MANHATTAN, Kan. — Sherron Collins bounced back from a back injury to score on a hard drive with nine seconds left in overtime, helping No. 2 Kansas pull out a gritty 81-79 win over No. 11 Kansas State on Saturday night.
“He has a flair for the dramatic,” Kansas coach Bill Self said.
Kansas (20-1, 6-0 Big 12) dismantled Missouri on Monday and closed out the rivalry week sweep by winning an epic back-and-forth battle with Kansas State (17-4, 4-3).
Collins, who had been battling back spasms all game, hit the floor with 2:44 left in overtime and went to the bench holding his back, then returned just in time to score on a baseline drive. He missed the free throw, but Cole Aldrich grabbed the rebound and Brady Morningstar hit two free throws to close out the Jayhawks’ 26th win in their last 27 games in Manhattan.
Collins finished with 16 points, and Aldrich had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Kansas State had a chance to win it in regulation, but Kansas’ Tyrel Reed stripped the ball from a streaking Dominique Sutton at the buzzer.
Jacob Pullen had 22 points for the Wildcats.
