Kansas clinches Big 12 title with win over Texas Tech

The Kansas Jayhawks locked up at least a share of the Big 12 title for the 12th consecutive year with its 67-58 victory over Texas Tech.

The Jayhawks clinched the big Big 12 title in a game that began on a 5-0 run by Landen Lucas. The Jayhawks wouldn’t surrender the lead even once, as they lead wire-to-wire for their ninth consecutive victory and 12th Big 12 title.

After an 8-0 Kansas run to begin the game, Texas Tech fought back and managed to get as close as two, but couldn’t find a way to tie. Not being able to find much rhythm offensively in the first half, the Jayhawks played fantastic defense to make up for it and weathered the storm before opening their lead back up. The Jayhawks went into halftime with a 37-29 lead, in large part thanks to Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. After going a perfect 4-for-4 from three, including a buzzer beater before halftime, Mykhailiuk led the Jayhawks with 12 points in the first half. In the first half, KU’s bench outscored the starters 19 to 18. 

Neither team was making much progress early in the second half as Kansas couldn’t pull away and Tech couldn’t close the gap. After the game went back and forth for a while, a 12-0 Kansas run blew the game open at 49-31. The Jayhawks cruised the rest of the game, leading by as many as 22 points on the way to a 67-58 win. Mykhailiuk’s hot hand continued in the second half, as he hit two more shots and his only miss of the game came with under a minute left.

With this victory, Kansas clinched at least a share of their 12th consecutive Big 12 championship, as well as a likely #1 ranking next week after Villanova’s loss.

Wayne Selden struggled in this game, only going 1/8 from the field, and Perry Ellis scored just 8, only his second game all season with fewer than 10 points. Mykhailiuk (17) and Frank Mason (16) were the only KU players to break double-digits.

Next up: at the Texas Longhorns, 8 p.m. on ESPN.

• Svi Mykhailiuk: 17 points (6/7 FG), two rebounds and an assist. Went a perfect 5/5 from three.
• Frank Mason: 16 points (5/9 FG), three assists, two rebounds and two steals.
• Perry Ellis: eight points (4/13 FG), five rebounds, an assist and a block.
• Landen Lucas: seven points (2/3 FG) and eight rebounds.
• Devonte Graham: seven points (3/7 FG), four assists and two steals.
• Wayne Selden: three points (1/8 FG), four rebounds and three assists. Selden’s three-point percentage in non-conference play was 57%. In conference play, it is 31%
• Jamari Traylor: three points (1/3 FG), three rebounds, an assist and a block.
• Cheick Diallo: two points (1/2 FG), six rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
• Carlton Bragg: two points (1/1 FG) and a rebound.
• Brannen Greene: two points (2/2 FT), a rebound and an assist.
• 39 straight home wins for the Jayhawks

Most consecutive league titles won:
K: 5
Cal: 5
Roy: 4
Knight: 4
Calhoun: 3
Boeheim: 2
BILL SELF: 12
DETAILS: https://t.co/gHz83U7Ot6

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) February 27, 2016