No. 9 Kansas survives at Kentucky 77-68

Jalen Wilson scored 22 points, including one in a series of huge 3-pointers down the stretch, and held off Kentucky 77-68 on Saturday night in an SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

The Jayhawks (17-4) seized the lead for good midway through the first half before withstanding every Wildcats challenge in a tense marquee matchup of college basketball blue bloods. Gradey Dick and Wilson provided two of their biggest shots with consecutive 3-pointers for two-possession edges, with Wilson’s 3 making it 70-64 with 4:13 remaining.

Oscar Tshiebwe made two free throws to get Kentucky within four, but Kansas, which won the national championship last season, avoided its first four-game losing streak under Self.

Tshiebwe had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Jacob Toppin and Cason Wallace each added 14 for Kentucky (14-7), which had won its previous four.

The Wildcats certainly had their chances despite shooting 2 of 13 from long range and starting off 4 of 11 from the free throw line. 

the Jayhawks edged Kentucky 34-29 on the glass. That included limiting Kentucky to just four offensive rebounds while shutting out the Wildcats 11-0 in second-chance points.

Kentucky visits Mississippi on Tuesday night in search of its fifth consecutive SEC win.




Kansas' Jalen Wilson (10) drives against Kentucky's Jacob Toppin during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. Kansas won 77-68. (AP Photo/James Crisp)