Baylor erases 21-point deficit against No. 11 Kansas, cruises late in 81-70 win
Baylor erases 21-point deficit against No. 11 Kansas, cruises late in 81-70 win
Baylor guard Robert Wright III scores in between Kansas forward KJ Adams Jr. and center Hunter Dickinson, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor forward Norchad Omier, left, is fouled by Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, right, as he attempts to shoot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor guard Jayden Nunn is fouled as he scores past Kansas center Hunter Dickinson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson and Baylor forward Norchad Omier reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor head coach Scott Drew wears special shoes for Coaches vs. Cancer during an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. scores past Baylor guard Jalen Celestine during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas forward Flory Bidunga steals the ball from Baylor forward Josh Ojianwuna during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson attempts a shot past Baylor forward Norchad Omier during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor guard Robert Wright III scores in between Kansas forward KJ Adams Jr. and center Hunter Dickinson, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor guard Robert Wright III scores in between Kansas forward KJ Adams Jr. and center Hunter Dickinson, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor forward Norchad Omier, left, is fouled by Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, right, as he attempts to shoot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor forward Norchad Omier, left, is fouled by Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, right, as he attempts to shoot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor guard Jayden Nunn is fouled as he scores past Kansas center Hunter Dickinson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor guard Jayden Nunn is fouled as he scores past Kansas center Hunter Dickinson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson and Baylor forward Norchad Omier reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson and Baylor forward Norchad Omier reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor head coach Scott Drew wears special shoes for Coaches vs. Cancer during an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor head coach Scott Drew wears special shoes for Coaches vs. Cancer during an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. scores past Baylor guard Jalen Celestine during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. scores past Baylor guard Jalen Celestine during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas forward Flory Bidunga steals the ball from Baylor forward Josh Ojianwuna during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas forward Flory Bidunga steals the ball from Baylor forward Josh Ojianwuna during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson attempts a shot past Baylor forward Norchad Omier during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson attempts a shot past Baylor forward Norchad Omier during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
WACO, Texas (AP) — Robert Wright III scored 20 of his 24 points after halftime, and Baylor rallied from a 21-point deficit late in the first half for an 81-70 victory over No. 11 Kansas on Saturday.
The collapse by the Jayhawks (15-6, 6-4 Big 12), who led 40-21 at halftime, came a week after sixth-ranked Houston pulled off improbable rallies in the final seconds of regulation and the first overtime in a double-OT win at Allen Fieldhouse.
It was the biggest blown lead in a loss in the storied program’s history, surpassing the 20-point lead (44-24) Kansas squandered in a 91-74 loss at home to top-ranked Arizona on Jan. 27, 2003.
Wright put the Bears (14-7, 6-4) ahead 47-46 on two free throws with 13:02 remaining after they trailed 38-17 late in the first half.
Baylor took the lead for good on a tiebreaking 3-pointer from Jalen Celestine with four minutes to go, and after Kansas had rebuilt its lead to 10.
Hunter Dickinson scored 20 points for Kansas, and Dajuan Harris Jr. had 12.
Norchad Omier had 18 points and 16 rebounds for Baylor, and VJ Edgecombe scored 14 before leaving with an injury early in the second half.
Takeaways
Kansas was taken out of its offensive rhythm by Baylor’s full-court pressure to start the second half. The Jayhawks shot 36% in the second half.
Baylor finished the rally without Edgecombe, who entered third in the Big 12 in scoring in league games. He went down early in the second half after missing a driving layup and limped to the locker room.
Key moment
The go-ahead 3 from Celestine, who scored 12 points, changed the game for good. The Bears outscored the Jayhawks 18-7 from that point.
Key stat
The Jayhawks had a 20-0 advantage in bench scoring in the first half. The Bears had a 12-8 edge after the break.
Up next
Kansas plays No. 3 Iowa State at home Monday. Baylor visits 22nd-ranked Texas Tech on Tuesday.
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