Udoka Azubuike had 23 points and a career-high 19 rebounds and No. 3 Kansas held on to beat No. 1 Baylor 64-61 on Saturday, snapping the Bears' 23-game winning streak and likely ending their five-week hold on the No. 1 spot in the AP poll.
The Jayhawks (24-3, 13-1 Big 12) have won 12 in a row since their first-ever home loss to Baylor on Jan. 11. They had a 10-point lead with 6 1/2 minutes left but had to hold off Baylor's late charge.
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Udoka Azubuike had 23 points and a career-high 19 rebounds and No. 3 Kansas held on to beat No. 1 Baylor 64-61 on Saturday, snapping the Bears' 23-game winning streak and likely ending their five-week hold on the No. 1 spot in the AP poll.
Butler and MaCio Teague had hit consecutive 3-pointers in the final half-minute to get Baylor within 62-61.
The sellout crowd of 10,627 at the Ferrell Center, already in a frenzy after ESPN's College GameDay broadcast on the court leading up to the late-morning tip, was roaring after Teague returned to the lineup by swishing a 3-pointer on the game's first shot and Gillespie making it 5-0.
Mayer then had a three-point play after going inside and drawing a goaltending call from Azubuike while being fouled, and his 3-pointer with 9:21 left tied the game at 18.
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Baylor forward Tristan Clark, left, and Baylor guard Mark Vital, right, defend Kansas guard Marcus Garrett, center, under the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)
Kansas guard Devon Dotson, right, shoots over Baylor guard Mark Vital, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)
Isaiah Moss, who had 11 points, made two free throws for Kansas with 7.9 seconds left before a timeout. The Bears (24-2, 13-1) had one more shot, but Butler's 3-pointer from beyond the top of the key ricocheted off the front of the iron as time expired.
Kansas center Udoka Azubuike flexes after a dunk against Baylor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)
Butler and MaCio Teague had hit consecutive 3-pointers in the final half-minute to get Baylor within 62-61.
Devon Dotson added 13 points for the Jayhawks, who shot 51% (27 of 53) against a tenacious Baylor defense that held them to 55 points in a 12-point loss last month.
Butler had 19 points to lead the Bears, while Freddie Gillespie and Matthew Mayer each had 10.
Baylor guard Devonte Bandoo, left, and Kansas guard Marcus Garrett, right, reach for the loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)
The sellout crowd of 10,627 at the Ferrell Center, already in a frenzy after ESPN's College GameDay broadcast on the court leading up to the late-morning tip, was roaring after Teague returned to the lineup by swishing a 3-pointer on the game's first shot and Gillespie making it 5-0.
Marcus Garrett then had seven points in a 14-2 spurt for Kansas, which never trailed again. Baylor hadn't been behind by more than two points in any of its previous 12 home games.
The Bears trailed 14-7 before Butler hit a 3-pointer and then had a long pass ahead to Mayer, the lanky, high-energy sophomore, for a layup.
Baylor guard Mark Vital reacts after a dunk against Kansas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)
Mayer then had a three-point play after going inside and drawing a goaltending call from Azubuike while being fouled, and his 3-pointer with 9:21 left tied the game at 18.
Kansas regained the lead with six points in a row, including a layup and another putback by Azubuike, who later in the half had back-to-back impressive dunks for nine-point leads.
Azubuike bowed back his shoulders and let out a shout after his powerful slam over the 6-foot-9 Gilliespie. The Jayhawks' next basket was also a powerful dunk by Azubuike that made it 32-23.
Kansas guard Devon Dotson gestures to the crowd after a three point basket against Baylor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)
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Kansas: The Jayhawks, whose unprecedented run of 14 consecutive Big 12 titles ended last season, is tied for the conference lead again with four games left. They are 7-0 in conference road games, the same as Baylor.
Baylor: The Bears' 23-game winning streak had set a Big 12 record, one more than Kansas in 1996-97, the league's inaugural season. Baylor is now 6-1 against Top 25 teams this season, missing a chance to become only the second team in coach Bill Self's 17 season to sweep a regular-season series against the Jayhawks.
Kansas center Udoka Azubuike, left, dunks the ball as Baylor forward Freddie Gillespie, right defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)
UP NEXT
Kansas is at home Monday night to play Oklahoma State, who the Jayhawks beat 65-50 on the road on Jan. 27
Baylor is home again Tuesday night to play Kansas State.
For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Kansas guard Marcus Garrett, left, and guard Devon Dotson, right, pressure Baylor forward Freddie Gillespie, center, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)
Baylor forward Tristan Clark, left, and Baylor guard Mark Vital, right, defend Kansas guard Marcus Garrett, center, under the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)
Kansas guard Devon Dotson, right, shoots over Baylor guard Mark Vital, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP PhotoRay Carlin)