In Stillwater, the Kansas Jayhawks showcased their prowess with a commanding 81-69 victory over Oklahoma State, driven by a standout performance from freshman sensation Darryn Peterson. Peterson erupted in the first half, scoring 20 of his 23 points, and demonstrating why he's projected as a top pick in the upcoming NBA draft. After a rough patch where he hit only 13 of 36 shots over three games, Peterson found his rhythm, sinking 7 of 12 from the field and an impressive 6 of 10 from beyond the arc.
Kansas had a balanced attack with Tre White contributing 16 points and Elmarko Jackson adding 14. Bryson Tiller was a force on the boards with 11 rebounds, adding 10 points and dishing out seven assists.
Flory Bidunga also made his presence felt with eight points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks. The Jayhawks, now sitting at 20-6 overall and 10-3 in the Big 12, were sharp from deep, hitting 11 of 24 three-pointers, a crucial factor in their bounce-back win following a tough loss to Iowa State.
For Oklahoma State, Parsa Fallah led the charge with 21 points, and Anthony Roy chipped in with 16. The Cowboys, struggling at 16-10 and 4-9 in conference play, were looking to rebound from a string of losses, including a heartbreaker in overtime against TCU. A win here could have bolstered their NCAA Tournament hopes.
The game atmosphere was electric, with Oklahoma State fans donning black for a blackout game, though a significant portion of the crowd sported Kansas blue. The Cowboys stumbled out of the gate, trailing 10-1 and going over three minutes without a bucket.
Kansas capitalized, building a 39-16 lead before Oklahoma State responded with an 11-0 run. Despite this, the Jayhawks held a 43-29 advantage at halftime and maintained control throughout the second half, shooting 48% from the field to seal the victory.