Saturday, February 24, 2018 04:15 PM (ET)

No. 8 Kansas edges No. 6 Texas Tech to earn at least share of Big 12 title

Field Level Media
Feb 24, 2018
Senior guards Devonte' Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk scored 26 and 21 points, respectively, as No. 8 Kansas edged No. 6 Texas Tech 74-72 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.

With the win, the Jayhawks moved to 12-4 atop the Big 12 and clinched at least a share of their 14th consecutive conference title by opening a two-game lead over the Red Raiders.

The string of conference crowns is a Division I record, exceeding the 13 UCLA posted in the Pac-8/10 from 1967-79. Kansas (23-6) also secured a 61st all-time league title, also a Division I record.

Graham scored 18 of his points in the second half. He made buckets at the 1:32 and :31 marks after the Red Raiders, who never led, forged the only tie, 68-68, on a basket by freshman guard Zhaire Smith with 2:29 remaining.

Smith led Texas Tech (22-7, 10-6) with 20 points but the Red Raiders suffered their third straight defeat in spite of their highest rating all time in the polls. The loss snapped a 17-game winning streak for the Red Raiders at home, where they previously stood 16-0 this season.

Freshman guard Jarrett Culver added 18 points for Texas Tech, though its standout point guard, senior Keenan Evans, added just six points on 1-for-6 shooting and was again slowed by an ailing toe. Evans scored just one point in 13 first-half minutes.

The victory was the eighth straight for Kansas on the road against top 10 opponents, another Division I record.

Mykhailiuk scored 15 first-half points for the Jayhawks, who jumped to an 11-point lead but settled for a 41-37 margin at halftime. Kansas shot 59.3 percent for the half, including a 7-for-13 touch from 3-point range, including three makes by Mykhailiuk.

The Red Raiders closed the half with a 13-4 spurt. Smith scored 10 points, and Culver added eight.

Texas Tech senior guard Justin Gray suffered a concussion in the first minute of the half and did not return. Senior forward Zach Smith returned for the Red Raiders after missing the last 13 games with a broken foot.

--Field Level Media

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