season. Kansas has now clinched three consecutive victories and has dominated the historical rivalry with Colorado, winning 22 out of the last 23 meetings and holding a 126-40 lead in the all-time series.
Looking ahead, Kansas will host No. 10 Texas Tech on Saturday, while Colorado is set to face Kansas State on Sunday.
