Oklahoma vs. Kansas, 109-106: Full highlights, final score and more

Kansas topped Oklahoma in a triple overtime thriller and instant classic between the No. 1 and 2 teams in the country

The Big 12 matchup between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Oklahoma Sooners was going to be a big matchup when the game was first scheduled between two of the favorites in the conference. However, the success of both teams in non-conference play only made the matchup even more titanic as the 12-1 Jayhawks came into this matchup as the No. 1 team in the nation and the undefeated Sooners entered as the No. 2 team.

Kansas certainly looked as if they were in the business of protecting their home court in an emphatic manner for much of the first half. Behind a strong performance by big man Perry Ellis, the Jayhawks jumped out to a big lead, but Buddy Hield and the Sooners weren’t going to be denied. They clawed back and clawed some more until they overtook Kansas with just seconds left in the first half and to go into the locker room ahead.

Out of the break, it was the Sooners who extended their lead and seemed to be in control. That only lasted until the Jayhawks seemingly fed off of the home crowd and climbed back into the thick of things as well with Wayne Selden an Frank Mason III really getting things going alongside Ellis. They hit a couple of huge buckets and, thanks to a missed Oklahoma free throw, were able to force overtime as the teams were locked at 77 when regulation ended.

In overtime, Oklahoma again jumped out to a lead and Kansas again fought back int a big way to where it was tied at 86 going into the final minute of play. Oklahoma was inbounding the ball with just over 38 seconds left and got a good look at a potential game-winning shot that missed. Kansas rebounded the ball and called timeout with 7.5 seconds remaining. Off their inbounds play, the ball was knocked out of bounds off an Ellis miss and, after review, the Jayhawks were awarded the ball with 2.4 ticks left on the clock. A three from Selden missed though and on they went to a second overtime.

The two teams traded buckets to start the second extra period to be knotted up at 92-92 with under three minutes left in the game. However, on a missed Oklahoma jumper, the game seemed to swing as Ryan Spangler was called for a foul on the rebound that gave Landen Lucas his third and fourth free throws of the period—he knocked down both. But Kansas gave away the advantage when Graham fouled Woodard for two free throws, which he hit both of.

On the next Jayhawks possession a missed runner led to a scramble for a loose ball, which the Sooners came up with. Tied at 94-94 with two minutes left, Oklahoma missed their next shot and Kansas picked up the board, but missed the jumper on their next possession as well. The woes continued, though as Oklahoma turned the ball back over on a shot clock violation with just a hair over a minute left. After another missed shot for both team, Kansas had the ball as time wound down, but again missed what would have been the game-winner as time expired, forcing a third overtime.

Things really swung at the start of the period for the Jayhawks, though, as the Sooners missed on their first possession, but Selden came up huge with a made three and a potential four-point play—he missed the foul shot, however. Hield came right back to hit a driving lay-up to cut the lead to one and were able to tie it up at 98-98 after Kansas wen 1-2 at the line and then the Sooners got a bucket on the interior.

The home team came roaring back to jump out to a 102-98 lead, though, thanks to four made free throws; Hield wasn’t about to let that stand, though, as he hit a huge three to trim the lead back to one. Off a Jayhawks miss, big man Khadeem Lattin came up huge for Oklahoma with a made lay-up to go up 103-102. Because of course Selden had an answer to go back up one, but Woodard answered back with a huge three to go backup by two with under a minute left.

Mason III and Kansas caught a huge break soon and opportunity off of a foul, but made only one of the freebies before the Sooners got the ball back up one. Hield committed one of his few errors of the game and committed a turnover that led to Graham getting out on the break and getting fouled before hitting both free throws.

This left Oklahoma down 107-106 with only 11.9 seconds left and a conclusion finally seeming inevitable. The Sooners, however, turned the ball over on the inbound and were forced to foul again. Mason III went to the line for Kansas, making both from the stripe to go up 109-106 with 8.6 seconds left. The Sooners got one last attempt, but it was no good as No. 1 topped No. 2 and Kansas handed Oklahoma their first loss of the season.

Three stars

Buddy Hield was an absolute monster for the Sooners. The star finished with 46 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds on the big stage.

Perry Ellis was huge for the Jayhawks consistently throughout both halves and overtime. He finished the huge matchup with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists.

Wayne Selden came up big for Kansas as well as the Jayhawks guard put up 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists, including a huge performance in the second half and overtime.

Highlights

Odds

Kansas were six-point favorites in the game, which they failed to cover on Monday night. The two teams managed to hit the over on the 156-point O/U line as they went into the multiple overtimes.

Next Game

The Sooners will be back in Norman on Saturday afternoon for another Big 12 matchup against the Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas will be back in Allen Fieldhouse come Saturday evening as they will be in Big 12 action as well, taking on the Texas Tech Red Raiders.