02/10/26 12:06:00
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02/10 00:04 CST No. 9 Kansas beats top-ranked Arizona 82-78 for 8th straight
win, back in contention in Big 12
No. 9 Kansas beats top-ranked Arizona 82-78 for 8th straight win, back in
contention in Big 12
By KATHLEEN GIER
Associated Press
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) --- The Kansas climb picked up more steam Monday night as
the No. 9 Jayhawks knocked off top-ranked Arizona 82-78.
Less than a month after falling out of The Associated Press Top 25, Kansas
(19-5, 9-2 Big 12) has won eight in a row and clawed its way back into Big 12
title contention, trailing previously unbeaten Arizona (23-1, 10-1) by one
game. Houston is currently in second, a half-game ahead of Kansas. The
third-ranked Cougars face Utah on Tuesday night.
"We couldn't lose this game," senior guard Melvin Council Jr. said after
knocking off Arizona. "We were just ready and prepared and we knew it was going
to be a long game with a bunch of runs."
Kansas trailed by as many as 11 points in the game and did not hold a lead
until the clock read 9:32 in the second half. Four Jayhawks finished in double
figures, led by Flory Bidunga and Council Jr, who scored 23 points apiece.
Bidunga also grabbed 10 rebounds.
The Jayhawks played without freshman standout Darryn Peterson, who was
experiencing flu-like symptoms and missed the game. Self revealed after the
game that Peterson had missed practice on Sunday and didn't know until about a
half hour before the game that he would be unavailable. Despite missing 11
games, Peterson leads the Jayhawks in scoring, averaging 20.5 points.
"A lot of teams, this time of year, when you get to early February, they know
where their ceiling is, and the great teams are operating pretty close to their
ceiling, Kansas coach Bill Self said. "I don't know where our ceiling is, and I
know that we're not close to it yet, though."
The victory ended a 23-game winning streak for Arizona. It was the
second-longest streak in Division I men's basketball behind Miami (Ohio), which
has won 24 straight.
With the win, Kansas improved to 2-2 against top-10 opponents this season. It
was also the Jayhawks' first win against the AP's top-ranked team at Allen
Fieldhouse.
"Kansas is a hell of a team," Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said after the game.
"They beat the No. 1 team in the country at home tonight. They did a hell of a
job and their coach did a hell of a job."
Four Jayhawks finished the game in double figures, with Bryson Tiller scoring
18 and Jamari McDowell adding 10.
Brayden Burries led all scorers with 25 points for Arizona. Teammate Motiejus
Krivas recorded a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Ivan
Kharchenkov scored 13.
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