LAWRENCE, Kan. — The longest home winning streak in Kansas’ vaunted history came to an end on a doubly sad day for the Jayhawks.
J’Covan Brown scored 23 points and keyed a second-half run that erased a 15-point deficit, enabling No. 10 Texas to grab a 74-63 victory Saturday over the second-ranked Jayhawks and snap their 69-game home win streak.
The night before, Kansas players, coaches and players’ moms gathered around sophomore Thomas Robinson when his mother died of a heart attack in Washington, D.C.
“It just puts everything in perspective,” said Jayhawks coach Bill Self.
Robinson asked to remain with the team, and with him coming off the bench, an emotional Kansas scored the game’s first 10 points and led by as many as 15 in the early going.
But Texas (16-3, 4-0 Big 12) outscored the Jayhawks 36-13 while turning a 12-point halftime deficit into a 59-48 lead on a 3-pointer by Cory Joseph.
“I think in more times like that — I could be wrong — I think you see teams get off to an emotional good start on things like that,” Self said. “We played well too. But certainly it was emotional. I felt like we didn’t have much gas in the tank the second half. But a lot of it’s because of Texas’ play too.”
There was a moment of silence before the game for Robinson’s mother. He scored two points, grabbed five rebounds and committed four fouls.
The Jayhawks (18-1, 3-1) had not lost at home since Feb. 3, 2007, the longest current streak in the nation, and were 7-0 at home against Texas since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996.
“Texas totally controlled the last 30 minutes of the game,” Self said. “The second half they were terrific. Of course, we helped them be terrific.”
No. 11 Texas A&M 64, Kansas St. 56
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Khris Middleton scored 18 points and the Aggies made 13 free throws in the last two minutes to hold on at home.
No. 13 Missouri 87, Iowa State 54
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Ricardo Ratliffe matched his career best with six blocked shots as the Cyclones committed a season-worst 19 turnovers and went 4-for-22 from 3-point range while getting blown out for the first time.
Texas Tech 72, Nebraska 71
LUBBOCK, Texas — D’walyn Roberts tipped in a rebound with 3.8 seconds left as the Red Raiders snapped a four-game losing streak.
Baylor 76, Okla. State 57
WACO, Texas — Freshman sensation Perry Jones scored 24 points and the Bears went ahead to stay by ending the first half with a 13-3 run.
